ML Software Engineering Manager - Apple Music

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. The work you do here has the potential to reach hundreds of millions of people, and nowhere is that more true than Apple Music, where technology and artistry meet to connect listeners with the music they love. The Apple Music ML team is looking for an ML Software Engineering Manager to lead a team at the forefront of music recommendation and personalization. This is a rare opportunity to shape how tens of millions of people discover music every day, working alongside world-class engineers, researchers, and product partners to build systems that are both technically ambitious and deeply human. ## Description As an ML Software Engineering Manager on the Apple Music team, you will lead a team of talented engineers responsible for designing, building, and shipping state-of-the-art music recommendation and personalization systems. You will own the technical direction of the team, partner closely with Research and Product, and ensure your engineers have the support, clarity, and growth opportunities they need to do the best work of their careers. You will collaborate regularly with Apple teams globally, working across time zones to deliver cohesive, high-quality experiences at scale. ## Responsibilities Lead, mentor, and grow a team of ML software engineers, fostering a culture of inclusion, ownership, and technical excellence Define and drive the technical vision for Apple Music's recommendation and personalization systems, enabling fast model iteration at scale Architect and oversee the development of high-quality, production-grade ML systems and personalization experiences Partner cross-functionally with Research, Engineering, and Product teams to align on requirements, priorities, and system design Communicate clearly with stakeholders on project status, technical tradeoffs, API design, and system architecture Recruit and develop top engineering talent, maintaining Apple's standard of excellence and commitment to diversity ## Minimum qualifications 3+ years of experience managing software engineering teams 5+ years of experience building and shipping high-quality software products Hands-on experience designing and shipping products in the recommendation systems space Strong computer science fundamentals and system design experience Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience ## Preferred qualifications Deep understanding of modern recommendation system architectures and the tradeoffs involved in building them at scale Experience with machine learning frameworks and familiarity with end-to-end ML model development lifecycles Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical tradeoffs for both technical and non-technical audiences Experience leading or collaborating with geographically distributed teams across time zones Track record of attracting, developing, and retaining strong engineering talent in a competitive environment Passion for music and a curiosity about how technology can deepen the connection between people and the artists they love