Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

Machine learning engineers who build the infrastructure to train, deploy, and monitor ML models at scale are critically needed by US companies operationalizing their data science investments. This role sits at the intersection of software engineering and data science - requiring expertise in feature engineering, model serving, distributed training, and monitoring - which makes it a strong specialty occupation for visa sponsorship. Employers ranging from FAANG to fintech to healthcare AI companies sponsor machine learning engineers because reliable ML infrastructure is what turns experimental models into revenue-generating products. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.

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Overview

Open Jobs5,647+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type70% On-site
Median Salary$524K
Top LocationSan Francisco, CA
Most JobsApple

Showing 5 of 5,647+ Machine Learning Engineer jobs

Optum
Lead AI/ML Engineer
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Optum
New 3h ago
Lead AI/ML Engineer
Optum
San Diego, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Data Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Technical Program Management
$112,700/yr - $193,200/yr
Remote (US)
7+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

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TikTok
Machine Learning Engineer Intern
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TikTok
New 3h ago
Machine Learning Engineer Intern
TikTok
San Jose, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Data Engineering
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
$45/hr - $45/hr
On-Site
Master's
10,000+

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Kforce Inc
Machine Learning Engineer
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Kforce Inc
New 6h ago
Machine Learning Engineer
Kforce Inc
Smithfield, Rhode Island
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Data Engineering
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
On-Site
5+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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JPMorganChase
Machine Learning Engineer
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JPMorganChase
New 7h ago
Machine Learning Engineer
JPMorganChase
Jersey City, New Jersey
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Cloud & DevOps
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Cloud Engineering
$128,250/yr - $195,000/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Zodiac Solutions, Inc
AI/ML Engineer
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Zodiac Solutions, Inc
New 7h ago
AI/ML Engineer
Zodiac Solutions, Inc
New York, New York
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
On-Site
8+ yrs exp.
None

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Tips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Machine Learning Engineer

Emphasize production engineering over research

MLE roles focus on deploying, scaling, and monitoring models in production - not just training them. Highlight experience with model serving frameworks like TensorFlow Serving, TorchServe, or Triton Inference Server to stand out.

Target companies with mature ML infrastructure teams

Google, Meta, Netflix, Uber, and Spotify have dedicated MLE teams that build and maintain production ML systems. These companies sponsor H-1B petitions under SOC 15-1252 and understand the engineering nature of the role.

Leverage your dual skill set in interviews

The MLE role bridges data science and software engineering, and that's your selling point. Strong candidates can discuss both model optimization and system design, which is rare and makes employers more willing to invest in sponsorship.

Build MLOps expertise to increase your value

Feature stores, experiment tracking, model monitoring, and automated retraining pipelines are critical MLE skills. Companies building serious ML products need engineers who can operationalize models, not just build prototypes.

Use STEM OPT to prove production reliability

With a STEM-eligible degree, you get up to 3 years of work authorization through OPT. ML systems require deep institutional knowledge to maintain - use that time to become indispensable to your team's production stack.

File under the right SOC code for engineering

MLE roles typically file under SOC 15-1252 (Software Developers), emphasizing the engineering and systems side of the work. This classification has strong precedent for H-1B approval - ensure your job description reflects the production engineering focus.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What ML infrastructure skills are most valued by employers sponsoring machine learning engineers?

Experience with distributed training frameworks (PyTorch Distributed, DeepSpeed), model serving platforms (TensorFlow Serving, NVIDIA Triton, ONNX Runtime), and feature engineering tools (Feast, Tecton) are the most sought-after skills. Knowledge of GPU cluster management, inference cost optimization, and monitoring for data drift also carries significant weight. These specific technical requirements are exactly what make the visa petition strong, because they show the role requires specialized knowledge beyond general software engineering.

Do machine learning engineers need a PhD, or is a master's degree sufficient for sponsorship?

A master's degree is sufficient for the vast majority of ML engineering roles, and many positions only require a bachelor's in computer science or a related field. A PhD is more commonly expected for research-focused ML positions, not engineering roles focused on production systems. That said, a master's degree qualifies you for the additional 20,000 H-1B cap exemption slots reserved for U.S. advanced degree holders, which improves your lottery odds.

I have a research background but want to move into ML engineering. How does this affect sponsorship?

The transition is common and does not create visa issues. Your research background demonstrates the theoretical knowledge needed to make sound infrastructure decisions, while any production-adjacent work from your research (deploying models, building data pipelines, optimizing training runs) shows practical engineering capability. If you have a PhD, you benefit from the advanced degree H-1B exemption. The combination of theoretical depth from research and hands-on engineering skills can actually strengthen your petition.

How to find Machine Learning Engineer jobs with visa sponsorship?

To find Machine Learning Engineer jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international talent with sponsoring employers. Focus on tech companies, startups, and research institutions that commonly hire ML engineers on H-1B, O-1, or other work visas. These employers often need specialized AI/ML expertise and are willing to sponsor qualified candidates with relevant experience in data science, neural networks, and algorithm development.

Which companies sponsor machine learning engineers most actively?

Companies operationalizing ML at scale are the most active sponsors. This includes large tech firms (Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft), ML-first product companies (Spotify, Netflix, Uber, Stripe), and AI infrastructure startups (Databricks, Anyscale, Weights & Biases). Fintech and healthcare AI companies are also growing sponsors. Look for employers whose products depend on reliable ML systems in production, as they are most motivated to invest in sponsorship for engineers who can bridge the gap between a trained model and a live product.

What prevailing wage levels typically apply to ML engineering roles?

ML engineering salaries typically place candidates at Level 3 or Level 4 of the Department of Labor prevailing wage system, which is favorable for visa petitions. Higher wage levels signal to USCIS that the role is senior and specialized, reducing the risk of a Request for Evidence. If an employer offers a salary at Level 1, that is a red flag for both immigration risk and fair compensation. You can check prevailing wages for your role and location on the DOL's Foreign Labor Certification Data Center.

What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Machine Learning Engineer jobs?

When a U.S. employer sponsors a foreign worker for a work visa, they are legally required to pay at least the "prevailing wage", the average wage paid to workers in the same occupation, in the same geographic area, with similar experience. This is set by the Department of Labor to prevent employers from hiring foreign workers at below-market rates. The prevailing wage varies significantly by role, location, and experience level. For example, a machine learning engineer in California will have a different prevailing wage than the same role in a smaller state. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search Page.

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