STEM OPT AI ML Engineer Jobs
AI ML Engineer roles sit squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, giving you up to 24 additional months of work authorization beyond your initial OPT period. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree in computer science, statistics, or a related STEM field must align with the role's CIP code.
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Get Access To All JobsSUMMARY
Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, smart people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices, strengthening our commitment to leave the world better than we found it. Join us to help deliver the next groundbreaking Apple product. Do you love working on challenges that no one has solved yet? As a member of our dynamic group, you will have the unique and rewarding opportunity to craft upcoming products that will delight and inspire millions of Apple's customers every single day.
DESCRIPTION
Apple's ML Data Operations group is seeking a Data Operations Engineer to support internal data collection efforts powering our next generation of consumer machine learning features. In this role, you will work shoulder-to-shoulder with full-time Apple scientists and engineers, not just coordinating logistics, but developing a genuine technical understanding of the ML experiments you support. You will be responsible for the hands-on bring-up, execution, and quality oversight of internal data collection studies, operating in a highly collaborative and technically demanding cross-functional environment.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in HCI, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Engineering, Operations, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Experience supporting or executing human user studies, behavioral research, or data collection operations in an academic or industry setting.
- Track record of partnering with ML engineers or researchers to define data requirements, quality standards, or collection specifications.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of experience in user research operations, data collection coordination, or a related technical operations role.
- Hands-on familiarity with ML data pipelines, annotation tools, or dataset management practices.
- Experience working directly with engineering and science teams, with comfort reading technical documentation, data schemas, or experiment specifications.
- Familiarity with handling sensitive human data and adhering to strict privacy and consent protocols.
- Highly organized self-starter who can manage multiple concurrent internal studies with minimal oversight.
- Strong interpersonal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate fluidly across both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify data anomalies and inconsistencies during live collection.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $142,300 and $214,300, 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.
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.
Apple believes accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
SUMMARY
Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, smart people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices, strengthening our commitment to leave the world better than we found it. Join us to help deliver the next groundbreaking Apple product. Do you love working on challenges that no one has solved yet? As a member of our dynamic group, you will have the unique and rewarding opportunity to craft upcoming products that will delight and inspire millions of Apple's customers every single day.
DESCRIPTION
Apple's ML Data Operations group is seeking a Data Operations Engineer to support internal data collection efforts powering our next generation of consumer machine learning features. In this role, you will work shoulder-to-shoulder with full-time Apple scientists and engineers, not just coordinating logistics, but developing a genuine technical understanding of the ML experiments you support. You will be responsible for the hands-on bring-up, execution, and quality oversight of internal data collection studies, operating in a highly collaborative and technically demanding cross-functional environment.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in HCI, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Engineering, Operations, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Experience supporting or executing human user studies, behavioral research, or data collection operations in an academic or industry setting.
- Track record of partnering with ML engineers or researchers to define data requirements, quality standards, or collection specifications.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of experience in user research operations, data collection coordination, or a related technical operations role.
- Hands-on familiarity with ML data pipelines, annotation tools, or dataset management practices.
- Experience working directly with engineering and science teams, with comfort reading technical documentation, data schemas, or experiment specifications.
- Familiarity with handling sensitive human data and adhering to strict privacy and consent protocols.
- Highly organized self-starter who can manage multiple concurrent internal studies with minimal oversight.
- Strong interpersonal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate fluidly across both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify data anomalies and inconsistencies during live collection.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $142,300 and $214,300, 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.
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.
Apple believes accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
See all 436+ STEM OPT AI ML Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as an AI ML Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your degree's CIP code from your I-20 and cross-reference it against the STEM Designated Degree Program List. AI ML Engineer roles typically align with CIP codes in computer science or electrical engineering, but a mismatch can make your extension ineligible.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your recruiter for the company's E-Verify employer ID or check directly through the E-Verify employer search. An employer who isn't enrolled can't legally employ you on STEM OPT, regardless of how eager they are to hire.
Target employers with active ML infrastructure roles
Focus your search on companies posting roles tied to model training pipelines, MLOps, or production inference systems. These signal teams with dedicated ML headcount, which means real STEM OPT training plans rather than ad-hoc project assignments that can weaken your I-983.
Search STEM OPT AI roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters AI ML Engineer listings by E-Verify enrollment status, so you're not manually vetting each employer. Run your search there to narrow directly to companies already set up to hire STEM OPT students.
Draft your I-983 training plan around measurable ML goals
Work with your DSO and hiring manager to structure the I-983 around concrete deliverables like model accuracy benchmarks or deployment milestones. USCIS scrutinizes vague training plans, and specific technical objectives tied to your degree's learning outcomes strengthen your extension case.
Understand cap-gap coverage if your H-1B is selected
If your H-1B visa registration is selected and you're still on STEM OPT when October 1 arrives, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization. Your employer doesn't need to take any additional action, but you should confirm your EAD end date and selection notice timing with your DSO.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an AI ML Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, statistics, mathematics, or electrical engineering and the role's job duties align with that field. The O*NET occupation code for AI ML Engineer roles typically falls under computer occupations, which STEM-designated CIP codes commonly map to. Confirm the match with your DSO before filing the extension.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my STEM OPT employer?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify before you can work on a STEM OPT extension. Enrollment isn't just registration: the company must have a current Memorandum of Understanding with E-Verify in place. You can verify enrollment through the E-Verify employer search tool. If your employer isn't enrolled, they cannot legally employ you under STEM OPT, and the extension will not be valid.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for an AI ML Engineer?
The I-983 must document a structured training program directly tied to your STEM degree. For AI ML roles, that means listing specific learning objectives like deploying scalable inference systems, fine-tuning large language models, or implementing MLOps pipelines. Vague descriptions like 'assist with machine learning projects' won't satisfy USCIS review. Your employer's supervising engineer or manager typically co-signs the plan, and your DSO must recommend the extension before you submit.
How does cap-gap work if I'm on STEM OPT when my H-1B starts?
If your H-1B petition is filed before your STEM OPT expires and your registration is selected, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year, or until your H-1B takes effect on October 1. You don't need a new EAD during this period. Your employer should continue your employment without interruption, but notify your DSO immediately upon H-1B selection so your SEVIS record reflects the cap-gap status.
Where can I find AI ML Engineer jobs that accept STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate is the recommended starting point. It filters AI ML Engineer listings by E-Verify enrollment status, so you're searching a pool of employers already set up to hire STEM OPT students rather than manually checking each company. From there, you can cross-reference roles against the OFLC Wage Search to understand prevailing wage levels for the position before negotiating your offer.