AIML - Site Lead & Lead Researcher, Foundation Models

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Site Lead & Lead Researcher to oversee a strategic hub within our Apple Foundation Models (AFM) organization. You will lead a team of engineers and researchers responsible for building and advancing foundation models at Apple. Your leadership will drive infrastructure development, dataset creation, and model innovation with fundamental general capabilities such as understanding and generation of text, images, speech, videos, and other modalities. You will guide the application of these models to transform Apple products while fostering a culture of research excellence and collaborative innovation. As a Site Lead, you will balance strategic oversight with hands-on research direction, ensuring your team tackles the most challenging problems in foundation models while maintaining alignment with Apple's broader AI vision. - Lead and mentor a close-knit and fast-growing team of world-class engineers and scientists tackling some of the most challenging problems in foundation models and deep learning, including natural language processing, multi-modal understanding, and combining learning with knowledge set research direction and strategy for your site. - Identifying and developing novel applications of deep learning in Apple products while maintaining technical rigor and innovation. - Own end-to-end execution of research initiatives from problem formulation through publication, product integration, and impact measurement. - Foster collaboration across teams and stakeholder groups, bridging research, product engineering, and business objectives to ensure breakthrough ideas reach millions of users. - Drive organizational excellence through hiring, career development, and creating an environment where diverse talents thrive and contribute their best work.