Senior ML Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Senior ML Engineer jobs in Virginia are concentrated in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads corridor, where federal contractors, defense agencies, and technology firms drive sustained demand for machine learning expertise. Employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and Amazon Web Services maintain a lasting presence here and regularly seek senior engineers specializing in natural language processing, computer vision, and large-scale model deployment. The Northern Virginia market, anchored by one of the country's densest concentrations of federal and cloud infrastructure work, ranks among the most active in the country for this role. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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CarMax, the way your career should be!
Position Overview
As a Sr. Engineer, AI & ML, you will play a pivotal role in designing and implementing advanced Generative AI solutions that elevate CarMax’s omni-channel customer experience. You will leverage expertise in large language models (LLMs), semantic search frameworks, and AI orchestration to deliver innovative, scalable applications. Your work will directly influence CarMax’s technology evolution, ensuring secure, high-performing AI systems that drive business impact.
Why CarMax?
At CarMax, we are the nation’s largest retailer of used cars with stores from coast to coast, and we are still growing. We’re rethinking the way people buy cars – and it’s our associates that help us do just that. We believe work should feel meaningful and rewarding, with opportunities to make an impact every day. This is where innovation meets passion – be inspired and supported to take us to the future.
Team Overview
You’ll join CarMax’s GenAI team, collaborating with engineers, product leaders, and stakeholders to build next-generation AI capabilities. This team focuses on creating enterprise-grade AI solutions that enhance customer interactions and streamline business processes through cutting-edge machine learning technologies.
Role Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and deploy Generative AI models, including LLMs and semantic search frameworks, for customer-facing solutions.
- Identify and address implementation challenges, providing creative, technically sound solutions.
- Build integrated monitoring systems to validate AI performance and ensure architecture integrity.
- Mentor engineers on best practices for Generative AI development and deployment.
- Review code for quality and adherence to clean coding standards.
- Collaborate on prompt engineering, testing, and evaluation using tools such as PromptFlow.
- Drive continuous improvement in AI architecture through innovation and stakeholder feedback.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 4+ years of experience in AI/ML, cloud computing, or systems engineering.
- Advanced proficiency in Python and scripting languages (e.g., shell scripts).
- Hands-on experience with Azure OpenAI Service and Azure AI Search.
- Expertise in LLMs, semantic search frameworks, and AI orchestration layers (e.g., Semantic Kernel).
- Experience with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and testing frameworks.
- Strong communication skills and ability to influence technical vision across teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
- Experience integrating CI/CD pipelines for prompt engineering with feedback loops.
- Knowledge of advanced Generative AI development tools and frameworks for enterprise-scale applications.
Work Location and Arrangement: This role will be based out of the CarMax Midtown office, Richmond VA or CarMax Technology Hub, Plano TX and have a Hybrid work arrangement.
Associates based in Richmond work onsite 5 days per week.
Associates based in Plano work onsite 2 days per week.
Work Authorization: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Sponsorship will not be considered for this specific role.
About CarMax
At CarMax, we revolutionized the used car buying experience over 30 years ago by introducing transparency and integrity into the process. Our commitment to customer experience, innovation, and community has made us the nation’s largest used car retailer. With over 250 store locations and over 30,000 associates, we are proud to have been recognized as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® and are committed to helping our communities thrive.
As an associate, you are part of an innovative movement to empower the modern customer and drive progress. Your work fuels change—sparking ideas, overcoming challenges, and shaping what’s next. Join us in creating a better future– for our company, our customers, and the communities we call home.
CarMax is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The annual salary for this position is:
$120,000.00 - $180,000.00May be eligible for bonus and equity.
Benefits:
Except as otherwise required by state law, CarMax Associates are entitled to the following paid sick, vacation, and holiday time.
Associates that are considered full-time hourly or commission/incentive eligible:
- To earn up to 48 hours of sick time per year accrued on a per pay period basis and between 80 hours and 200 hours per year of vacation time after a 90 day waiting period depending on years of continuous service with the Company.
- For 8 hours of pay for each of a total of 6 paid scheduled holidays per year plus 1 floating holiday. If such an Associate does work on a scheduled holiday due to business need, they are eligible for Holiday Premium Pay.
Associates considered full-time salaried are entitled to paid time away with no specified limit as needed for sick, vacation, bereavement, jury duty, holidays, floating holiday, etc. subject to manager approval.
For more details about benefits, please visit our CarMax Benefits website.
Upon an applicant's request, CarMax will consider reasonable accommodation to complete the CarMax Job Application.
CarMax, the way your career should be!
Position Overview
As a Sr. Engineer, AI & ML, you will play a pivotal role in designing and implementing advanced Generative AI solutions that elevate CarMax’s omni-channel customer experience. You will leverage expertise in large language models (LLMs), semantic search frameworks, and AI orchestration to deliver innovative, scalable applications. Your work will directly influence CarMax’s technology evolution, ensuring secure, high-performing AI systems that drive business impact.
Why CarMax?
At CarMax, we are the nation’s largest retailer of used cars with stores from coast to coast, and we are still growing. We’re rethinking the way people buy cars – and it’s our associates that help us do just that. We believe work should feel meaningful and rewarding, with opportunities to make an impact every day. This is where innovation meets passion – be inspired and supported to take us to the future.
Team Overview
You’ll join CarMax’s GenAI team, collaborating with engineers, product leaders, and stakeholders to build next-generation AI capabilities. This team focuses on creating enterprise-grade AI solutions that enhance customer interactions and streamline business processes through cutting-edge machine learning technologies.
Role Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and deploy Generative AI models, including LLMs and semantic search frameworks, for customer-facing solutions.
- Identify and address implementation challenges, providing creative, technically sound solutions.
- Build integrated monitoring systems to validate AI performance and ensure architecture integrity.
- Mentor engineers on best practices for Generative AI development and deployment.
- Review code for quality and adherence to clean coding standards.
- Collaborate on prompt engineering, testing, and evaluation using tools such as PromptFlow.
- Drive continuous improvement in AI architecture through innovation and stakeholder feedback.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 4+ years of experience in AI/ML, cloud computing, or systems engineering.
- Advanced proficiency in Python and scripting languages (e.g., shell scripts).
- Hands-on experience with Azure OpenAI Service and Azure AI Search.
- Expertise in LLMs, semantic search frameworks, and AI orchestration layers (e.g., Semantic Kernel).
- Experience with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and testing frameworks.
- Strong communication skills and ability to influence technical vision across teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
- Experience integrating CI/CD pipelines for prompt engineering with feedback loops.
- Knowledge of advanced Generative AI development tools and frameworks for enterprise-scale applications.
Work Location and Arrangement: This role will be based out of the CarMax Midtown office, Richmond VA or CarMax Technology Hub, Plano TX and have a Hybrid work arrangement.
Associates based in Richmond work onsite 5 days per week.
Associates based in Plano work onsite 2 days per week.
Work Authorization: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Sponsorship will not be considered for this specific role.
About CarMax
At CarMax, we revolutionized the used car buying experience over 30 years ago by introducing transparency and integrity into the process. Our commitment to customer experience, innovation, and community has made us the nation’s largest used car retailer. With over 250 store locations and over 30,000 associates, we are proud to have been recognized as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® and are committed to helping our communities thrive.
As an associate, you are part of an innovative movement to empower the modern customer and drive progress. Your work fuels change—sparking ideas, overcoming challenges, and shaping what’s next. Join us in creating a better future– for our company, our customers, and the communities we call home.
CarMax is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The annual salary for this position is:
$120,000.00 - $180,000.00May be eligible for bonus and equity.
Benefits:
Except as otherwise required by state law, CarMax Associates are entitled to the following paid sick, vacation, and holiday time.
Associates that are considered full-time hourly or commission/incentive eligible:
- To earn up to 48 hours of sick time per year accrued on a per pay period basis and between 80 hours and 200 hours per year of vacation time after a 90 day waiting period depending on years of continuous service with the Company.
- For 8 hours of pay for each of a total of 6 paid scheduled holidays per year plus 1 floating holiday. If such an Associate does work on a scheduled holiday due to business need, they are eligible for Holiday Premium Pay.
Associates considered full-time salaried are entitled to paid time away with no specified limit as needed for sick, vacation, bereavement, jury duty, holidays, floating holiday, etc. subject to manager approval.
For more details about benefits, please visit our CarMax Benefits website.
Upon an applicant's request, CarMax will consider reasonable accommodation to complete the CarMax Job Application.
See All 61 Senior ML Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior ML Engineer JobsSenior ML Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior ML Engineer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Capital One12
- SAIC5
- Booz Allen Hamilton4
- Information Technology Senior Management Forum4
- Striveworks3
Top Industries Hiring
- Banking & Financial Services
- Technology & Software
- Energy
- Fintech
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior ML engineer jobs across Virginia.
- Master's or PhD in computer science, statistics, or a closely related quantitative field
- Five or more years of hands-on experience building and deploying production machine learning systems
- Proficiency in Python and at least one major ML framework such as TensorFlow or PyTorch
- Experience with cloud platforms, particularly AWS or Azure, which dominate Virginia's federal and commercial market
- Ability to obtain or hold a U.S. security clearance, required by many Virginia defense and government contractors
- Demonstrated experience leading model development end-to-end, from data pipeline design through monitoring in production
Senior ML Engineer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior ml engineer in Virginia?
Virginia does not issue a state license for machine learning engineers, so the path runs through education and demonstrated experience. Most hiring managers in Virginia expect a master's degree or higher in computer science, applied mathematics, or a related field, combined with several years of production ML work. Because a large share of Virginia employers are federal contractors, obtaining a security clearance early in your career opens significantly more opportunities than it would in most other states.
How much do senior ML engineers make in Virginia?
Senior ML engineers in Virginia earn a median of about $139,030 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,130 for the lowest 10% to over $185,950 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire senior ml engineers in Virginia?
Employers hiring senior ml engineers in Virginia right now include Capital One, SAIC, and Booz Allen Hamilton, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Virginia's mix of federal contractors headquartered in Northern Virginia, cloud infrastructure providers, and defense-focused research organizations means hiring is distributed across both commercial and government-adjacent roles.
Which Virginia cities have the most senior ml engineer jobs?
McLean, Arlington, and Ashburn hold the most senior ml engineer openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia's concentration of federal agencies, defense contractors, and cloud data centers anchors the largest share of demand, while Richmond's growing commercial technology sector and Hampton Roads' naval research and defense installations contribute meaningful hiring activity across the rest of the state.
Are there remote senior ml engineer jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than most fields, because senior ml engineering work is largely code, data, and model iteration that transfers well to remote environments. About 60% of senior ml engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, though positions requiring a security clearance or access to classified systems are more likely to mandate on-site presence at a Virginia facility.
How can I get hired as a senior ml engineer in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an ML engineering associate or data scientist role at one of Northern Virginia's large federal contractors, where firms like Booz Allen Hamilton and SAIC run structured new-graduate programs that build clearance eligibility alongside technical skills. Candidates moving from adjacent roles such as data analyst, software engineer, or research scientist are frequently considered for junior ML positions. Building a project portfolio on public datasets and earning a cloud certification, particularly on AWS given its strong footprint in Virginia, strengthens an application significantly.
Where can I find and apply to senior ml engineer jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to senior ml engineer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings to find roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 61 Senior ML Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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