Senior Level Machine Learning Research Jobs
Senior level machine learning research jobs place experienced researchers at the helm of defining research agendas, owning experimental outcomes, and leading the cross-functional teams that translate breakthroughs into production systems. Openings concentrate across Electronics & Hardware, Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, and Medical Devices, with a mix of on-site, hybrid, and remote roles, and employers like Apple, Rad AI, and Jane Street hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 11+ Senior Level Machine Learning Research jobs
Do you believe generative models can transform creative workflows and smart assistants used by billions? Do you believe it can fundamentally shift how people interact with devices and communicate, personalizing and tailoring experiences to their unique needs? SIML’s Content Understanding teams strives to turn cutting edge research into compelling user experiences that realize all these goals and more, working on Apple Intelligence technologies such as Image Playground, Genmoji, Generative Memories, Semantic Search, and many more.
You will be working alongside teams that are in charge of operating system wide embeddings, personalized RAG workstreams, tool calling, context compaction / efficiency & memory systems. Projects are focused on advancing Apple Intelligence capabilities, while working closely across disciplines with our partners in hardware engineering, design and product.
Description
We are looking for a senior technical leader experienced in architecting and deploying production scale multimodal ML. An ideal candidate has the ability to lead diverse cross functional efforts ranging from ML modeling, prototyping, validation and private learning. Solid ML fundamentals and an ability to place research contributions with respect to state of the art would be an essential part of the role. Experience with training and adapting large language models would be an important need.
This role includes the opportunity to partner with world class system engineers to prototype and incorporate bleeding edge algorithmic innovations in the context of emerging agentic experiences. Ability to interface with large scale modeling & data infrastructure is a huge plus.
Minimum Qualifications
PhD, or MSc in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering, or a related field (mathematics, physics or computer engineering); with a focus on machine learning, or comparable professional experience.
Hands on experience training LLMs/adapting pre-trained LLMs for downstream tasks & alignment.
Modeling experience at the intersection of NLP and Vision.
Proficiency in ML toolkit of choice, e.g., PyTorch.
Strong programming skills in Python.
Proven track record of research contributions demonstrated through publications in top-tier conferences, or open source contributions to algorithm.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with building & deploying Multimodal-LLMs.
Familiarity with distributed training and large-scale data infrastructure.
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.
Do you believe generative models can transform creative workflows and smart assistants used by billions? Do you believe it can fundamentally shift how people interact with devices and communicate, personalizing and tailoring experiences to their unique needs? SIML’s Content Understanding teams strives to turn cutting edge research into compelling user experiences that realize all these goals and more, working on Apple Intelligence technologies such as Image Playground, Genmoji, Generative Memories, Semantic Search, and many more.
You will be working alongside teams that are in charge of operating system wide embeddings, personalized RAG workstreams, tool calling, context compaction / efficiency & memory systems. Projects are focused on advancing Apple Intelligence capabilities, while working closely across disciplines with our partners in hardware engineering, design and product.
Description
We are looking for a senior technical leader experienced in architecting and deploying production scale multimodal ML. An ideal candidate has the ability to lead diverse cross functional efforts ranging from ML modeling, prototyping, validation and private learning. Solid ML fundamentals and an ability to place research contributions with respect to state of the art would be an essential part of the role. Experience with training and adapting large language models would be an important need.
This role includes the opportunity to partner with world class system engineers to prototype and incorporate bleeding edge algorithmic innovations in the context of emerging agentic experiences. Ability to interface with large scale modeling & data infrastructure is a huge plus.
Minimum Qualifications
PhD, or MSc in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering, or a related field (mathematics, physics or computer engineering); with a focus on machine learning, or comparable professional experience.
Hands on experience training LLMs/adapting pre-trained LLMs for downstream tasks & alignment.
Modeling experience at the intersection of NLP and Vision.
Proficiency in ML toolkit of choice, e.g., PyTorch.
Strong programming skills in Python.
Proven track record of research contributions demonstrated through publications in top-tier conferences, or open source contributions to algorithm.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with building & deploying Multimodal-LLMs.
Familiarity with distributed training and large-scale data infrastructure.
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.
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Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Medical Devices
- Technology & Software
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Senior Level Machine Learning Research Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level machine learning research job?
Employers at this level look for candidates who have independently driven research projects from hypothesis through publication or deployment, not just contributed to them. A strong portfolio of first-author work, demonstrated ability to set a research direction, and experience mentoring junior researchers or collaborating across engineering and product teams distinguishes competitive candidates from strong individual contributors.
Which companies hire senior level machine learning researchs?
Companies hiring senior level machine learning researchs right now include Apple, Rad AI, and Jane Street, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Hiring at this level comes from a wide range of organizations, including hyperscalers building foundational model infrastructure, enterprise software companies embedding AI into core products, and specialized research labs focused on a single application domain.
Are there remote senior level machine learning research jobs?
Yes, though availability varies by employer and the nature of the research. About 30% of senior level machine learning research openings are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how much applied and theoretical research can be conducted without a fixed lab setting. Roles that require specialized on-site compute hardware or close collaboration with hardware teams tend to be more office-dependent.
What makes a machine learning research role senior level?
Senior level machine learning research roles are defined by ownership and scope rather than task execution. Researchers at this stage set the technical direction for a project or domain area, make independent decisions about methodology and experimental design, and are accountable for delivering publishable or deployable results. They are also expected to mentor junior researchers, influence hiring, and contribute to shaping the team's broader research strategy.
Which industries hire the most senior level machine learning researchs?
Senior Level machine learning research roles concentrate in Electronics & Hardware, Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, and Medical Devices, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they have both the computational resources to support serious research programs and the business incentive to translate research advances directly into product or platform differentiation.