The On-Device Query Understanding team at Apple is focused on developing advanced personalized search technologies that enhance user experiences across various Apple products. This role involves researching and implementing innovative machine learning and generative AI techniques to solve complex query understanding challenges. The successful candidate will work on state-of-the-art models that improve search intelligence in applications like Spotlight, Mail, Photos, and Reminders. This position is ideal for someone who is passionate about machine learning and its application in real-world scenarios.

• 4 or more years of experience in machine learning, natural language processing, or computer vision, applied at scale.
• Production software engineering experience with Python, Go, C/C++, Swift, or Objective-C.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field.
• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience with Small Language Models (SLMs) and on-device LLM training, model compression/quantization, and deployment to production.
• Experience in large-scale query understanding, search, recommendation, or personal assistant systems.
• Proficiency with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow, or XGBoost.

• Research and develop novel approaches in query understanding and machine learning modeling.
• Incorporate cutting-edge research in Large Language Models (LLMs) and Natural Language Understanding (NLU).
• Deliver fast, power-efficient machine learning solutions to complex query understanding problems.
• Bridge research and engineering excellence to drive scalable evaluations and on-device modeling improvements.
• Impact millions of Apple users by advancing how Apple understands user queries.

• Employees at Apple are often offered comprehensive benefits that support physical and mental well-being—flexible medical plans, confidential counseling, onsite wellness centers at major campuses, and resources for fitness and daily life. Families typically receive fertility support, paid parental leave with gradual return, caregiving leave, and dependent-care guidance, while financial perks commonly include stock grants (with purchase discounts), 401(k) matching, and income-protection coverage. Employees also see robust time off, Apple University learning and tuition reimbursement, donation matching and paid volunteer hours, and deep product and partner discounts.