Principal AI & Data Governance Architect

Apple • Cupertino, CA

6h

About The Position

Apple is building a machine learning lifecycle platform that powers generative AI features across Apple Services, including Music, TV+, iCloud, App Store, and Sports. The Principal AI & Data Governance Architect will define and drive the holistic governance and compliance architecture for the AI and ML platform. The role focuses on understanding data flows, model development, and system integrations, then designing platform capabilities that help Apple meet its legal, regulatory, and ethical obligations. The architect will connect compliance requirements with engineering realities and turn them into practical technical solutions.

Requirements

• Deep experience in data governance, ML governance, or compliance architecture in complex, large-scale technical environments.
• Deep understanding of ML workflows, data engineering, and ML infrastructure.
• Proven track record working cross-functionally with legal, privacy, compliance, and engineering teams to define and implement governance solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to refine legal and regulatory requirements into technical architecture and engineering deliverables.
• Ability to translate prescriptive or loosely defined compliance obligations into precise technical requirements while preserving their intent.
• Experience engaging with legal and policy stakeholders to shape policy guidance that is technically coherent.
• Exceptional ability to operate in ambiguity and drive clarity across organizations with different vocabularies and priorities.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with AI/ML regulatory frameworks and emerging legislation, such as the EU AI Act, GDPR, CCPA, and data residency requirements.
• Experience designing or implementing data classification systems, data catalogs, or model registries in a production ML environment.
• Experience building governance frameworks for internal developer platforms or MLOps tooling.
• Comfort presenting complex compliance and architectural topics to senior and executive engineering and legal audiences.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a similar degree.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive governance and compliance architecture for the AI and ML platform.
• Engage deeply with data flows, model development, and system integrations to design governance capabilities across the platform.
• Translate legal and regulatory obligations into precise technical requirements and engineering deliverables.
• Work cross-functionally with legal, privacy, compliance, and engineering teams to define and implement governance solutions.
• Engage with legal and policy stakeholders upstream to help shape technically coherent policy guidance.
• Provide feedback in design and architectural discussions involving ML workflows, data engineering, and ML infrastructure.
• Connect requirements across organizations and drive clarity amid ambiguity.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: No Education Listed