Machine Learning Researcher Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Machine Learning Researcher jobs attract strong visa sponsorship from U.S. employers because the role qualifies as a specialty occupation under H-1B visa, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, statistics, or a directly related field. Many employers also sponsor EB-2 and EB-3 green cards for researchers with advanced degrees.
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SUMMARY
We build frontier foundation models that power intelligent experiences at Apple. Our team works across the full training lifecycle: including pre-training foundation models, and developing mid-training approaches that bridge general capability and task-specific performance. What makes our work distinct is that we're engineering models specifically for Apple silicon and optimized for experiences that are private, personal, and deeply integrated into the OS. We're solving frontier problems in reward modeling to resist reward hacking, handling sparse and delayed rewards in agentic settings, and aligning models reliably across the spectrum from open-ended creative tasks to precise, action-taking workflows. If you're drawn to hard problems where the research and the product are inseparable, this is the team.
DESCRIPTION
We believe that the most interesting problems in deep learning research arise when we try to apply learning to real-world use cases, and this is also where the most important breakthroughs come from. You will work with a close-knit and fast growing team of world-class engineers and scientists to tackle some of the most challenging problems in foundation models and deep learning, including end-to-end voice interactions, natural language processing, and combining learning with knowledge.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Demonstrated expertise in deep learning with publication record in relevant conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, COLM, ACL, NAACL, EMNLP, CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, KDD, ACL, ICASSP, InterSpeech) or a track record in applying deep learning techniques to products
- Proficient programming skills in Python and one of the deep learning toolkits such as JAX, PyTorch, or Tensorflow
- Ability to work in a collaborative environment
- PhD, or equivalent practical experience, in Computer Science, or related technical field
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Code Large language models
- Experience in building end-to-end voice models
- Experience in speech recognitions and generations
- Experience in reinforcement learning, on-policy distillation
- Experience in post-training, mid-training large language models
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $184,700 and $324,800, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Machine Learning Researcher Jobs
Frame your degree for specialty occupation
Your degree field must directly correspond to machine learning research duties. A computer science or statistics degree is a clean match, but a physics or mathematics degree needs supporting documentation showing the direct relationship to your specific research role.
Target employers with active LCA filings
Research labs, AI-focused tech firms, and R&D divisions at large technology companies file Labor Condition Applications regularly for ML roles. Use Migrate Mate to identify which employers have verified LCA sponsorship history for machine learning and related research positions.
Verify your prevailing wage tier before negotiating
Machine learning researchers span DOL wage levels one through four depending on seniority. Use the OFLC Wage Search to find the prevailing wage for your specific job zone and location before you receive an offer, so you can assess whether the employer's LCA is filed at the correct level.
Build a research portfolio tied to your degree field
USCIS adjudicators look for a direct nexus between your academic background and your research duties. Published papers, conference proceedings, or patent filings in your degree field strengthen the specialty occupation case your employer must make in the H-1B petition.
Ask about EB-2 NIW eligibility early in negotiations
Machine learning researchers with peer-reviewed publications or work on nationally significant AI problems may qualify for an EB-2 National Interest Waiver, which allows self-petitioning without employer sponsorship. Raise this with the hiring team during the offer stage rather than waiting until after onboarding.
Clarify STEM OPT training plans before your start date
If you're transitioning from F-1 STEM OPT, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan on Form I-983. Confirm enrollment and get the signed plan before your existing OPT expires, since gaps in authorization can disrupt research project timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Machine Learning Researcher role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B?
Yes. Machine learning research requires at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, statistics, mathematics, or a directly related field, which meets USCIS's specialty occupation definition. Employers document the degree requirement in the Labor Condition Application and I-129 petition. Roles that accept any bachelor's degree regardless of field may face additional scrutiny, so the job description should specify the relevant technical disciplines.
What visa options are available for international Machine Learning Researchers?
H-1B is the most common path, covering up to six years with employer sponsorship. Researchers with advanced degrees from U.S. universities compete in the H-1B advanced-degree pool. O*NET classifies machine learning research at a high job zone, which supports EB-2 green card filings. Researchers with nationally significant work may also qualify for an EB-1A extraordinary ability petition or an EB-2 National Interest Waiver without employer sponsorship.
How do I find employers who sponsor visas for Machine Learning Researcher roles?
Migrate Mate lists U.S. employers with verified sponsorship history for machine learning and AI research roles, searchable by location and role type. Focus your applications on employers whose research labs have filed LCAs consistently, since that signals an established immigration process rather than a one-off hire.
Does a master's degree improve my H-1B chances as a Machine Learning Researcher?
A U.S. master's degree qualifies you for the H-1B advanced-degree pool, which has a separate 20,000-cap allocation on top of the 65,000 regular cap. Because machine learning research roles typically require graduate-level training, a master's or PhD also strengthens the specialty occupation argument and positions you for EB-2 green card sponsorship from day one.
Can a Machine Learning Researcher self-petition for a green card?
Yes, through two routes. An EB-2 National Interest Waiver lets you self-petition if your research benefits the U.S. national interest and you have an advanced degree. An EB-1A extraordinary ability petition works if you have sustained recognition through publications, citations, or awards. Both routes bypass the PERM labor certification process, which matters if your employer is unwilling to sponsor or if you want portability between research positions.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Machine Learning 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.