Job Details

On-device ML Infrastructure Engineer (ML Modeling Semantics & Representation)

Cupertino, California, United States

Software and Services

Summary

Posted: Mar 24, 2025

Weekly Hours: 40

Role Number: 200595507

The On-Device Machine Learning team at Apple is responsible for enabling the Research to Production lifecycle of cutting edge machine learning models that power magical user experiences on Apple’s hardware and software platforms. This team sits at the heart of that discipline, interfacing with research, SW engineering, HW engineering, and products.

Our group is looking for an ML Infrastructure Engineer, with a focus on ML model semantics, representation, and optimizations. The role is responsible for working with ML research and Applied research engineers to onboard the newest ML architectures to CoreML’s ML model representation, including evolving the representation to support the latest and greatest features in the authored ML program (e.g., PyTorch), and enable the exposure of Apple’s on-device execution capabilities. The role is responsible for building critical “bridging” infrastructure between the most used ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch) and Apple’s CoreML stack.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop technologies to quickly onboard new ML models to our on-device stack, including contributions to ML authoring frameworks.

• Understand different ML operations, architectures, and graph representations in different authoring frameworks. Keep abreast of latest innovations in this space.

• Architect and build CoreML’s model representation that can efficiently represent program semantics from the authored frameworks, while allowing for peak execution performance.

• Define and build the user-facing model translation and ingestion abstractions, APIs, and surrounding toolkit to allow seamless model import into Apple’s ML stack.

• Perform optimizations such as quantization, operator transformations, etc. to make models more amenable to efficient on-device deployment

Description

As an engineer in this role, you will be primarily focused on the interplay between higher-level ML authoring frameworks (such as PyTorch, JAX, MLX, etc.) and Apple’s on-device ML infrastructure. The role requires an understanding of ML modeling (architectures, training vs inference trade-offs, etc.) and ML deployment optimizations (compression, distillation, quantization, hardware optimizations, etc.).

We are building the first end-to-end developer experience for ML development that, by taking advantage of Apple’s vertical integration, allows developers to iterate on model authoring, optimization, transformation, execution, debugging, profiling and analysis. The ML representation, translation and optimization is the entry point of such infrastructure stack.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors in Computer Sciences, Engineering, or related discipline.

• Highly proficient in Python programming, familiarity with C++ is required.

• Proficiency in at least one ML authoring framework, such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, MLX.

• Strong understanding of ML fundamentals, including common architectures such as Transformers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands on experience working with and/or developing ML optimization techniques such as quantization.

• Experience with accelerators, GPU programming is a strong plus.

• Experience with any on-device ML stack, such as TFLite, ONNX, etc.

• Experience with MLIR compiler stack is a strong plus

• Good communication skills, including ability to communicate with cross-functional audiences.

• Excellent communication & interpersonal skills.

Pay & Benefits

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $207,800 and $312,200, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.Learn more about Apple Benefits. (https://www.apple.com/careers/us/benefits.html)

Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf) .

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf) .

Apple will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants who inquire about, disclose, or discuss their compensation.

Apple participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law.Learn more about the E-Verify program (https://www.apple.com/jobs/pdf/EverifyPosterEnglish.pdf) .

Apple is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. Reasonable Accommodation and Drug Free Workplace policy Learn more .

Apple is a drug-free workplace. Reasonable Accommodation and Drug Free Workplace policy Learn more .

Apple will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law. If you’re applying for a position in San Francisco, review the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance guidelines applicable in your area.

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