Senior AI Software Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Senior AI Software Engineer roles are among the most actively H-1B sponsored positions in the U.S. tech industry. Employers regularly petition for candidates with machine learning expertise, and the specialty occupation requirement is straightforward to satisfy with a relevant bachelor's degree or higher. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout Us: webAI is pioneering the future of artificial intelligence by establishing the first distributed AI infrastructure dedicated to personalized AI. We recognize the evolving demands of a data-driven society for scalability and flexibility, and we firmly believe that the future of AI lies in distributed processing at the edge, bringing computation closer to the source of data generation. Our mission is to build a future where a company's valuable data and intellectual property remain entirely private, enabling the deployment of large-scale AI models directly on standard consumer hardware without compromising the information embedded within those models. We are developing an end-to-end platform that is secure, scalable, and fully under the control of our users, empowering enterprises with AI that understands their unique business. We are a team driven by truth, ownership, tenacity, and humility, and we seek individuals who resonate with these core values and are passionate about shaping the next generation of AI.
About the Role: We are looking for a Senior AI Software Engineer with deep expertise in high-performance computing and machine learning inference. In this role, you’ll design and optimize inference engines for on-device applications on Apple platforms (macOS & iOS), leveraging Metal and MLX to push performance to its limits. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives at the intersection of low-level systems programming, applied machine learning, and hardware-aware optimization.
Key Responsibilities
- Implement and optimize advanced ML architectures (Transformers, Mixture of Experts, Diffusion models) in C++, with a focus on performance and memory efficiency.
- Develop and fine-tune custom Metal kernels for performance-critical inference operations.
- Apply advanced model quantization techniques (low-bit, mixed-precision) to accelerate performance while minimizing footprint.
- Profile, benchmark, and tune inference on Apple Silicon (M-series, A-series), identifying and eliminating bottlenecks.
- Collaborate on API design and build Python bindings for C++ libraries.
- Contribute to robust testing frameworks to ensure reliability and performance.
Requirements & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in CS, EE, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 4+ years of professional experience in C++ systems programming.
- Strong understanding of computer architecture, data structures, and algorithms.
- Demonstrated experience with performance profiling and low-level optimization.
- Familiarity with deep learning concepts and architectures (Transformers, Diffusion models, Mixture of Experts).
Preferred (but Not Required)
- Deep expertise with Apple’s MLX framework.
- Demonstrable experience writing and optimizing custom Metal kernels.
- Experience with model quantization techniques and their performance implications.
- Familiarity with the iOS/macOS development ecosystem and build systems (CMake).
- Experience creating Python bindings for C++ libraries.
We at webAI are committed to living out the core values we have put in place as the foundation on which we operate as a team. We seek individuals who exemplify the following:
- Truth - Emphasizing transparency and honesty in every interaction and decision.
- Ownership - Taking full responsibility for one’s actions and decisions, demonstrating commitment to the success of our clients.
- Tenacity - Persisting in the face of challenges and setbacks, continually striving for excellence and improvement.
- Humility - Maintaining a respectful and learning-oriented mindset, acknowledging the strengths and contributions of others.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits package.
- 401k Match (US-based only)
- $200/mos Health and Wellness Stipend
- $400/year Continuing Education Credit
- $500/year Function Health subscription (US-based only)
- Free parking, for in-office employees
- Unlimited Approved PTO
- Parental Leave for Eligible Employees
- Supplemental Life Insurance
webAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of webAI to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.
About Us: webAI is pioneering the future of artificial intelligence by establishing the first distributed AI infrastructure dedicated to personalized AI. We recognize the evolving demands of a data-driven society for scalability and flexibility, and we firmly believe that the future of AI lies in distributed processing at the edge, bringing computation closer to the source of data generation. Our mission is to build a future where a company's valuable data and intellectual property remain entirely private, enabling the deployment of large-scale AI models directly on standard consumer hardware without compromising the information embedded within those models. We are developing an end-to-end platform that is secure, scalable, and fully under the control of our users, empowering enterprises with AI that understands their unique business. We are a team driven by truth, ownership, tenacity, and humility, and we seek individuals who resonate with these core values and are passionate about shaping the next generation of AI.
About the Role: We are looking for a Senior AI Software Engineer with deep expertise in high-performance computing and machine learning inference. In this role, you’ll design and optimize inference engines for on-device applications on Apple platforms (macOS & iOS), leveraging Metal and MLX to push performance to its limits. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives at the intersection of low-level systems programming, applied machine learning, and hardware-aware optimization.
Key Responsibilities
- Implement and optimize advanced ML architectures (Transformers, Mixture of Experts, Diffusion models) in C++, with a focus on performance and memory efficiency.
- Develop and fine-tune custom Metal kernels for performance-critical inference operations.
- Apply advanced model quantization techniques (low-bit, mixed-precision) to accelerate performance while minimizing footprint.
- Profile, benchmark, and tune inference on Apple Silicon (M-series, A-series), identifying and eliminating bottlenecks.
- Collaborate on API design and build Python bindings for C++ libraries.
- Contribute to robust testing frameworks to ensure reliability and performance.
Requirements & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in CS, EE, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 4+ years of professional experience in C++ systems programming.
- Strong understanding of computer architecture, data structures, and algorithms.
- Demonstrated experience with performance profiling and low-level optimization.
- Familiarity with deep learning concepts and architectures (Transformers, Diffusion models, Mixture of Experts).
Preferred (but Not Required)
- Deep expertise with Apple’s MLX framework.
- Demonstrable experience writing and optimizing custom Metal kernels.
- Experience with model quantization techniques and their performance implications.
- Familiarity with the iOS/macOS development ecosystem and build systems (CMake).
- Experience creating Python bindings for C++ libraries.
We at webAI are committed to living out the core values we have put in place as the foundation on which we operate as a team. We seek individuals who exemplify the following:
- Truth - Emphasizing transparency and honesty in every interaction and decision.
- Ownership - Taking full responsibility for one’s actions and decisions, demonstrating commitment to the success of our clients.
- Tenacity - Persisting in the face of challenges and setbacks, continually striving for excellence and improvement.
- Humility - Maintaining a respectful and learning-oriented mindset, acknowledging the strengths and contributions of others.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits package.
- 401k Match (US-based only)
- $200/mos Health and Wellness Stipend
- $400/year Continuing Education Credit
- $500/year Function Health subscription (US-based only)
- Free parking, for in-office employees
- Unlimited Approved PTO
- Parental Leave for Eligible Employees
- Supplemental Life Insurance
webAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of webAI to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Senior AI Software Engineer
Target companies with H-1B sponsorship history
Large tech employers like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta sponsor hundreds of AI engineering roles annually. Focusing your search on companies with a demonstrated H-1B filing history dramatically improves your odds of receiving a sponsorship offer.
Emphasize your ML stack in applications
Employers filing H-1B petitions for AI engineers need to justify the specialty occupation requirement. A resume that clearly maps your PyTorch, TensorFlow, or LLM experience to the specific role description strengthens both your application and their petition.
Consider O-1A if you have notable research or publications
Senior AI engineers with published papers, patents, or conference presentations at NeurIPS or ICML may qualify for the O-1A extraordinary ability visa. It bypasses the H-1B lottery entirely and can be filed year-round without a cap.
Understand how the H-1B lottery affects your timeline
With a roughly 25% selection rate, H-1B lottery results are uncertain. Discuss backup authorization strategies with your employer early, including OPT extensions, L-1 transfers if you have overseas experience, or cap-exempt employer options like universities.
Browse roles on Migrate Mate to filter for sponsorship
Not every job posting makes visa sponsorship clear upfront. Migrate Mate surfaces Senior AI Software Engineer roles from employers actively open to sponsorship, saving you time and reducing the uncertainty of cold applications to companies with no sponsorship track record.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior AI Software Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. Senior AI Software Engineer positions consistently qualify as H-1B specialty occupations because the role requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, or a closely related field. USCIS has approved thousands of H-1B petitions for AI and machine learning engineering roles. Employers should document that the degree requirement is standard industry practice for the position, which is well-established in AI engineering.
What degree do I need for visa sponsorship as a Senior AI Software Engineer?
Most employers and USCIS require a bachelor's degree or higher in computer science, data science, mathematics, or a related technical field. A degree in an unrelated field is unlikely to satisfy the specialty occupation standard unless paired with substantial graduate coursework in AI or ML. If your degree is from outside the U.S., a credential evaluation confirming U.S. equivalency strengthens the petition.
How competitive is H-1B sponsorship for AI engineering roles compared to other tech jobs?
AI and machine learning engineering roles are among the most frequently sponsored H-1B occupations. Employers are highly motivated to sponsor because qualified candidates are scarce relative to demand. That said, H-1B selection is determined by lottery, not by role type or employer. Your best lever is targeting large employers with cap-exempt research divisions or companies with strong petition approval histories. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers are actively sponsoring.
Can I get sponsored on an E-3 or TN visa as a Senior AI Software Engineer?
Australian citizens can pursue sponsorship through the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and a far higher approval rate than H-1B. Senior AI Software Engineer roles qualify as specialty occupations under E-3 with the same degree requirements. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under the TN visa's computer systems analyst category, though the role title and duties need to map precisely to the approved TN occupation list.
Do employers need to pay anything to sponsor a Senior AI Software Engineer on an H-1B?
Yes, and the employer bears those costs, not the employee. Filing fees vary by employer size and whether premium processing is used, but they are legally required to cover all mandatory H-1B costs. Employers cannot pass government filing fees to the employee. If a company asks you to cover H-1B filing costs, that is a legal violation and a red flag. Most legitimate tech employers absorb these costs without hesitation.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Senior AI 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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