Applied AI Engineer

Apple Ads (Data Insights) is looking for an Applied AI Engineer in Austin, Texas (onsite) to help build AI-powered analytics and decision-support systems. In this role, you will develop an AI agent platform that connects large language models to Apple’s internal data infrastructure and tools, with a focus on orchestration, retrieval, evaluation, and production reliability.

The work centers on turning domain expertise and analytical workflows into reusable AI capabilities. You will also help ensure agent outputs are observable and trustworthy by building evaluation frameworks and monitoring systems that support accuracy, reliability, and performance.

Responsibilities

• Design and build scalable AI agent systems that connect LLMs with data infrastructure, APIs, and analytical tools.
• Advance agent orchestration, including tool calling, memory, MCPs, context retrieval, and intelligent routing.
• Develop reusable platform components that let teams build and extend AI-powered analytical workflows.
• Build evaluation frameworks and monitoring systems to improve agent observability, accuracy, reliability, and performance.
• Apply machine learning and analytical principles to define and improve online and offline metrics that support retrieval quality, reasoning, accuracy, and traceability of AI-generated insights.
• Develop AI-native solutions from concept to production, optimizing for scalability, latency, and maintainability.
• Partner with engineers, data scientists, and business stakeholders to translate domain expertise and analytical workflows into reusable AI capabilities.

Requirements

• Experience architecting and scaling production AI agent platforms, including multi-step orchestration, tool execution, memory, and context management.
• Experience developing LLM evaluation frameworks, regression benchmarks, and observability systems to improve agent reliability and reasoning quality.
• Experience with advanced retrieval techniques, embeddings, model fine-tuning, or inference optimization.
• Experience building natural-language-to-SQL systems, analytical agents, or AI-powered decision-support platforms.
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related technical field.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Machine Learning, Data Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience designing, building, and deploying production software systems, with strong Python programming and software engineering fundamentals.
• Hands-on experience building and deploying LLM-powered applications using agentic workflows, tool calling, RAG, or related techniques.
• Experience with large-scale data platforms or distributed data systems.
• Solid foundation in AI, machine learning, statistics, and software engineering principles.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Technologies

• Python
• LLMs
• MCPs
• RAG
• Tool calling
• Embeddings
• Model fine-tuning
• Inference optimization
• Natural-language-to-SQL

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage
• Retirement benefits
• A range of discounted products and free services
• Reimbursement for certain educational expenses, including tuition
• Opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs
• Discretionary restricted stock unit awards eligibility
• Ability to purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Discretionary bonuses or commission payments (as applicable)
• Relocation (as applicable)

Pay & Benefits

The base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $277,600 per year. Base pay depends on skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Apple employees may be eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. This role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Apple benefit, compensation, and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.