Machine Learning Manager, Keyboard Internationalization & NLP
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 11, 2026. First seen by Alion on Nov 10, 2026. Apple scores A on the Alion truth index.
We build the keyboards, Input Methods and linguistic intelligence that let people around the world type naturally on Apple devices in every language they use. From core Input Methods and autocorrection to the ML and NLP models behind next-word prediction, transliteration, and multilingual input, our work touches all platforms - iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS - in every market Apple ships to. Getting input right in Japanese, Hindi, Arabic, or Thai is a fundamentally different problem than in English, and it's the challenge this team tackles.
Our team is also at the heart of Apple Intelligence. We build the NLP capabilities behind creative experiences like Genmoji and Image Playground, and we bring Intelligence directly into the typing experience with Write with Siri, Proofreading, AutoFill and more.
We are looking for a passionate and experienced Engineering Manager to lead the Input & Internationalization NLP team in Tokyo.
Description
In this role, you will:
* Lead a team of software engineers and ML/NLP engineers building the core technologies behind the most seamless and intelligent input experience for users worldwide, whatever their language or script.
* Set the technical vision and roadmap, drive project execution, and deliver features that surprise and delight customers.
* Partner with teams such as ML Platforms/Tooling, Human Interface/Design, Localization and Product Marketing to solve design and engineering challenges and make sure the next generation of input experiences reaches all Apple users.
* Build and grow a strong and diverse team, promote a healthy team culture, drive process improvements, and support the career growth of team members.
Minimum Qualifications
Engineering management experience, leading high-performing teams in traditional software development or applied ML/NLP.
Broad technical knowledge to earn your team's trust and make sound judgment calls across disciplines, including:
Software engineering: A background in software architecture and systems engineering, and experience shipping consumer-facing features or system-level frameworks at scale.
Applied ML and NLP: Strong foundational knowledge of modern ML and NLP (e.g. language models, tokenization, evaluation methodology), with practical experience applying it to production systems with strict latency and resource constraints.
An understanding of the technical and linguistic challenges posed by different languages and scripts (e.g. Chinese and Japanese Input Methods, right-to-left scripts), and empathy for global users.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to partner effectively across functions and time zones.
Preferred Qualifications
BS, MS or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Computational Linguistics or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience.
A track record of shipping high-impact keyboard, Input Method, or consumer-facing AI features at scale.
Experience with LLM and on-device ML techniques such as fine-tuning (including SFT and parameter-efficient methods like LoRA), RLHF, data synthesis, automatic evaluation and RAG.
A background in computational linguistics, multilingual text processing, or Input Method technologies.
Proficiency in an East Asian language (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.) or a Southeast Asian language (Thai, Burmese, etc.).
A record of publications, patents or technical leadership.