Research Scientist​/Engineer, Foundation Model Evaluation

Position: Research Scientist / Engineer, Foundation Model Evaluation
** Role Number:*
* ** Summary*
* We build frontier foundation models that power intelligent experiences  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  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.

** 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.

** 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

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://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). EEOC Know Your Rights
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