STEM OPT Machine Learning Scientist Jobs
Machine Learning Scientist roles sit squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, giving F-1 graduates with degrees in computer science, statistics, or related fields up to 24 additional months of work authorization beyond their initial OPT period. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan before your extension starts.
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Recommendation algorithm team plays a central role in the company, driving critical product decisions and platform growth. The team is made up of machine learning researchers and engineers, who support and innovate on production recommendation models and drive product impact. The team is fast-pacing, collaborative and impact-driven. This opening is part of the general hiring process for the TikTok Recommendation organization. Applications will be evaluated by multiple teams within the Recommendation organization to ensure the match based on skills and interests. We are looking for talented individuals to join our team. As a graduate, you will get opportunities to pursue bold ideas, tackle complex challenges, and unlock limitless growth. Successful candidates must be able to commit to an onboarding date by the end of the year. Please state your availability and graduation date clearly in your resume.
- Build industry-leading recommendation system, improving user experience, content ecosystem and platform security;
- Deliver end-to-end machine learning solution to address critical product challenges;
- Own the full stack machine learning system and optimize algorithms and infrastructure to improve recommendation performance;
- Work with cross functional teams to design product strategies and build solutions to grow TikTok in important markets.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Individuals who are completing or have recently completed a PhD degree in computer science or a related discipline.
Good knowledge of theoretical and empirical research in addressing research problems.
* Solid knowledge and experience with at least one popular deep learning framework (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) and familiarity with deep neural network architectures.
Preferred Qualifications:
Research experience in one or more of the following fields: applied machine learning, machine learning infrastructure, large-scale recommendation system, market-facing machine learning product.
Strong first-author publications record in major AI conferences or journals (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, ACL, EMNLP, NAACL etc.)
Proficient in C/C++, Python, and shell programming languages, and have a deep understanding of data structure and algorithm design.
Internship experience in an AI research organization.
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)
The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $156000 - $387600 annually. Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units. Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure). The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:
Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems;
* Exercising sound judgment.
About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day. We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
TikTok Accommodation
TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
Responsibilities
Recommendation algorithm team plays a central role in the company, driving critical product decisions and platform growth. The team is made up of machine learning researchers and engineers, who support and innovate on production recommendation models and drive product impact. The team is fast-pacing, collaborative and impact-driven. This opening is part of the general hiring process for the TikTok Recommendation organization. Applications will be evaluated by multiple teams within the Recommendation organization to ensure the match based on skills and interests. We are looking for talented individuals to join our team. As a graduate, you will get opportunities to pursue bold ideas, tackle complex challenges, and unlock limitless growth. Successful candidates must be able to commit to an onboarding date by the end of the year. Please state your availability and graduation date clearly in your resume.
- Build industry-leading recommendation system, improving user experience, content ecosystem and platform security;
- Deliver end-to-end machine learning solution to address critical product challenges;
- Own the full stack machine learning system and optimize algorithms and infrastructure to improve recommendation performance;
- Work with cross functional teams to design product strategies and build solutions to grow TikTok in important markets.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Individuals who are completing or have recently completed a PhD degree in computer science or a related discipline.
Good knowledge of theoretical and empirical research in addressing research problems.
* Solid knowledge and experience with at least one popular deep learning framework (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) and familiarity with deep neural network architectures.
Preferred Qualifications:
Research experience in one or more of the following fields: applied machine learning, machine learning infrastructure, large-scale recommendation system, market-facing machine learning product.
Strong first-author publications record in major AI conferences or journals (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, ACL, EMNLP, NAACL etc.)
Proficient in C/C++, Python, and shell programming languages, and have a deep understanding of data structure and algorithm design.
Internship experience in an AI research organization.
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)
The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $156000 - $387600 annually. Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units. Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure). The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:
Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems;
* Exercising sound judgment.
About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day. We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
TikTok Accommodation
TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
See all 727+ STEM OPT Machine Learning Scientist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Machine Learning Scientist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Machine Learning Scientist
Verify your CIP code matches ML roles
Your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code must align with an approved STEM field. Check your I-20 against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List before applying, since a mismatch disqualifies you from the 24-month extension entirely.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask recruiters directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before your final interview round. Employers not enrolled cannot legally employ STEM OPT students, so catching this early saves you from offer letters you can't legally accept.
Build your I-983 training plan around ML deliverables
Your training plan must tie learning objectives to concrete, measurable outcomes specific to your Machine Learning Scientist role, such as model accuracy benchmarks or deployment milestones. Generic job descriptions get flagged by DSOs and delay your extension start date.
Target employers with existing LCA filings in ML
Use Migrate Mate to filter Machine Learning Scientist roles by employers with verified DOL Labor Condition Application filings, so you're targeting companies with an established STEM OPT and H-1B visa sponsorship track record rather than starting that conversation from scratch.
File your STEM OPT extension 90 days early
USCIS allows you to apply up to 90 days before your current OPT EAD expires. File your I-765 as early as that window opens, since USCIS processing can take several months and a late application leaves a gap in your work authorization.
Negotiate your start date around your EAD card
You can't legally begin work until your STEM OPT EAD is physically in hand, even if your previous EAD has expired and USCIS approved the extension. Build at least a two-week buffer into any negotiated start date to account for mail delivery delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my degree qualify me for the STEM OPT extension as a Machine Learning Scientist?
Your degree qualifies if its CIP code appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Computer science, statistics, mathematics, electrical engineering, and data science degrees typically qualify. Check your I-20 for your recorded CIP code and cross-reference it with the DHS list before your DSO submits your extension recommendation. Degrees in non-STEM fields do not qualify even if your job title is technical.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my Machine Learning Scientist employer?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you begin working under STEM OPT authorization. Enrollment applies at the specific worksite level, not just the parent company, so verify that the office or lab where you'll actually work is enrolled. You can confirm enrollment through the E-Verify employer search tool. Companies that hire through staffing agencies must also meet additional placement requirements under STEM OPT rules.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Machine Learning Scientist role?
The I-983 must describe how your day-to-day work as a Machine Learning Scientist directly relates to your STEM degree, with specific learning objectives and measurable outcomes. For ML roles, this means documenting model development cycles, research methodologies, or production deployment goals rather than general job duties. Your DSO reviews and approves it, and your employer must report your progress to USCIS every six months. Vague plans are routinely sent back for revision.
How does cap-gap protection work if I'm a Machine Learning Scientist on STEM OPT?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT EAD expires, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization and status through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working as a Machine Learning Scientist without interruption during that period. If your H-1B petition is not selected in the lottery or is denied, your cap-gap protection ends and you must stop working immediately.
How do I find Machine Learning Scientist employers who support STEM OPT?
Search Migrate Mate for Machine Learning Scientist roles filtered to employers with active DOL Labor Condition Application filings. LCA history is a reliable indicator that a company has the compliance infrastructure to support STEM OPT, including E-Verify enrollment and willingness to engage in the I-983 process. Targeting these employers upfront avoids late-stage conversations where a company realizes it can't meet the federal requirements.