Senior ML Engineer Jobs in North Carolina
Senior ML Engineer jobs in North Carolina are in strong demand, concentrated in the technology, financial services, life sciences, and defense sectors, with openings at every level from associate ML engineer through principal and staff. Charlotte, Research Triangle Park including Raleigh and Durham, and Cary are the primary hiring centers, where employers such as Red Hat, Lenovo North America, and Bank of America maintain deep ML and AI teams. The most sought-after specialties in North Carolina right now are large language model development, computer vision, and production ML infrastructure. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 23+ Senior ML Engineer jobs
About CoVar
CoVar is a small, mission-driven AI/ML R&D software company based in Durham, NC and McLean, VA. We build advanced software and machine learning systems that help the DoW detect threats in high-stakes environments and enable biomedical researchers to accelerate discoveries that save lives. Our team is composed of curious, passionate engineers who care deeply about using AI to solve real-world problems that matter.
Internship Overview
- 8-12 weeks – flexible, depending on your schedule
- In-person in Durham, NC
- Competitively paid internship
- Matched with one project based on your current expertise and interests
- Paired with an advisor or project lead who will guide you and help you set and meet your goals
- Concludes with you presenting your work either internally to CoVar or externally to the customer
Interview Timeline
- Accepting applications online from now to mid-November 2026
- Interviews starting in September 2026
- Interview steps consist of a video screening and a code screening
- Offers out by end of November 2026
About the position
You will help CoVar develop software and machine learning algorithms to solve real-world customer problems. You will work with data, develop algorithms, evaluate results, and write the production code that goes onto real-world systems. You may have the opportunity to present your work to high-level customers in the DoW and in the industry.
Qualifications
Applicants should have expertise in Python (including NumPy, pandas, and other packages) and PyTorch. Deep understanding of machine learning fundamentals (gradient descent, cross-validation, ROC curves, confusion matrices) are necessary. Knowledge of classical machine learning (e.g., support-vector-machines, logistic regression) are valued. Applicants are ideally familiar with some computer vision algorithms (e.g., for object classification (ResNet, ResNext), object detection (e.g., YOLO, CenterNet), or image segmentation) and/or other modern image processing AI/ML techniques (vision image transformers, vision language models, etc.). Previous experience with DoW customers is a plus.
Minimum qualifications
- Software expertise: Python and associated numerical and analytics packages (NumPy, pandas, etc.); git; PyTorch.
- AI/ML expertise: Machine learning fundamentals; Deep knowledge of state-of-the-art in any of the following: computer vision (preferred), natural language processing, classical machine learning, Bayesian models, etc.
- Pursuing B.S., preferably M.S. or Ph.D in engineering, math, computer science, or related field
- Excellent technical communication skills
- Ability to work in Durham, NC (relocation assistance available)
- Work authorization: US citizen
Bonus skills
- Department of War project experience
Benefits
- Competitive hourly wages
- Flexible work schedule
- Hybrid policy (in office at least 3x per week)
Email us: careers@covar.com
Visit us: www.covar.com
About CoVar
CoVar is a small, mission-driven AI/ML R&D software company based in Durham, NC and McLean, VA. We build advanced software and machine learning systems that help the DoW detect threats in high-stakes environments and enable biomedical researchers to accelerate discoveries that save lives. Our team is composed of curious, passionate engineers who care deeply about using AI to solve real-world problems that matter.
Internship Overview
- 8-12 weeks – flexible, depending on your schedule
- In-person in Durham, NC
- Competitively paid internship
- Matched with one project based on your current expertise and interests
- Paired with an advisor or project lead who will guide you and help you set and meet your goals
- Concludes with you presenting your work either internally to CoVar or externally to the customer
Interview Timeline
- Accepting applications online from now to mid-November 2026
- Interviews starting in September 2026
- Interview steps consist of a video screening and a code screening
- Offers out by end of November 2026
About the position
You will help CoVar develop software and machine learning algorithms to solve real-world customer problems. You will work with data, develop algorithms, evaluate results, and write the production code that goes onto real-world systems. You may have the opportunity to present your work to high-level customers in the DoW and in the industry.
Qualifications
Applicants should have expertise in Python (including NumPy, pandas, and other packages) and PyTorch. Deep understanding of machine learning fundamentals (gradient descent, cross-validation, ROC curves, confusion matrices) are necessary. Knowledge of classical machine learning (e.g., support-vector-machines, logistic regression) are valued. Applicants are ideally familiar with some computer vision algorithms (e.g., for object classification (ResNet, ResNext), object detection (e.g., YOLO, CenterNet), or image segmentation) and/or other modern image processing AI/ML techniques (vision image transformers, vision language models, etc.). Previous experience with DoW customers is a plus.
Minimum qualifications
- Software expertise: Python and associated numerical and analytics packages (NumPy, pandas, etc.); git; PyTorch.
- AI/ML expertise: Machine learning fundamentals; Deep knowledge of state-of-the-art in any of the following: computer vision (preferred), natural language processing, classical machine learning, Bayesian models, etc.
- Pursuing B.S., preferably M.S. or Ph.D in engineering, math, computer science, or related field
- Excellent technical communication skills
- Ability to work in Durham, NC (relocation assistance available)
- Work authorization: US citizen
Bonus skills
- Department of War project experience
Benefits
- Competitive hourly wages
- Flexible work schedule
- Hybrid policy (in office at least 3x per week)
Email us: careers@covar.com
Visit us: www.covar.com
See All 23 Senior ML Engineer Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior ML Engineer JobsSenior ML Engineer Jobs by City in North Carolina
Where North Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior ML Engineer Job Market in North Carolina
A snapshot from current North Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Telecommunications
- Electronics & Hardware
What North Carolina Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior ML engineer jobs across North Carolina.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, statistics, or a closely related field
- Five or more years of applied ML experience including model development and deployment
- Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn
- Hands-on experience with cloud ML platforms such as AWS SageMaker, Azure ML, or GCP Vertex AI
- Demonstrated ability to move models from prototype to production at scale
- Strong communication skills to translate model outputs for non-technical business stakeholders
Senior ML Engineer Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior ml engineer in North Carolina?
Becoming a senior ml engineer in North Carolina does not require a state-issued license or registration. The typical path runs through a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, data science, statistics, or electrical engineering, followed by several years building and deploying models in production environments. North Carolina's Research Triangle universities, including NC State and UNC Chapel Hill, are well-regarded feeder programs, and many local employers recognize graduate certificates from those institutions alongside traditional degrees.
How much do senior ML engineers make in North Carolina?
Senior ML engineers in North Carolina earn a median of about $104,850 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $39,190 for the lowest 10% to over $175,660 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire senior ml engineers in North Carolina?
Employers hiring senior ml engineers in North Carolina right now include RELX, LexisNexis Legal & Professional, and COVAR, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. North Carolina's mix of major technology headquarters, financial services firms in Charlotte, and life sciences companies in the Research Triangle means consistent demand across industries rather than a single dominant employer type.
Which North Carolina cities have the most senior ml engineer jobs?
The cities with the most senior ml engineer openings in North Carolina are Raleigh, Cary, and Durham. The Research Triangle, anchored by Raleigh and Durham, drives the largest share of postings because of its dense concentration of technology companies, university research partnerships, and life sciences employers, while Charlotte contributes heavily through its financial services and fintech sector.
Are there remote senior ml engineer jobs in North Carolina?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 38% of senior ml engineer openings tied to North Carolina are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how naturally the role fits distributed work. The parts of the role most likely to stay fully remote are model research, experimentation, and code review, while on-site expectations are more common when a team owns on-premise infrastructure or handles sensitive regulated data.
How can I get hired as a senior ml engineer in North Carolina with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an ML engineering internship or associate data scientist role at one of the Research Triangle's technology or life sciences companies, where several large employers run structured new-graduate programs. NC State's Institute for Advanced Analytics and UNC Chapel Hill's data science programs have direct recruiting pipelines into local employers. Building a public portfolio of end-to-end ML projects and obtaining a cloud ML certification, such as AWS Certified Machine Learning, gives candidates without industry experience a concrete edge when applying.
Where can I find and apply to senior ml engineer jobs in North Carolina?
You can find and apply to senior ml engineer jobs in North Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current North Carolina openings. Find roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 23 Senior ML Engineer Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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