AI Research Engineer Jobs in Texas
AI Research Engineer jobs in Texas are among the most actively hired technical roles in the state, concentrated in artificial intelligence infrastructure, large-scale machine learning systems, and applied research for defense, energy, and enterprise software. Hiring is strongest in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, where employers like Dell Technologies, Texas Instruments, and ExxonMobil maintain established AI and data science teams. The most in-demand specialties include natural language processing, computer vision, and reinforcement learning, with openings at every level from recent graduates through principal researchers. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Description
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) engineer will develop AI/ML proof-of-concept demonstrations and build new AI/ML solutions that scale with TxDOT’s pipelines and workflows. The role will be embedded within the Traffic Technology team with the goal to develop AI/ML for Operational Technology that improves the safety and operations of the TxDOT roadway system. The AI engineer will work across teams such as Traffic Technology, ITD AI team, and TRF to gather business requirements, develop AI software, and demonstrate successful solutions to end-users.
**Core Responsibilities**
Gather and document AI solution requirements from business stakeholders.
Develop AI proof-of-concepts and transition successful prototypes into production systems.
Design and implement scalable AI pipelines for enterprise applications.
Train, fine-tune, and validate AI/ML models for optimal performance.
Write clean, efficient software code and scripts for AI workflows.
Conduct rigorous testing and quality assurance of AI models and outputs.
Ensure compliance with organizational IT governance, security, and audit standards.
**Stakeholder Engagement & Communication**
Act as liason between Traffic Technology team, business stakeholders, and automation developers.
Facilitate requirements gathering and ensure clarity in AI solution design.
Communicate progress, risks, and issues to project sponsors and leadership teams.
**Delivery Excellence & Governance**
Ensure automation projects comply with TxDOT’s IT governance, security, and audit requirements.
Promote reusable components and standardized AI development practices.
Conduct post-implementation reviews to capture lessons learned and improve delivery methods.
**Team Coordination & Support**
Collaborate with data engineers, business analysts, and infrastructure teams.
Provide guidance on AI best practices and assist in troubleshooting.
Support knowledge sharing and continuous improvement within the team.
MINIMUM YEARS OF EXCPERIENCE SKILL & QUALIFICATION
--- Python – comfortable writing and debugging Python code, developed through coursework, internships, or personal projects
--- Machine Learning Fundamentals - Exposure to building and training ML models using frameworks such as scikit-learn, PyTorch, or TensorFlow
(academic, internship, or personal projects)
--- Cloud Platforms - Familiarity with at least one major cloud provider (AWS, Azure, GCP, or OCI); coursework, sandbox, or free-tier experience is
acceptable
Version Control - Experience using Git/GitHub for collaborative development
--- Databases - Working knowledge of SQL
--- Communication & Problem-Solving - Strong analytical skills and a demonstrated willingness to learn production engineering practices (Docker,
CI/CD, cloud deployment) on the job
--- Command Line Interface (CLI) - Basic comfort navigating and running commands in a terminal environment
PREFERRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATION
--- Exposure to Docker or other containerization concepts through coursework or personal projects
--- Coursework or personal projects involving computer vision (PyTorch/TensorFlow, OpenCV) or other applied ML domains
--- Familiarity with Bash or PowerShell scripting for basic automation
--- Familiarity with cloud AI services (e.g., Azure AI, AWS SageMaker, GCP Vertex AI) through coursework, certifications, or personal projects
--- Exposure to NoSQL or vector databases
--- A portfolio of academic, capstone, hackathon, or open-source ML projects (e.g., a GitHub profile)
--- Coursework or interest in cloud-based CI/CD pipelines (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, or similar)
--- Curiosity about applied AI/ML research and current industry tools
--- Exposure to data pipelines or streaming concepts (e.g., Kafka) through coursework or projects
Pay: $33.00 - $38.00 per hour
Expected hours: No more than 33.0 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
Work Location: In person
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Find AI Research Engineer JobsAI Research Engineer Jobs by City in Texas
Where Texas roles are concentrated, by current openings.
AI Research Engineer Job Market in Texas
A snapshot from current Texas openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Technology & Software
- Medical Devices
- Science & Research
- Banking & Financial Services
What Texas Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in AI research engineer jobs across Texas.
- Master's or PhD in computer science, machine learning, or a related technical field
- Hands-on experience building and deploying deep learning models in production environments
- Proficiency in Python and frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX
- Strong mathematical foundation in linear algebra, probability, and optimization theory
- Experience with large language models, computer vision, or reinforcement learning systems
- Ability to communicate research findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
AI Research Engineer Jobs in Texas: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a ai research engineer in Texas?
The most direct path is earning a bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or mathematics, followed by a master's or PhD with a research focus in machine learning or AI. Texas does not require a state-issued license for this role. Texas universities including UT Austin, Rice, and Texas A&M produce strong research pipelines, and large Texas employers regularly recruit directly from those graduate programs and research labs.
How much do AI research engineers make in Texas?
AI research engineers in Texas earn a median of about $121,210 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,480 for the lowest 10% to over $204,250 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire ai research engineers in Texas?
Employers hiring ai research engineers in Texas right now include University of Texas at El Paso, AMD, and Texas A&M University, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Texas's concentration of defense contractors, energy majors, and enterprise technology firms means demand extends well beyond pure software companies into industries applying AI to physical systems and large-scale operations.
Which Texas cities have the most ai research engineer jobs?
El Paso, Austin, and Houston have the most ai research engineer openings in Texas. Austin's tech sector and university research ecosystem drive the highest concentration, while Dallas benefits from a dense corridor of enterprise software and financial services firms, and Houston's energy and medical center industries generate consistent demand for applied AI research roles.
Are there remote ai research engineer jobs in Texas?
Yes, and more than most fields. AI research engineering is largely desk-based and computationally focused, making it well-suited to remote and hybrid arrangements. About 47% of ai research engineer openings tied to Texas are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how broadly distributed research teams have become. Roles involving model training, literature review, and algorithm development tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions requiring on-site cluster access or lab hardware are typically in-person.
How can I get hired as a ai research engineer in Texas with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is a research internship or graduate research assistant role, which Texas employers like Texas Instruments, Dell, and major medical centers in the Texas Medical Center actively use to pipeline junior talent. Candidates without industry experience can also target adjacent roles such as machine learning engineer or data scientist to build applied credentials. A strong GitHub portfolio, published research, or a Kaggle competition record carries significant weight with Texas hiring teams when formal experience is thin.
Where can I find and apply to ai research engineer jobs in Texas?
You can find and apply to ai research engineer jobs in Texas on Migrate Mate, which lists current Texas openings. Find roles that fit your experience and target location, then apply directly to the employers posting them.
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