Software Engineer in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) — Apple, Cupertino, USA (2026)

If you have been working with NLP and machine learning and want to build things that actually reach billions of people, this Apple NLP Software Engineer role in Cupertino is worth a close look. Apple is hiring a Software Engineer in Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning to join their Machine Learning and AI team in Cupertino, California — with a second work location option in Seattle, Washington. The team behind Apple Intelligence, Writing Tools, and Smart Replies is looking for someone who can turn NLP research into real, shipping features.

Quick Job Overview

About Apple

Apple needs little introduction, but here is what matters for this role. Apple is one of the world’s largest technology companies, headquartered in Cupertino, California. With over 160,000 employees globally, Apple designs, manufactures, and sells consumer electronics, software, and services. Their Machine Learning and AI division is central to products like Apple Intelligence, Siri, Writing Tools, and on-device AI features that ship across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other platforms. Apple is known for its strong emphasis on privacy-first AI, on-device processing, and a culture that values deep technical expertise combined with cross-functional collaboration. For engineers, Among Apple Machine Learning jobs in the USA, this position offers the rare chance to work on ML systems that reach hundreds of millions of users from day one.

What This Role Involves

As an Apple NLP Software Engineer, this is a hands-on role that sits right at the intersection of NLP, machine learning, and software engineering. You will not just be running experiments in a notebook — you will be building NLP and Generative AI features that ship inside Apple products. The team responsible for this role has already worked as an Apple Writing Tools engineer building Apple Intelligence’s Writing Tools, Smart Replies, and the Transformer models behind the Apple Keyboard across all platforms. Your day-to-day would involve text processing, running empirical experiments to build state-of-the-art NLP models, and productizing Generative AI features — including Natural Language Processing for Apple Intelligence. You would collaborate closely with other engineering teams working on machine learning and NLP across the company. The role description emphasizes that this is a highly multi-functional position with plenty of cross-functional collaboration and high visibility for your work. If you enjoy working end-to-end — from research through to deployment — this could be a strong fit.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Apple lists the following as minimum qualifications for this role:

• Experience writing production software in Swift, C/C++, Objective-C, or Python
• Good machine learning (ML) fundamentals
• B.S., M.S., or PhD in Computer Science or a related field

They also list preferred qualifications — things that would help you stand out but are not strictly required:

• Hands-on experience using open-source ML toolkits such as PyTorch
• Hands-on experience as an Apple Generative AI engineer building NLP or Generative AI applications
• Excellent communication and organizational skills

Pay attention to the production software requirement. Apple is not just looking for researchers — they want engineers who can write clean, deployable code. The preference for Swift, C/C++, or Objective-C alongside Python tells you this role involves shipping features on Apple platforms, not just building models in Python notebooks.

Salary, Benefits, and Relocation Support

Apple states the base pay range for this role as $126,800 to $220,900 per year. Your actual base pay within this range will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Beyond base salary, Apple offers a comprehensive package that includes the following: eligibility for discretionary restricted stock unit (RSU) awards, the ability to purchase Apple stock at a discount through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and tuition reimbursement for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple. This role may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation assistance. Apple notes that all benefit, compensation, and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Work Permit / Visa Note

Apple does not explicitly mention visa sponsorship or work authorization for this role on the job posting page. That does not mean sponsorship is unavailable — Apple is a major US employer that routinely sponsors H-1B and other work visas for engineering roles. However, because the posting does not confirm it, we cannot state it as fact. If you are an international applicant who would need visa support, you should reach out to Apple’s recruiting team directly to ask about sponsorship for this specific position before applying, or check with an immigration attorney about your options.

Who This Role May Suit

This role is a good match if you have a solid background in NLP and machine learning and you want to move beyond research into building real products. If you have experience shipping production code in Python, Swift, C++, or Objective-C and you are comfortable working across the full NLP pipeline — from data processing to model training to deployment — this is the kind of position where you can have real impact. People with a computer science degree (B.S., M.S., or PhD) and hands-on experience with PyTorch, Generative AI, or NLP applications would be competitive candidates. If you thrive in collaborative, cross-functional environments and want your work to reach a massive audience, this Apple NLP Software Engineer position offers that kind of scale.

How to Apply Officially

You can apply directly through Apple’s official careers page. This is the only legitimate way to apply for this role. Do not apply through any third-party site, social media post, or recruiter who cannot verify their connection to Apple. Use the official link below:

Apply on Apple Careers — Job ID 200666537-0836

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis, so there is no listed deadline. That said, roles at Apple can close without warning, so applying sooner rather than later is always wise.

Required Documents

Apple does not list specific required documents on the job posting. Typically, for a software engineering role like this, you would need:

• An up-to-date resume or CV highlighting your NLP, ML, and software engineering experience
• A cover letter (optional but recommended for international applicants to explain visa status)
• Academic transcripts if you are a recent graduate
• Links to relevant projects, publications, or GitHub repositories (highly recommended for ML/NLP roles)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Apple sponsor visas for this role?

The job posting does not explicitly confirm visa sponsorship. Apple does file H-1B petitions and other work visas for engineering positions regularly, but we cannot confirm this for this specific role. If you need visa support, contact Apple’s recruiting team directly to ask before you invest time in the application process.

Can I work from the Seattle office instead of Cupertino?

Yes, the posting lists both Cupertino, California and Seattle, Washington as work locations. You can select your preferred location when applying. Keep in mind that salary ranges may differ by location — Apple explicitly states that base pay depends on location among other factors.

Is this a remote or hybrid role?

The posting does not mention remote work. Apple’s engineering roles are typically on-site at one of their offices, though some teams have hybrid arrangements. You should confirm the work model with the recruiter during the application process.

What is the salary for this position?

Apple lists the base pay range as $126,800 to $220,900 per year. The actual offer depends on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Total compensation also includes stock awards, bonuses, and benefits, which can be significant at Apple.

Do I need a PhD to apply?

No. The minimum qualification is a B.S., M.S., or PhD in Computer Science or a related field. A bachelor’s degree meets the minimum requirement, though an advanced degree may make you more competitive for this kind of ML-focused role.

Relevant Resources

• H-1B Visa Sponsorship Jobs Guide 2026 — Eligibility, Lottery, Fees and Application Process
• International Resume Format: How to Write a CV for Jobs Abroad (2026)
• Questions to Ask Employer in Interview — 20 Smart Questions for International Jobs
• International Jobs 2026: Reality Check, Scam Red Flags and Safe Apply Guide

Disclaimer

JobsRivo is an independent job listing portal and is not the employer. Applicants should apply only through the official employer website. JobsRivo does not charge fees, process visas, or guarantee job offers.