AI Researcher Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
AI Researcher roles are among the most actively sponsored positions in the U.S. right now. Most employers file H-1B visa petitions for this role, and many qualify for cap-exempt filing through universities and nonprofit research labs. A master's or PhD in computer science, machine learning, or a related field is standard. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It’s a unique legacy of innovation that’s fueled by great technology—and amazing people. Today, we’re tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what’s never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world’s best talent. As an NVIDIAN, you’ll be immersed in a diverse, supportive environment where everyone is inspired to do their best work. Come join the team and see how you can make a lasting impact on the world.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are looking for an outstanding Senior Agentic AI Applied Researcher to build groundbreaking multi-modal agentic AI solutions for data science and machine learning. As a member of the team, you will develop new agentic AI solutions to automate part or all of data science pipelines, including data elicitation, data curation, iterative experimentation, workflows for model training and evaluation, diagnostics, and ablation studies. You will apply this to various enterprise data science projects as well as machine learning competitions. You will collaborate closely across internal teams and organizations and see your work used in products all over the world.
What you’ll be doing:
- Collaborate with software and solutions teams to identify high-impact opportunities for applying agentic AI technologies.
- Lead the design, development, and optimization of agentic AI solutions that address challenges in data science and machine learning workflows.
- Develop and maintain agentic AI benchmarks to evaluate performance across diverse use cases.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience); MS or PhD preferred.
- 5+ years of industry or academia experience with AI data science systems development; exposure to fine tuning models, reinforcement learning, agents, or orchestration frameworks; hands-on experience with deep learning frameworks and inference stacks.
- Proficiency in Python and at least one of Pytorch or JAX/TensorFlow.
- Experience in using coding agents like claude code, codex, cursor, to develop and maintain advanced codebases.
- Experience developing agentic or automated systems that communicate with external storage and reporting tools.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Ways to stand out from the crowd:
- Familiarity with safety, guardrails, and policy enforcement for autonomous systems.
- Deep expertise in building, training, and fine-tuning models.
- Experience designing, executing, and analyzing autonomous AI systems for data science and machine learning applications.
- Open-source leadership in agentic AI systems for data science.
- Good results on machine learning competitions and on machine learning benchmarks.
COMPENSATION
Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 152,000 USD - 241,500 USD for Level 3, and 184,000 USD - 287,500 USD for Level 4. You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.
Applications for this job will be accepted at least until August 7, 2026. This posting is for an existing vacancy.
NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.
NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.
INTRODUCTION
NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It’s a unique legacy of innovation that’s fueled by great technology—and amazing people. Today, we’re tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what’s never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world’s best talent. As an NVIDIAN, you’ll be immersed in a diverse, supportive environment where everyone is inspired to do their best work. Come join the team and see how you can make a lasting impact on the world.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are looking for an outstanding Senior Agentic AI Applied Researcher to build groundbreaking multi-modal agentic AI solutions for data science and machine learning. As a member of the team, you will develop new agentic AI solutions to automate part or all of data science pipelines, including data elicitation, data curation, iterative experimentation, workflows for model training and evaluation, diagnostics, and ablation studies. You will apply this to various enterprise data science projects as well as machine learning competitions. You will collaborate closely across internal teams and organizations and see your work used in products all over the world.
What you’ll be doing:
- Collaborate with software and solutions teams to identify high-impact opportunities for applying agentic AI technologies.
- Lead the design, development, and optimization of agentic AI solutions that address challenges in data science and machine learning workflows.
- Develop and maintain agentic AI benchmarks to evaluate performance across diverse use cases.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience); MS or PhD preferred.
- 5+ years of industry or academia experience with AI data science systems development; exposure to fine tuning models, reinforcement learning, agents, or orchestration frameworks; hands-on experience with deep learning frameworks and inference stacks.
- Proficiency in Python and at least one of Pytorch or JAX/TensorFlow.
- Experience in using coding agents like claude code, codex, cursor, to develop and maintain advanced codebases.
- Experience developing agentic or automated systems that communicate with external storage and reporting tools.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Ways to stand out from the crowd:
- Familiarity with safety, guardrails, and policy enforcement for autonomous systems.
- Deep expertise in building, training, and fine-tuning models.
- Experience designing, executing, and analyzing autonomous AI systems for data science and machine learning applications.
- Open-source leadership in agentic AI systems for data science.
- Good results on machine learning competitions and on machine learning benchmarks.
COMPENSATION
Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 152,000 USD - 241,500 USD for Level 3, and 184,000 USD - 287,500 USD for Level 4. You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.
Applications for this job will be accepted at least until August 7, 2026. This posting is for an existing vacancy.
NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.
NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.
See all 20,280+ AI Researcher Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new AI Researcher roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding AI Researcher Jobs
Target cap-exempt employers first
Universities, nonprofit research institutes, and government-affiliated labs can sponsor H-1B visas outside the annual lottery. For AI Researchers, this dramatically increases your odds of getting sponsored without waiting for a cap-subject slot.
Lead with publications and benchmarks
Employers evaluating AI Researchers want evidence of impact. Citing published papers, open-source contributions, or model performance benchmarks gives hiring managers and immigration attorneys concrete proof your role meets specialty occupation standards.
A PhD opens O-1A doors
AI Researchers with peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or awards may qualify for the O-1A extraordinary ability visa. It has no lottery, no annual cap, and is increasingly common for senior researchers at frontier AI labs.
Clarify your research scope early in interviews
Employers sometimes conflate AI Researchers with ML Engineers or Data Scientists, which affects how they structure sponsorship. Be specific about whether your role is research-focused to ensure the petition is filed under the right classification.
Degree field alignment matters for H-1B approval
USCIS requires your degree to directly relate to the research specialization. A PhD in physics applying to a natural language processing role may face scrutiny. Framing your coursework and thesis in terms of the job's technical requirements strengthens the petition.
EB-1A and NIW are realistic long-term paths
AI Researchers are well-positioned for EB-1A extraordinary ability or EB-2 National Interest Waiver green cards. Published research, citation counts, and national security or scientific impact arguments carry significant weight with USCIS adjudicators for both categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do AI Researcher roles typically qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Yes. AI Researcher positions almost universally qualify as specialty occupations because they require at minimum a bachelor's degree, and in practice a master's or PhD, in computer science, machine learning, statistics, or a closely related field. USCIS has a strong approval record for this role when the job description is research-specific and the degree field aligns with the work.
Can I get sponsored as an AI Researcher without going through the H-1B lottery?
Yes, through two main paths. First, cap-exempt employers, including universities, nonprofit research labs, and certain government-affiliated institutions, can file H-1B visa petitions year-round outside the lottery. Second, AI Researchers with strong publication records may qualify for the O-1A visa, which has no lottery or annual cap. Browse current openings on Migrate Mate to filter for employers with a track record of cap-exempt or O-1A sponsorship.
Does my degree need to be in AI or machine learning specifically?
Not necessarily, but it needs to be directly relevant to the research role. Computer science, statistics, mathematics, cognitive science, and electrical engineering are all accepted. Where applicants run into trouble is when the degree is in an unrelated field and the connection to AI research isn't clearly documented. USCIS looks at coursework, thesis topics, and specializations, not just the degree title.
What visa options are available for senior AI Researchers beyond the H-1B?
Senior AI Researchers have several strong options. The O-1A visa suits those with published papers, speaking invitations, awards, or high citation counts. The EB-1A immigrant visa (extraordinary ability) and EB-2 National Interest Waiver both work well for researchers whose work has demonstrated scientific or national significance. Both green card categories allow self-petition without an employer sponsor, which is a meaningful advantage.
How do employers typically assess whether to sponsor an AI Researcher?
Most employers look at three things: research output (publications, conference presentations, open-source contributions), technical specialization (the more narrowly defined, the easier the H-1B justification), and long-term retention potential. Frontier AI companies and academic institutions are generally more experienced with sponsorship and more willing to absorb the cost. Startups may require more upfront conversation about the process.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored AI Researcher jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.