Senior Principal Engineer - AI/ML

At Apple, we build tools and platforms that empower our teams to create innovative products in the world. If you’re passionate about using AI to shape the future of technology, we have an opportunity for you. We’re looking for a Senior Principal Engineer to lead the design and delivery of innovative AI/ML platforms and applications that will transform the way we work.

You will architect and deliver scalable platforms that make AI accessible, reliable, and impactful across Apple’s hardware engineering organization. This is an opportunity to shape the foundation for how AI is adopted inside Apple, enabling faster innovation, better decisions, and entirely new ways of building products.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the vision, strategy, and technical execution of AI/ML initiatives with HWE-wide impact.
• Architect and implement scalable, secure, and maintainable AI platforms and services.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate AI into Apple products development workflows.
• Explore and evaluate emerging AI technologies, setting best practices for adoption.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Min 5+ years relevant post graduate experience
• Proven track record delivering large-scale, high-impact AI/ML platforms from concept to production.
• Deep expertise in distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and API design for high-throughput, low-latency workloads.
• Hands-on experience with modern AI/ML frameworks and services (e.g., LLMs, OpenAI, Google Gemini), and proficiency in Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, or Scala.
• Experience architecting and operating cloud-native environments (AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, EKS) using Infrastructure as Code (Pulumi, Terraform).
• Strong background building developer platforms, tools, and workflows that accelerate the adoption of AI across diverse teams.
• Exceptional leadership skills: able to guide, mentor, and inspire senior engineers and cross-functional partners.
• Comfortable presenting complex technical concepts to executives, influencing strategic direction, and aligning initiatives across organizations.
• History of innovation in AI applications, agentic systems, or autonomous systems.

Additional Requirements

• Experience leading distributed engineering teams across multiple locations.
• Prior work in applied AI for enterprise-scale or consumer-facing solutions.
• Familiarity with Apple’s development ecosystem is a plus.

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 $212,000 and $318,400, 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.