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Machine Learning Research Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA

AIML - Machine Learning Research

Seattle, WA · On-site

$142.30 - $263.30/hr

Driving cross‑functional technical initiatives, collaborating with research, engineering and ... D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning with a specialty in reinforcement learning, or a related ...

This involves developing sophisticated machine learning and large language models (LLMs) to ... Driving cross-functional technical initiatives, collaborating with research, engineering and ...

Machine Learning Engineer, SIML

Seattle, WA · On-site

$139.50 - $258.10/hr

Description We are seeking a machine learning research engineer with experience building modern generative models based on diffusion and auto-regressive technologies. The ideal candidate has solid ML ...

Are you passionate about advancing the state of artificial intelligence and machine learning? Our rapidly growing startup is seeking an AI Research Engineer to join our Foundational Models AI team.

Machine Learning Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$175 - $308.50/hr

... Machine Learning Engineer with experience developing ML models for computer vision and graphics ... We perform applied research development to adapt state-of-the-art methods or implement new methods ...

... Machine Learning Engineer with experience developing ML models for computer vision and graphics ... We perform applied research development to adapt state-of-the-art methods or implement new methods ...

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Showing results 1-20

Machine Learning Research Engineer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$42.1K

$120.6K

$162.2K

How much do machine learning research engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for machine learning research engineer in Seattle, WA is $120,645.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,400.00 and $118,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a machine learning research engineer do?

A Machine Learning Research Engineer develops and improves machine learning models, conducts research to advance AI techniques, and implements scalable algorithms. They work at the intersection of applied research and engineering, leveraging mathematical and statistical methods to optimize performance. Their role involves experimenting with new architectures, analyzing large datasets, and collaborating with data scientists and software engineers to deploy models into production.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a machine learning research engineer?

A Machine Learning Research Engineer typically needs a strong background in computer science, mathematics, and statistics, often with a graduate degree in a related field. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or C++, experience with machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, and familiarity with tools for data analysis are crucial, along with relevant certifications being a plus. Strong problem-solving skills, collaboration, and effective communication help drive innovative research and facilitate teamwork. These competencies are essential for developing advanced machine learning models, staying current with evolving technologies, and effectively translating research into real-world applications.

What are some common challenges faced by machine learning research engineers in their daily work?

Machine Learning Research Engineers often encounter challenges such as sourcing and preparing large, high-quality datasets, tuning complex model architectures, and ensuring reproducibility of experimental results. They work closely with cross-functional teams, including data scientists and software engineers, to deploy models in production environments and must frequently adapt to rapidly evolving research. Keeping up with the latest scientific literature and integrating new algorithms into ongoing projects can be demanding but is also rewarding. This collaborative, fast-paced environment provides constant opportunities for learning and professional development.

What job categories do people searching Machine Learning Research Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA look for?

The top searched job categories for Machine Learning Research Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA are:

Infographic showing various Machine Learning Research Engineer job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,645 per year, or $58 per hour.

Senior Machine Learning Research Engineer, AIML

Apple Inc.

Seattle, WA • On-site

$184.70 - $324.80/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Retirement

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

Senior Machine Learning Research Engineer, AIML

Cupertino, California, United States Machine Learning and AI

Are you passionate about Generative AI and excited to work on groundbreaking modeling technologies that will enrich the lives of billions? The AIML team within Apple's software organization is a multidisciplinary group operating at the intersection of Multimodal Foundation Models, Efficient and Scalable ML Infrastructure, and Personalized Intelligent Experiences. As a senior machine learning engineer on our team, you will design software systems and algorithms that enable performant, scalable training and inference for Apple's AI-driven experiences across both on-device and server environments. This role also includes opportunities to open source your work. Join our team of highly skilled, impact-focused engineers!

Description

We're seeking strong senior machine learning research engineers to help build next-generation tools for large-scale deep learning. You'll join a team focused on accelerating training and inference speed, improving scalability, and advancing Apple's centralized ML platform. Candidates should bring polished coding skills and a passion for machine learning and computational science. We offer a respectful work environment, flexible responsibilities, and access to world-class experts and growth opportunities.

In this role, you will develop core components for our scalable ML platform, push the limits of existing training technologies, and create new techniques to overcome system constraints. Your work will be deployed on high-impact tasks across teams building Apple Intelligence products, with opportunities to open-source your contributions.

We are especially looking for PyTorch-focused ML experts driving system-level efficiency from on-device to large-scale models. If you have deep experience with PyTorch internals and high-performance ML infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you. We encourage releasing contributions as open source.

Minimum Qualifications
  • PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, or equivalent industry experience, with 3+ years of experience in the AI/ML field.
  • Solid understanding of software–hardware co-design principles and algorithms.
  • Solid understanding of the PyTorch software stack and experience maintaining state-of-the‑art ML frameworks.
  • Strong understanding of LLM architectures and their core building blocks.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience working on AI/ML‑optimized runtime stacks.
  • Familiarity with parallelization algorithms for large model training.
  • Familiarity with recent developments in foundation model architectures.
  • Experience with parallel training libraries such as PyTorch Distributed (torch.distributed), DeepSpeed, or FairScale.
  • Experience building ML models for on-device inference.
  • Publication record at ML conferences such as MLSys, NeurIPS, etc.

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.

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

At Apple, we believe 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.

Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace

Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

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, intelligent 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 real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976