AIML - Applied AI Scientist, Image Autograder Systems, Evaluation

Summary

We are looking for an AI Scientist to join a centralized evaluation organization building the next generation of autograders across Apple's most visible image generation AI features.
In this role, you will develop autograders that reliably score image output quality at scale.
Your work directly influences the quality of AI experiences used by hundreds of millions of Apple customers.

This is a high-impact individual contributor role at the intersection of genAI evaluation, genAI model training, data quality, and AI engineering.
You will work closely with senior AI scientists, MLEs, data annotation teams, and feature engineers in a fast-moving, technically rigorous environment.

Description

In this role you will focus on Autograder research, training and adoption.
Collaborate with AI feature teams, eval design teams, and annotation teams to refine feature requirements, grading rubrics and gold annotation sets.
Develop, evaluate, and iterate on grading prompts to align autograder behavior with grading rubrics and the gold sets.
Identify when prompt tuning reaches its limits and apply other advanced techniques such as fine-tuning to close remaining grading accuracy gaps.
Design insightful analysis to measure and explain Autograder quality.
Collaborate with MLEs and feature teams on autograder deployment and adoption.
Develop scalable system to speed up autograder training processes.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field.
Deep understanding of visual-language models.
Familiarity with image quality assessment - perceptual quality dimensions, evaluation metrics, and rubric design.
Proficiency in Python; capable of writing well-structured, production-ready model code.
Strong communication skills in explaining autograder quality and driving autograder adoption with partner teams.

Preferred Qualifications

1+ years of industry experience in building VLM-based products.
Familiarity with autograder and evaluator-specific concepts: grading accuracy, agreement with human raters, calibration, and rubric design.
Strong expertise in prompt tuning and fine tuning for VLMs.
Demonstrated ability to read AI literature and translate it into applied autograder experiments.
Prior experience in building agentic system to scale autograder training/validation.

Pay & Benefits — Cupertino, California, United States

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 $150,400 and $277,600, 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.

Application Deadline

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.