Machine Learning Engineer

Summary

The Visual eXperience team is looking for a passionate researcher/engineer to help shape the next generation of imaging, rendering, compression, and display solutions for products across the apple ecosystem!

The team features a highly collaborative and hands-on environment that fosters scientific and engineering excellence, creativity, and innovation in the interdisciplinary areas of vision science, information theory, compression, machine learning, image enhancement and processing, neuroscience, color science, and optics.

This engineer will explore the foundations of perception-aligned loss functions, neural compression systems, and image realism modeling that enable breakthrough performance in our camera, AR/VR, display, and video processing pipelines. You will join a team of scientists and engineers who care deeply about elegant theory, robust implementation, and real-world impact that makes a tangible difference to our user’s experience.

If you are excited by the intersection of information theory, perception, machine learning, and large-scale imaging systems—and want your work to ship in products used by millions—this role is for you.

Description

In this highly visible role, you will invent the next generation of perceptual loss functions used across Apple’s imaging ecosystem. Your work will span algorithm development, theoretical analysis, and deployment at scale.

Responsibilities

• Create and advance perception-aligned measures of image distortion, and integrate them into training pipelines for neural compressors and other cutting edge learned image processing algorithms
• Collaborate with partners to develop algorithms trained by these next-generation perceptual loss functions, such as learned image and texture compression models that optimize for realism, fidelity, and rate efficiency
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including sensor architecture, ISP/SoC design, display HW, Vision Science, and applied ML groups—to bring research ideas into production
• Perform detailed experimentation to evaluate model fidelity to perception and to evaluate optimization performance for different image processing algorithms
• Prototype and validate new algorithms that meaningfully push rate–distortion–realism boundaries beyond state-of-the-art
• You will join a world-class organization of researchers and engineers who value creativity, rigor, and beautiful solutions to hard problems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Neuroscience, Vision Science, or equivalent and 3+ years of relevant experience
• Experience in translating complex mathematical concepts into practical algorithms aligned with perceived image realism or quality
• Experience with full-reference or no-reference image metrics, generative modeling, optimization, or realism-driven evaluation frameworks

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Neuroscience, Vision Science, or equivalent
• Experience in information theory, probabilistic modeling, and/or machine learning
• Experience in Python and modern ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, and JAX
• Deep expertise in image compression, texture modeling, and rate-distortion optimization, with demonstrated ability to design new metrics and algorithms that outperform classical approaches
• Publication record in machine learning, compression, or information theory venues (NeurIPS, ICLR, ICML, ISIT, or related)
• Hands-on experience building learned compression systems end-to-end, including model design, training pipelines, ablations, and integration into large-scale frameworks
• Internship or industry experience integrating research models into production-scale frameworks is a strong plus
• Basic knowledge of human visual perception is a strong plus
• Strong analytical & critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and scientific writing skills
• Basic understanding of digital imaging, and display software and hardware
• Swift/Metal programming is a plus

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 $147,400 and $272,100, 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.

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.