Apple

Sr ML Engineering Manager, Search - Services Special Projects

Apple$180K — $220K *
Information Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; PhD preferred.
  • 12+ years in Machine Learning, Data Science, or Software Engineering with a focus on search infrastructure.
  • 5+ years in a technical leadership or engineering management role.
  • Proven track record in architecting large-scale search systems.
  • Deep expertise in information retrieval, ranking algorithms, and user modeling techniques.
  • Experience with offline evaluation frameworks and online A/B testing methodology.
  • Proficiency in systems languages like Go or C++, with experience in Java or Python.

Responsibilities

  • Establish the technical vision for the search infrastructure.
  • Lead architectural decisions on querying and ranking systems.
  • Manage and mentor a team of search engineers.
  • Oversee the execution of the long-term technical roadmap.
  • Drive the design and optimization of retrieval and ranking algorithms.
  • Collaborate with partner teams to align on technical direction and goals.
  • Implement safety guardrails for generative AI outcomes.

Benefits

  • Opportunity for hands-on leadership and impactful decision-making.
  • Work with cutting-edge technologies in search infrastructure.
  • Chance to shape both the technical and team development aspects.
  • Collaborative environment with alignment across technical and leadership teams.
  • Potential for recognized contributions to the field through published work or patents.
Full Job Description
We are looking for a Search Engineering Manager & Lead to serve as both the senior technical authority and the people leader for our search team. You'll own the architecture and long-term technical roadmap for large-scale, low-latency search infrastructure, from query understanding and hybrid retrieval through ranking and evaluation, and you'll also build, grow, and lead the team of search engineers who bring that roadmap to life. This is a hands-on leadership role with dual scope: you set the technical vision and personally shape the hardest retrieval and ranking decisions, and you also manage, mentor, and grow the engineers executing against it. Your leverage comes equally from what you design and from the team you build. Minimum Qualifications MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience. PhD preferred. 12+ years of experience in Machine Learning, Data Science, or Software Engineering, with a significant focus on search infrastructure and information retrieval, including at least 5 years operating in a technical leadership or engineering management capacity Proven experience leading and managing engineers, including hiring, performance management, and technical mentorship of senior and staff ICs. Track record of leading the architecture of large-scale search systems from design through production. Deep understanding of information retrieval, ranking algorithms, and user modeling techniques. Experience designing offline evaluation frameworks and online A/B testing methodology to validate search relevance and ranking quality. Experience with vector databases (Milvus, Qdrant, Pinecone, or FAISS). Experience with search infrastructure such as OpenSearch, Elasticsearch, or similar stacks. Experience with cloud environments (AWS or GCP), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and streaming platforms (Kafka or comparable brokers). Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to align engineers, partner teams, and senior leadership around a shared technical direction. Strong proficiency in a systems language such as Go or C++, with working proficiency in Java or Python Deep familiarity with ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, XGBoost, or similar) and ML system design, model lifecycle, and experimentation pipelines. Extensive experience with large datasets, data processing pipelines (Spark, Flink), and scalable architectures. Working knowledge of data privacy principles (e.g., data minimization, privacy-preserving techniques) and experience applying them to systems that use user behavioral signals. Experience implementing safety guardrails for generative AI outputs, including hallucination mitigation, harmful-content filtering, and red-teaming or adversarial evaluation practices. Preferred Qualifications Published work or patents in search systems, information retrieval, or related ML fields. Strong foundation in deep learning architectures for search and retrieval (transformers, graph neural networks, learned sparse representations). Exposure to multi-objective optimization in search (relevance, diversity, freshness, fairness). Track record of scaling engineering teams and modernizing infrastructure with measurable cost and reliability improvements.

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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