Research Scientist / Engineer, Foundation Model Evaluation

We build frontier foundation models that power intelligent experiences at Apple. Our team works across the full training lifecycle: including pre-training foundation models, and developing mid-training approaches that bridge general capability and task-specific performance. What makes our work distinct is that we're engineering models specifically for Apple silicon and optimized for experiences that are private, personal, and deeply integrated into the OS. We're solving frontier problems in reward modeling to resist reward hacking, handling sparse and delayed rewards in agentic settings, and aligning models reliably across the spectrum from open-ended creative tasks to precise, action-taking workflows. If you're drawn to hard problems where the research and the product are inseparable, this is the team.

Description

This is a hands-on role focused on the models that power Apple products used daily by over a

billion people. You will design evaluation systems where the outcome is not just a score, but an

actionable signal - one that drives model improvement and predicts real user experience.

Working alongside model training and product teams, you will close the loop between evaluation

and improvement.

Our work spans three areas:
• Frontier capability assessment: benchmarking against the state of the art in reasoning,

code, knowledge, and agentic workflows
• Product-aligned evaluation: measuring model quality in ways that reflect real user

experience
• Evaluation-to-training integration: feeding actionable insights back into the model

development cycle

You may focus on one area or work across multiple, depending on your background and

interests.

We build frontier foundation models that power intelligent experiences at Apple. Our team works across the full training lifecycle: including pre-training foundation models, and developing mid-training approaches that bridge general capability and task-specific performance. What makes our work distinct is that we're engineering models specifically for Apple silicon and optimized for experiences that are private, personal, and deeply integrated into the OS. We're solving frontier problems in reward modeling to resist reward hacking, handling sparse and delayed rewards in agentic settings, and aligning models reliably across the spectrum from open-ended creative tasks to precise, action-taking workflows. If you're drawn to hard problems where the research and the product are inseparable, this is the team.","responsibilities":"Benchmark Design & Development: Design and implement evaluation benchmarks, metrics, and test suites that rigorously measure model capabilities across reasoning, knowledge, code, and agentic workflows.

Product-Aligned Evaluation: Develop evaluation methods that capture how models behave in real product settings, and validate that evaluation metrics predict user-perceived quality and product outcomes.

Evaluation Methodology Research & Tooling: Research and apply state-of-the-art evaluation techniques - including scoring frameworks, model-based judging, and contamination-resistant benchmark design. Build reusable tools, scorer libraries, and analysis frameworks that scale across the team's benchmark portfolio.

Experimental Analysis: Design and execute rigorous experiments comparing model capabilities, engage with third-party vendors on benchmarking, and perform detailed gap analysis to guide model development priorities.

Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with model training, training data, and product teams to ensure evaluation insights inform training strategies, data decisions, and product quality improvements.

Preferred Qualifications

PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, NLP, or a related field

Direct experience evaluating large language models, e.g. benchmark design, model-based judging

Track record of collaborating with model training and data teams to turn evaluation findings into training improvements

Experience building reusable evaluation tooling or analysis frameworks adopted across teams

Familiarity with human evaluation methodology and experience partnering with annotation teams or vendors to assess model quality

Minimum Qualifications

3+ years of experience in AI model evaluation, NLP, or a related area (e.g., natural language generation, information retrieval, or conversational AI)

Strong fundamentals in machine learning, natural language processing, and statistical analysis

Proficiency in Python and experience with ML frameworks (PyTorch, JAX, or equivalent)

Demonstrated ability to translate research insights into practical implementations

Strong experimental design skills: ability to design rigorous comparisons and draw valid conclusions from results

Clear technical communication: ability to distill evaluation results into actionable recommendations for cross-functional partners

MS or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing or a related technical field. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

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 $184,700 and $324,800, 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.