J-1 Visa Machine Learning Research Jobs
Machine Learning Research positions in the U.S. typically fall under the J-1 Research Scholar or Specialist category, with sponsorship issued by a State Department-designated organization rather than your host employer. Placement at universities, national labs, or AI research institutes is common, and some positions carry a two-year home residency requirement.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Enterprise ML team works on the front lines of the AI revolution, partnering deeply with customers to identify high-impact business problems and build cutting-edge AI systems using Scale’s proprietary research, data, and infrastructure—unlocking domain expertise through high-quality data and expert feedback. As Director of Enterprise ML, you will lead a world-class team of research scientists and engineers, define the research roadmap, and drive execution from early prototyping to deployment. You’ll thrive in a fast-moving environment, balancing deep technical leadership with people management, vision setting, and delivery. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in ambiguity, understands both frontier GenAI capabilities and their limitations, and is motivated by turning research into durable, production-ready systems.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead, mentor and grow a team of research scientists and engineers working on GenAI research initiatives (e.g., evaluation, post-training, agents, RL environments).
- Define and drive a multi-year research roadmap: identify key scientific questions, set milestones, allocate resources, and ensure rigorous execution.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, product, client-facing teams and external academic or industry partners to translate research into components, insights, and actionable outcomes.
- Communicate compellingly: publish research, present at conferences, engage in open-source contributions, and represent the team externally.
- Drive an inclusive, high-performing culture: help your team through technical challenges, provide growth opportunities, and attract top talent.
- Stay deeply connected to the research community, understanding major trends, and helping set them.
- Thrive in a high-energy, fast-paced startup environment and are ready to dedicate the time and effort needed to drive impactful results.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 8+ years of hands-on research experience (PhD or equivalent preferred) in machine learning, deep learning, generative models, agent/rl systems or related domains.
- A strong track record of research excellence, including publications in top-tier ML/AI venues (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, ACL, etc.).
- Experience and track of recording in landing major research impacts in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience leading or managing research teams. You’re excited to mentor, coach and develop talent.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. You are able to articulate research ideas and outcomes to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence executives, customers, and cross-functional partners.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Hands-on experience building and deploying agent-based, tool-augmented, or workflow-driven LLM systems in enterprise environments.
- Prior ownership of enterprise AI platforms, internal ML products, or customer-facing AI services at scale.
- Proven track record of partnering directly with enterprises to identify high-impact use cases and deliver measurable business outcomes.
COMPENSATION
- Compensation packages at Scale for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position, determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, interview performance, and relevant education or training. Scale employees in eligible roles are also granted equity based compensation, subject to Board of Director approval. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process, and confirm whether the hired role will be eligible for equity grant. You’ll also receive benefits including, but not limited to: Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, a learning and development stipend, and generous PTO. Additionally, this role may be eligible for additional benefits such as a commuter stipend.
LOCATION
For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full-time position in the locations of San Francisco, New York, Seattle is: $289,800—$362,250 USD.
EEO STATEMENT
We believe that everyone should be able to bring their whole selves to work, which is why we are proud to be an inclusive and equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability status, gender identity or Veteran status.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation in the application or recruiting process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@scale.com. Please see the United States Department of Labor's Know Your Rights poster for additional information.
We comply with the United States Department of Labor's Pay Transparency provision.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Our policy requires a 90-day waiting period before reconsidering candidates for the same role. This allows us to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation of all applicants.
About us
At Scale, our mission is to develop reliable AI systems for the world's most important decisions. Our products provide the high-quality data and full-stack technologies that power the world's leading models, and help enterprises and governments build, deploy, and oversee AI applications that deliver real impact. We work closely with industry leaders like Meta, Cisco, DLA Piper, Mayo Clinic, Time Inc., the Government of Qatar, and U.S. government agencies including the Army and Air Force. We are expanding our team to accelerate the development of AI applications.
DATA USAGE NOTICE
We collect, retain and use personal data for our professional business purposes, including notifying you of job opportunities that may be of interest and sharing with our affiliates. We limit the personal data we collect to that which we believe is appropriate and necessary to manage applicants’ needs, provide our services, and comply with applicable laws. Any information we collect in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our internal policies and programs designed to protect personal data. Please see our privacy policy for additional information.
INTRODUCTION
The Enterprise ML team works on the front lines of the AI revolution, partnering deeply with customers to identify high-impact business problems and build cutting-edge AI systems using Scale’s proprietary research, data, and infrastructure—unlocking domain expertise through high-quality data and expert feedback. As Director of Enterprise ML, you will lead a world-class team of research scientists and engineers, define the research roadmap, and drive execution from early prototyping to deployment. You’ll thrive in a fast-moving environment, balancing deep technical leadership with people management, vision setting, and delivery. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in ambiguity, understands both frontier GenAI capabilities and their limitations, and is motivated by turning research into durable, production-ready systems.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead, mentor and grow a team of research scientists and engineers working on GenAI research initiatives (e.g., evaluation, post-training, agents, RL environments).
- Define and drive a multi-year research roadmap: identify key scientific questions, set milestones, allocate resources, and ensure rigorous execution.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, product, client-facing teams and external academic or industry partners to translate research into components, insights, and actionable outcomes.
- Communicate compellingly: publish research, present at conferences, engage in open-source contributions, and represent the team externally.
- Drive an inclusive, high-performing culture: help your team through technical challenges, provide growth opportunities, and attract top talent.
- Stay deeply connected to the research community, understanding major trends, and helping set them.
- Thrive in a high-energy, fast-paced startup environment and are ready to dedicate the time and effort needed to drive impactful results.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 8+ years of hands-on research experience (PhD or equivalent preferred) in machine learning, deep learning, generative models, agent/rl systems or related domains.
- A strong track record of research excellence, including publications in top-tier ML/AI venues (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, ACL, etc.).
- Experience and track of recording in landing major research impacts in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience leading or managing research teams. You’re excited to mentor, coach and develop talent.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. You are able to articulate research ideas and outcomes to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence executives, customers, and cross-functional partners.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Hands-on experience building and deploying agent-based, tool-augmented, or workflow-driven LLM systems in enterprise environments.
- Prior ownership of enterprise AI platforms, internal ML products, or customer-facing AI services at scale.
- Proven track record of partnering directly with enterprises to identify high-impact use cases and deliver measurable business outcomes.
COMPENSATION
- Compensation packages at Scale for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position, determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, interview performance, and relevant education or training. Scale employees in eligible roles are also granted equity based compensation, subject to Board of Director approval. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process, and confirm whether the hired role will be eligible for equity grant. You’ll also receive benefits including, but not limited to: Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, a learning and development stipend, and generous PTO. Additionally, this role may be eligible for additional benefits such as a commuter stipend.
LOCATION
For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full-time position in the locations of San Francisco, New York, Seattle is: $289,800—$362,250 USD.
EEO STATEMENT
We believe that everyone should be able to bring their whole selves to work, which is why we are proud to be an inclusive and equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability status, gender identity or Veteran status.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation in the application or recruiting process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@scale.com. Please see the United States Department of Labor's Know Your Rights poster for additional information.
We comply with the United States Department of Labor's Pay Transparency provision.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Our policy requires a 90-day waiting period before reconsidering candidates for the same role. This allows us to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation of all applicants.
About us
At Scale, our mission is to develop reliable AI systems for the world's most important decisions. Our products provide the high-quality data and full-stack technologies that power the world's leading models, and help enterprises and governments build, deploy, and oversee AI applications that deliver real impact. We work closely with industry leaders like Meta, Cisco, DLA Piper, Mayo Clinic, Time Inc., the Government of Qatar, and U.S. government agencies including the Army and Air Force. We are expanding our team to accelerate the development of AI applications.
DATA USAGE NOTICE
We collect, retain and use personal data for our professional business purposes, including notifying you of job opportunities that may be of interest and sharing with our affiliates. We limit the personal data we collect to that which we believe is appropriate and necessary to manage applicants’ needs, provide our services, and comply with applicable laws. Any information we collect in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our internal policies and programs designed to protect personal data. Please see our privacy policy for additional information.
See all 57+ Machine Learning Research jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Machine Learning Research roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Machine Learning Research
Document your research output before applying
Compile publications, conference papers, and technical reports into a single portfolio. Designated J-1 sponsors evaluate your scholarly record when assessing Research Scholar category eligibility, and gaps in documentation slow DS-2019 issuance significantly.
Confirm whether your role triggers the home residency requirement
Machine Learning Research positions funded by a government agency or tied to skills on the Exchange Visitor Skills List may carry a two-year home residency requirement. Verify your situation with your prospective designated sponsor before accepting any offer.
Target host institutions with active designated sponsor agreements
Universities, national laboratories like Argonne or Oak Ridge, and private AI research institutes often hold standing agreements with sponsors like IIE or Cultural Vistas. Search Migrate Mate to filter for ML research roles at organizations already familiar with the J-1 host process.
Negotiate a training plan before your start date
Your designated sponsor must approve a written training plan before issuing the DS-2019. Have your host institution's research office draft this document early, mapping your ML research objectives to specific deliverables and supervision arrangements.
Distinguish Research Scholar from Specialist when your role is narrow
If your engagement is a defined technical consultation rather than open-ended research, your sponsor may place you in the Specialist category instead. Specialist status caps your stay at one year with no extension, so clarify program category expectations during the offer stage.
Check the wage floor against prevailing rates before signing
Even though J-1 is not employer-sponsored, your host institution must pay at least the prevailing wage for your occupation and location. Cross-reference your offered compensation against the OFLC Wage Search for your SOC code before committing.
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Find Machine Learning Research JobsMachine Learning Research J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Machine Learning Research roles?
Most Machine Learning Research positions fall under the Research Scholar category, which covers postdoctoral researchers, visiting scientists, and faculty engaged in original research at U.S. universities or research institutions. If your role is a defined technical engagement rather than open-ended inquiry, your designated sponsor may classify you under the Specialist category instead, which carries a one-year maximum stay.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a Machine Learning Research position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your host employer. Entities like IIE, Cultural Vistas, or a university's own designated sponsor office issue the DS-2019 form that initiates your visa application. Your host institution, such as a university lab or AI research center, is the placement site, but it does not hold sponsorship authority itself.
How do I find U.S. employers and research institutions open to J-1 Research Scholar placements?
Use Migrate Mate to search for Machine Learning Research roles at institutions with J-1 hosting history. Universities, federally funded research labs, and some private AI institutes regularly host J-1 exchange visitors and have established relationships with designated sponsors. Filtering by institution type helps you avoid organizations unfamiliar with the host-employer compliance requirements.
Does a Machine Learning Research J-1 position trigger the two-year home residency requirement?
It depends on two factors: whether your home country appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List for machine learning or related fields, and whether your position receives U.S. government funding. If either condition applies, you'll be subject to the two-year home residency requirement before you can change to most other U.S. visa categories. Confirm this with your designated sponsor before accepting an offer.
Can a Machine Learning Research J-1 position lead to an H-1B or other long-term work visa?
Yes, but the path depends on whether you're subject to the two-year home residency requirement. If you're not subject to it, you can apply for an H-1B or pursue other nonimmigrant categories after your J-1 ends. If you are subject to it, you'll need either a waiver or to fulfill the requirement first. Many ML researchers use J-1 as a bridge to a tenure-track position or industry role that then sponsors longer-term status.
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