Senior Search Machine Learning Engineer

Apple Apple · Big Tech · Cupertino, CA · Machine Learning and AI

Senior Machine Learning Engineer for Apple Maps, focusing on improving search quality using ML and Generative AI. The role involves developing algorithms for query understanding, intent modeling, ranking, and semantic search, as well as building data pipelines and collaborating with other teams. Experience with LLMs, prompt engineering, and fine-tuning is required, along with strong programming and ML framework knowledge.

What you'd actually do

  1. Develop and optimize Machine Learning algorithms to handle key issues in local search: query understanding, intent modeling, ranking and semantic search
  2. Design and develop tools, processes and analytics for backend data-extraction pipelines - along with performing hands-on analyses to answer hard hypotheses/questions.
  3. Collaborate with various teams (e.g., infrastructure, quality, data) to develop exciting features and contribute towards our mission of best search experience to our end-users.
  4. Develop and mentor aspiring applied scientists / engineers to expand their scope and have a big impact. Be part of building a world class search team!

Skills

Required

  • MS in computer science or equivalent field with 7+ years of industry experience
  • Proven record in delivering end-user facing Machine Learning driven products
  • Strong programming experience in one or more of the following: Java, C++, Python
  • Knowledge and experience with one of Tensorflow/Pytorch/Jax frameworks.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills - working independently and/or in small teams
  • Attention to detail, data accuracy and quality of output.
  • Ph.D in computer science or equivalent field with 7+ years of industry experience.
  • Expertise and experience in various facets of machine learning and natural language processing, such as classification, feature engineering, information extraction, clustering, semi-supervised learning, topic modeling and ranking
  • Practical understanding of the mathematics behind modern machine learning, linear algebra and statistics.
  • Proven expertise in applying Generative AI & Large Language Models (e.g., prompt engineering, model fine-tuning) to search or NLP tasks.

Nice to have

  • Good knowledge of big data processing, prior experience with Hadoop, Spark, Hive is highly desired.
  • Prior experience in consumer facing product is desired.
  • Prior team lead experience is desired.

What the JD emphasized

  • Proven record in delivering end-user facing Machine Learning driven products
  • Expertise and experience in various facets of machine learning and natural language processing, such as classification, feature engineering, information extraction, clustering, semi-supervised learning, topic modeling and ranking
  • Proven expertise in applying Generative AI & Large Language Models (e.g., prompt engineering, model fine-tuning) to search or NLP tasks.

Other signals

  • improve search quality for Apple Maps
  • machine learning and Generative AI at scale
  • local search: query understanding, intent modeling, ranking and semantic search
  • applying Generative AI & Large Language Models (e.g., prompt engineering, model fine-tuning) to search or NLP tasks