Apple

Sr Machine Learning Engineer, Tech Lead - Autograder Systems, Evaluation

Apple$150K — $180K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or related field
  • 5+ years of industry experience in machine learning, specializing in LLM or VLM systems
  • Deep expertise in prompt-tuning and fine-tuning techniques such as SFT, RLHF, DPO
  • Familiarity with data flywheel design and leveraging model outputs
  • Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks, preferably PyTorch
  • Strong instincts for ML systems focused on data quality and scale
  • Experience with evaluation infrastructure or model quality teams

Responsibilities

  • Define and drive the technical roadmap for autograder quality and novel evaluation methods
  • Architect a scalable autograder training pipeline for data curation, fine-tuning, and evaluation
  • Design and own a hillclimbing system for continuous autograder performance improvement
  • Establish quality benchmarks and analysis frameworks for tracking autograder outputs
  • Mentor and guide a team of MLEs through design reviews and problem-solving
  • Collaborate with data teams to define labeling guidelines for training
  • Translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences, including engineering and leadership

Benefits

  • Opportunities for hands-on leadership in a high-impact role
  • Collaboration with top-tier professionals across various teams
  • Access to cutting-edge technologies and methods in AI evaluation
  • Ability to directly influence AI experiences used by millions
  • Support for continuous learning and mentoring within the team
Full Job Description
We are looking for a Senior MLE Tech Lead to join a centralized evaluation organization and define the next generation of autograder quality across 20+ of Apple's most visible generative AI features. You will own the end-to-end technical vision for how we evaluate model outputs at scale - pioneering state-of-the-art methods, raising the technical bar, and leading a team of talented MLEs to build a robust autograder training and hillclimbing system from the ground up.\n\nThis is a high-impact, hands-on leadership role at the intersection of model evaluation, data quality, and ML systems engineering. You will work closely with model developers, data teams, and product partners to ensure our autograders are fast, accurate, and continuously improving - directly shaping the quality of AI experiences used by hundreds of millions of people.

In this role you will focus on: Technical Leadership * Define and drive the technical roadmap for autograder quality - researching and introducing novel methods such as reward modeling, LLM-as-judge, preference learning, and calibration techniques to measurably improve evaluation accuracy. * Architect and lead the build-out of a scalable autograder training pipeline encompassing data curation, model fine-tuning, evaluation harnesses, and versioning. * Design and own the hillclimbing system that iteratively improves autograder performance through systematic prompt and model optimization loops. * Establish quality benchmarks, confidence metrics, and failure analysis frameworks that enable the team to track, trust, and act on autograder outputs. People & Collaboration * Mentor and technically guide a team of MLEs through design reviews, modeling standards, and hands-on problem-solving - fostering a culture of rigor and continuous learning. * Partner with data annotation teams to define labeling guidelines that feed autograder training. * Collaborate with feature engineers to align autograder signals with broader training and product objectives. * Translate complex technical trade-offs into clear narratives for engineering, product, and leadership audiences.

Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field. 5+ years of industry experience in machine learning, with a strong focus on LLM or VLM systems. Deep expertise in prompt-tuning and fine-tuning techniques (SFT, RLHF, DPO, or equivalent), with proven experience of model calibration and uncertainty estimation. Familiarity with data flywheel design - leveraging model outputs to continuously improve future training data. Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks (PyTorch preferred).

Strong ML systems instincts - you care deeply about data quality, reproducibility, latency, and scale. Background in human-in-the-loop annotation pipelines and inter-annotator agreement analysis. Prior experience on an evaluation infrastructure or model quality team.

About Apple

Apple is a corporation that designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. Apple provides many products and services, including iPhone; iPad; iPod; Mac; Apple TV; a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications; the iOS and OS X operating systems; iCloud; and accessories, service, and support offerings. It sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, direct sales force and third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers to the consumer and also sells third-party iPhone, iPad, Mac and iPod compatible products, including application software and accessories through its online and retail stores. Introduced in 1984, the Macintosh was the first widely sold personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). That feature and others such as an improved floppy drive design and a low-cost hard drive that made data retrieval faster helped Apple cultivate a reputation for innovation. Apple was named as the most admired company in the United States in 2008 and in the world from 2008 to 2012 by the Fortune magazine. The company was founded by Steven Paul Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Gerald Wayne on April 1, 1976, and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.

Apple Careers

Join Apple, a place where extraordinary people gather to do their best work. Our ever-expanding global team is at the forefront of innovation and leadership in the tech industry. At Apple, we're not just building products—we're crafting the kind of wonder that revolutionizes entire industries. It's the diversity of our people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Work You’ll Do Embark on a journey with Apple’s market-leading team to help some of the world’s most influential companies navigate their path to digital mastery with cutting-edge technology and services. Transform industries and touch lives with your unique ideas at Apple. Here, you’ll lead through a unique position at the intersection of technology, creativity, and robust industry expertise. Collaborate with a global team of professionals who are at the top of their game in technology and design. Apple isn’t just a company, it’s a community of innovators and passionate thinkers. Introducing the Apple Innovation and Leadership Initiative We are building a market-leading team to drive our efforts in delivering groundbreaking solutions and services. At Apple, job opportunities are abundant, offering you the chance to explore diverse roles from engineering to marketing, all designed to empower your career growth. Do Innovative Work Join the largest group of creative and technical experts in the world—professionals dedicated to redefining what’s possible through technology and innovation. Deliver targeted solutions through a depth and breadth of expertise that’s unmatched, driving forward our commitment to excellence and leadership in every project we undertake. Be Part of a Great Team Engage in a wide range of projects utilizing Apple’s technology and resources. Harness the unparalleled capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development that only Apple can offer. Future-Proof Your Career Advance your career with limitless opportunities at Apple. Go as far as your ambition takes you with unmatched training, development, and certification support. Explore Discover how Apple is leading the way in tech innovation: [With iOS] Businesses can streamline operations and enhance customer interactions... READ MORE Smart home technology integration that sets the standard for convenience and security... READ MORE The Apple Experience Our combined service capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development help clients overcome challenges and lead transformation in their industries. Clients worldwide look to Apple for new strategies and solutions that drive growth and innovation in the digital era. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Whether you’re seeking a professional role, an internship, or a leadership position, Apple offers a variety of employment opportunities. SEARCH APPLE JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. See what exciting and rewarding opportunities await at Apple, a company committed to diversity, innovation, and leadership. Explore job opportunities, employment benefits, and the culture of growth and innovation at Apple. Prepare your resume, hone your interview skills, and ready yourself for a career at one of the most prestigious companies in the world. Join us in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Learn more about Apple
Size
154,000 employees
Market Cap
$2,074.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$63.9 billion
Founded
1976
5 Year Trend
+11.5%
Revenue
$294.1 billion
NASDAQ

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