ML Software Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

ML Software Engineer roles are among the most actively sponsored positions in the U.S. tech industry. Employers regularly file H-1B and O-1 petitions for qualified candidates, and specialty occupation approval rates for machine learning roles are high given the clear degree-to-role alignment. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.

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Overview

Open Jobs6,798+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type72% On-site
Salary Range$171K – $813K
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsApple

Showing 5 of 6,798+ ML Software Engineer jobs

Rocket Lawyer
AI/ML Software Engineer
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Rocket Lawyer
Added 1d ago
AI/ML Software Engineer
Rocket Lawyer
Utah
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Backend Engineering
$190,000/yr
On-Site
5+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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Apple
Senior ML Software Engineer
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Apple
Added 2d ago
Senior ML Software Engineer
Apple
Boulder, Colorado
Software Engineering
Backend Engineering
$171,600/yr - $258,100/yr
Hybrid
4+ yrs exp.
Master's
10,000+

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Lyft
Senior ML Software Engineer
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Lyft
Added 3w ago
Senior ML Software Engineer
Lyft
San Francisco County, California
Software Engineering
Backend Engineering
$162,800/yr - $203,500/yr
Hybrid
5+ yrs exp.
Master's

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Cisco
Sr AI/ML Software Engineer
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Cisco
Added 1mo ago
Sr AI/ML Software Engineer
Cisco
Milpitas, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Backend Engineering
$146,700/yr - $277,600/yr
Hybrid
7+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Optum
Senior AI/ML Software Engineer
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Optum
Added 1mo ago
Senior AI/ML Software Engineer
Optum
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Technical Product & Program Management
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Backend Engineering
$91,700/yr - $163,700/yr
Remote (US)
5+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

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How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a ML Software Engineer

Lead with your tech stack, not your job title

Hiring managers sponsoring ML engineers want to see PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX upfront. Listing frameworks before your title signals technical depth immediately and separates you from generalist software engineers competing for the same roles.

Target companies with an active H-1B filing history

Sponsorship willingness varies significantly by employer. Focus on companies that have consistently filed H-1B petitions for ML roles in prior years. This history is public record and tells you more than any recruiter's vague assurance about sponsorship.

Frame your degree as directly tied to the role

USCIS scrutinizes specialty occupation claims. If your degree is in computer science, statistics, or a related quantitative field, make that connection explicit in applications. Ambiguous degree-to-role alignment is the most common reason ML petitions face additional review.

Highlight published research or patents if you have them

Publications and patents strengthen both H-1B specialty occupation arguments and O-1A extraordinary ability petitions. Even a single co-authored paper on a relevant ML topic adds meaningful credibility to a sponsorship package for this role.

Apply to roles that specify a master's or PhD requirement

Postings requiring an advanced degree in machine learning or AI signal stronger sponsorship intent and clearer specialty occupation documentation. These roles also tend to move faster through USCIS review because the degree-to-role connection is harder to dispute.

Prepare for a longer hiring timeline when sponsorship is involved

H-1B cap-subject petitions must align with the April lottery window. If you're interviewing outside that cycle, ask employers about cap-exempt options, O-1 alternatives, or transfer from an existing valid status to avoid gaps in work authorization.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do ML Software Engineer roles qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?

Yes. Machine learning engineering consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation because the role requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as computer science, mathematics, or statistics. USCIS has approved H-1B petitions for ML engineers at high rates when the job description clearly requires theoretical knowledge applied to complex model development, not just general software development tasks.

What degree do I need for an employer to sponsor my H-1B as an ML Software Engineer?

A bachelor's degree or higher in computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, statistics, or a closely related quantitative field is the standard requirement. A general business or unrelated degree makes sponsorship significantly harder because USCIS will question whether the role genuinely requires that specific academic background. Some employers also accept foreign three-year degrees if accompanied by relevant graduate study or substantial work experience.

Are ML Software Engineer roles eligible for the O-1A visa as an alternative to H-1B?

Yes, and it's a strong alternative for candidates with a research background. The O-1A requires demonstrating extraordinary ability through criteria like published papers, conference presentations, high compensation relative to peers, or judging others' work. ML engineers with NeurIPS, ICML, or ICLR publications, or those who have contributed to widely adopted open-source models, often meet multiple criteria without needing the H-1B lottery.

How competitive is H-1B sponsorship for ML roles compared to other software engineering positions?

ML Software Engineer roles attract sponsorship from a wide range of employers, including large tech companies and well-funded AI startups, which increases your options relative to more generalist engineering titles. However, because demand for these roles is high, cap-subject H-1B slots fill quickly. Candidates who browse ML-specific openings on Migrate Mate can filter for employers with confirmed sponsorship history, which meaningfully improves selection odds.

Can I switch employers on an H-1B as an ML Software Engineer?

Yes. H-1B portability allows you to start working for a new employer as soon as the transfer petition is filed, without waiting for approval, provided you've been in valid H-1B status. The new employer must file a fresh I-129 petition with a new Labor Condition Application reflecting the updated role and location. For ML roles, the specialty occupation argument typically transfers cleanly as long as the new position has comparable technical requirements.

What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored ML Software Engineer 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.

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