H-1B Visa Machine Learning Scientist Jobs
Machine Learning Scientist roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations under the computer and mathematical sciences SOC category, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, statistics, or a related field. Most employers filing LCAs for these roles list prevailing wage levels III or IV, reflecting the research-heavy nature of the position.
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Join the small-molecule team within AI for Drug Discovery (AI4DD), formerly Prescient Design, at Roche and Genentech’s Computational Sciences Center of Excellence as a Machine Learning Scientist / Senior Machine Learning Scientist building agents for applied small-molecule drug design. You will develop autonomous, LLM-driven agentic workflows that orchestrate ML models, physics-based methods, and cheminformatics tools to accelerate discovery, working with world-class chemists and structural biologists.
The Opportunity:
- Design, build, and apply agentic workflows and ML models for key challenges in small-molecule drug design.
- Fine-tune foundation models for drug discovery relevant topics using internal and external datasets and tools.
- Optimize agent-derived hypotheses in close collaboration with world-class computational and medicinal chemists and structural biologists.
- Drive scientific impact through publications, open-source releases, and conference talks.
- Collaborate widely with computational and experimental researchers at Roche and with academic partners.
Who you are:
- You are experienced developing LLM-driven agents for scientific workflows and you understand how to orchestrate tools and models reliably.
- You bring strong machine-learning foundations in linear algebra, probability and optimization, with hands-on experience with GNNs, sequence/language models and reinforcement learning.
- You are fluent in Python and modern agentic coding environments such as LangChain, ML frameworks such as PyTorch or JAX, as well as cheminformatics toolkits like RDKit or OpenEye.
- You hold a PhD or equivalent research depth in machine learning, computer science, chemical engineering or a related quantitative field such as physics or statistics.
- You have a record of scientific excellence evidenced by journal and conference publications or a public portfolio of relevant projects (e.g. hosted on GitHub/GitLab).
Preferred:
- Hands-on experience orchestrating multi-tool or multi-agent scientific pipelines.
- Hands-on experience working along the small molecule drug discovery value chain and an excitement to engage with chemists.
- Familiarity with structural biology datasets.
If you want to put autonomous AI to work discovering the medicines patients need next, apply now and help build the future of drug design at Roche.
The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of California for the Machine Learning Engineer is $147,600 - $274,000, and the Senior Machine Learning Engineer for California is $167,400 - $310,800. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.
Benefits
Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.
If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.
JOB FACTS
- Job Sub Category: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Schedule: Full time
- Job Type: Regular
- Posted Date: Jun 19th 2026
- Job ID: 202606-115525
The Position
Join the small-molecule team within AI for Drug Discovery (AI4DD), formerly Prescient Design, at Roche and Genentech’s Computational Sciences Center of Excellence as a Machine Learning Scientist / Senior Machine Learning Scientist building agents for applied small-molecule drug design. You will develop autonomous, LLM-driven agentic workflows that orchestrate ML models, physics-based methods, and cheminformatics tools to accelerate discovery, working with world-class chemists and structural biologists.
The Opportunity:
- Design, build, and apply agentic workflows and ML models for key challenges in small-molecule drug design.
- Fine-tune foundation models for drug discovery relevant topics using internal and external datasets and tools.
- Optimize agent-derived hypotheses in close collaboration with world-class computational and medicinal chemists and structural biologists.
- Drive scientific impact through publications, open-source releases, and conference talks.
- Collaborate widely with computational and experimental researchers at Roche and with academic partners.
Who you are:
- You are experienced developing LLM-driven agents for scientific workflows and you understand how to orchestrate tools and models reliably.
- You bring strong machine-learning foundations in linear algebra, probability and optimization, with hands-on experience with GNNs, sequence/language models and reinforcement learning.
- You are fluent in Python and modern agentic coding environments such as LangChain, ML frameworks such as PyTorch or JAX, as well as cheminformatics toolkits like RDKit or OpenEye.
- You hold a PhD or equivalent research depth in machine learning, computer science, chemical engineering or a related quantitative field such as physics or statistics.
- You have a record of scientific excellence evidenced by journal and conference publications or a public portfolio of relevant projects (e.g. hosted on GitHub/GitLab).
Preferred:
- Hands-on experience orchestrating multi-tool or multi-agent scientific pipelines.
- Hands-on experience working along the small molecule drug discovery value chain and an excitement to engage with chemists.
- Familiarity with structural biology datasets.
If you want to put autonomous AI to work discovering the medicines patients need next, apply now and help build the future of drug design at Roche.
The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of California for the Machine Learning Engineer is $147,600 - $274,000, and the Senior Machine Learning Engineer for California is $167,400 - $310,800. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.
Benefits
Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.
If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.
JOB FACTS
- Job Sub Category: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Schedule: Full time
- Job Type: Regular
- Posted Date: Jun 19th 2026
- Job ID: 202606-115525
See all 959+ H-1B Visa Machine Learning Scientist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Machine Learning Scientist
Map your SOC code before applying
Machine Learning Scientist roles are typically filed under SOC 15-2051 (Data Scientists) or 15-1299 (Computer and Information Research Scientists). Confirming which code your target employer uses helps you verify the prevailing wage tier in the OFLC Wage Search before you negotiate.
Document research output as specialty occupation evidence
USCIS scrutinizes ML Scientist petitions for specialty occupation proof. Compile publications, patents, conference presentations, and model deployment records now. Adjudicators weigh whether the role requires a specific theoretical body of knowledge, not just technical tools.
Target employers with cap-exempt filing history
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated labs are cap-exempt H-1B employers. If you're mid-lottery cycle, these organizations can file year-round. Check whether a research lab arm of a tech company qualifies before assuming you must wait for the next registration window.
Use Migrate Mate to filter verified H-1B sponsors
Search Machine Learning Scientist roles on Migrate Mate to see employers with confirmed LCA filing history for this occupation code. That filters out postings from companies that list the title but have never sponsored the visa category.
Negotiate premium processing into your offer timeline
Standard H-1B adjudication runs several months, which matters if you're on OPT with a hard end date. Ask hiring managers early whether the company routinely uses USCIS premium processing for ML roles, since research-focused teams sometimes have different approval workflows than engineering orgs.
Align your degree field to the job description language
If your degree is in physics or applied mathematics rather than computer science, the employer's job description must explicitly require theoretical depth in those fields. Request that the offer letter and LCA job duties reflect this connection before the petition is filed with USCIS.
H-1B Visa Machine Learning Scientist: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Machine Learning Scientist roles qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Yes. Machine Learning Scientist positions qualify because they require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field such as computer science, statistics, mathematics, or a related discipline. USCIS evaluates the role itself, not just the job title, so the employer's job description must clearly reflect that a specific theoretical background is required, not merely preferred.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for Machine Learning Scientists?
Technology companies, financial services firms, pharmaceutical companies, and research universities all file LCAs for Machine Learning Scientist roles. You can browse employers with verified LCA filing history for this occupation on Migrate Mate, which surfaces DOL disclosure data by job title and location so you're applying to companies that have actually sponsored the role before.
What prevailing wage level applies to Machine Learning Scientist H-1B petitions?
Most Machine Learning Scientist petitions are filed at DOL wage levels III or IV, which correspond to experienced and fully competent workers with specialized expertise. The exact level depends on the SOC code the employer selects and the geographic work location. You can verify the applicable wage for a specific location using the OFLC Wage Search before or during salary negotiations.
Can a Machine Learning Scientist work remotely on an H-1B?
Remote work is permitted, but the employer must file a new or amended LCA for each physical work location where you spend substantial time. If you relocate or work from a different state for an extended period, the employer needs to post the new LCA and update USCIS. Short-term travel to client sites or conferences generally doesn't trigger an amendment requirement.
Does a PhD help when applying for Machine Learning Scientist roles with H-1B sponsorship?
A PhD strengthens both your candidacy and the specialty occupation argument in the H-1B petition. Roles explicitly requiring a doctoral degree face less USCIS scrutiny on specialty occupation grounds because the advanced degree requirement is unambiguous. For roles where a master's degree is the stated minimum, a PhD can also support a higher prevailing wage level classification, which affects the offer structure.