ML Data Operations Engineer
Apple· Hardware
Hybrid (San Diego, CA)$142.3k - $214.3kPosted 4w ago
About the role
Apple ML Data Operations engineer to support internal data collection efforts for next-generation consumer ML features. Roles include hands-on bring-up, execution, and quality oversight of internal data collection studies, collaborating with researchers, engineers, and scientists, and developing technical understanding of ML experiments supported.
Responsibilities
- Plan, execute, and track internal ML data collection studies in close collaboration with researchers, engineers, and scientists across the organization
- Develop a working understanding of the ML experiments being supported, including model objectives, data requirements, labeling, and evaluation criteria, to ensure datasets quality
- Bring up and maintain pre-release hardware and software platforms used for data collection, performing hands-on troubleshooting and triage to minimize study disruptions
- Create and maintain clear technical documentation for hardware/software platform setup, study protocols, and data handling procedures
- Manage day-to-day logistics of internal study sessions, including scheduling participants, configuring hardware and software setups, and maintaining smooth session flow
- Collaborate with algorithm, infrastructure, and hardware/software teams to gather and validate data collection requirements before and during study execution
- Track and communicate study progress, blockers, participant throughput, and dataset status to cross-functional partners and senior stakeholders
- Identify gaps in existing workflows and take initiative to define, document, and socialize process improvements
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.
- 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.
Skills
Required:ML data collection coordinationTechnical documentationCross-functional collaborationPrivacy and data handling
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical and dental coverage
- retirement benefits
- a range of discounted products and free services
- reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition
- discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation (may be eligible)
- Apple shareholder participation through stock programs
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Last updated Sep 25, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
About Apple
Discover the innovative world of Apple and shop everything iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, plus explore accessories, entertainment, and expert device support.
Discover the innovative world of Apple and shop everything iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, plus explore accessories, entertainment, and expert device support.
AirPods Max 2Apple ArcadeApple CardApple Fitness+Apple MusicApple TVApple TV+Apple Watch Series 11
More open roles at Apple
- Senior UI Software Engineer, Cocoa2d agoCupertino, CA · Software and Services
- AIML - Machine Learning Engineer, Visual Intelligence Technology2d agoHybrid (Cupertino/Santa Clara/SSeattle area (3 work locations)) · Visual Intelligence Technology
- Physical Design Methodology CAD Engineer2d agoHybrid (Sunnyvale, California), Hybrid (Austin, Texas) +3 more · Hardware Technology CAD team / Silicon Technologies group
- Sr. ML Optimization Engineer, ASE Efficiency2d agoHybrid (San Diego, CA) · Software and Services
- Sr. ML Optimization Engineer, ASE Efficiency2d agoHybrid (Seattle, WA) · Software and Services