Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineers rank among the most visa-sponsored roles in U.S. tech. Employers filing H-1B petitions for this level consistently cite Computer Science or related engineering degrees, and many qualify for O-1A or EB-1 expedited pathways given the seniority. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
See All Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 249+ Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 249+ Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Offline Driving Intelligence (ODIN) team at Zoox is leveraging the latest in AI to craft algorithms that understand the world. We leverage large models first offline and we devise a path of impact into our self-driving robot, enabling safe and efficient navigation in complex environments. As an engineer in the ODIN team, you will develop advanced multimodal large language models that enhance environmental understanding. You'll develop and fine-tune these models for off-vehicle analysis while working with the onboard team to deliver impact in our robotaxi platform, ensuring they can efficiently identify hazards and interpret driving restrictions with minimal latency. Working alongside world-class engineers and researchers, you'll leverage premium sensor data and cutting-edge infrastructure to validate your algorithms in real-world conditions, directly impacting productivity, safety and the capability of Zoox's autonomous system.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In this role, you will...
- Lead the development of multimodal large language models that enhance our robotaxis' understanding of complex urban environments
- Design effective model architectures and sophisticated training techniques, leveraging all the inputs from our sensor stack and the overall large scale data we have at Zoox
- Drive end-to-end ML solutions from research to production, utilizing Zoox's extensive data pipelines and infrastructure to improve autonomous driving capabilities
- Collaborate with perception, planning, safety, and systems teams to integrate your models into the vehicle's decision-making pipeline
- Validate and optimize your solutions using real-world driving scenarios, directly contributing to the safety and reliability of Zoox's autonomous system
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- MS or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related technical field
- Demonstrated experience training and deploying large language models (LLMs)
- Experience building and maintaining ML training pipelines, including data preprocessing, model training, and evaluation
- Proficiency in Python and ML libraries (PyTorch, NumPy) demonstrated through professional or research projects
- Experience training with large scale datasets (e.g. tens of millions of videos)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Publications in top-tier conferences (CVPR, ICCV, RSS, ICRA)
- Experience with autonomous robotics systems
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $229,000 - $317,000 a year
ABOUT ZOOX
Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.
ACCOMMODATIONS
If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [email protected] or your assigned recruiter.
A FINAL NOTE
You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
INTRODUCTION
The Offline Driving Intelligence (ODIN) team at Zoox is leveraging the latest in AI to craft algorithms that understand the world. We leverage large models first offline and we devise a path of impact into our self-driving robot, enabling safe and efficient navigation in complex environments. As an engineer in the ODIN team, you will develop advanced multimodal large language models that enhance environmental understanding. You'll develop and fine-tune these models for off-vehicle analysis while working with the onboard team to deliver impact in our robotaxi platform, ensuring they can efficiently identify hazards and interpret driving restrictions with minimal latency. Working alongside world-class engineers and researchers, you'll leverage premium sensor data and cutting-edge infrastructure to validate your algorithms in real-world conditions, directly impacting productivity, safety and the capability of Zoox's autonomous system.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In this role, you will...
- Lead the development of multimodal large language models that enhance our robotaxis' understanding of complex urban environments
- Design effective model architectures and sophisticated training techniques, leveraging all the inputs from our sensor stack and the overall large scale data we have at Zoox
- Drive end-to-end ML solutions from research to production, utilizing Zoox's extensive data pipelines and infrastructure to improve autonomous driving capabilities
- Collaborate with perception, planning, safety, and systems teams to integrate your models into the vehicle's decision-making pipeline
- Validate and optimize your solutions using real-world driving scenarios, directly contributing to the safety and reliability of Zoox's autonomous system
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- MS or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related technical field
- Demonstrated experience training and deploying large language models (LLMs)
- Experience building and maintaining ML training pipelines, including data preprocessing, model training, and evaluation
- Proficiency in Python and ML libraries (PyTorch, NumPy) demonstrated through professional or research projects
- Experience training with large scale datasets (e.g. tens of millions of videos)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Publications in top-tier conferences (CVPR, ICCV, RSS, ICRA)
- Experience with autonomous robotics systems
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $229,000 - $317,000 a year
ABOUT ZOOX
Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.
ACCOMMODATIONS
If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [email protected] or your assigned recruiter.
A FINAL NOTE
You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer
Target companies with established ML infrastructure
Large tech firms and AI-first startups with dedicated ML platforms teams sponsor this role most reliably. They have immigration counsel on retainer and treat H-1B sponsorship as a standard hiring cost, not an exception requiring executive approval.
Frame your degree field precisely on applications
H-1B specialty occupation requires a degree in a directly related field. Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Statistics are strong matches. A degree in a loosely related field increases RFE risk, so frame your coursework and transcripts carefully with your employer's counsel.
Highlight publications, patents, or model deployments at scale
Staff and Sr Staff roles sit at or near the principal level. Evidence of industry-recognized contributions, open-source projects, or peer-reviewed work strengthens both your H-1B petition and opens the door to O-1A or EB-1A self-petition options.
Ask about the company's I-140 filing timeline upfront
At this seniority, many employers will file an I-140 immigrant petition concurrently or shortly after H-1B approval. Knowing whether EB-2 or EB-3 sponsorship is on offer matters significantly for long-term planning, especially for Indian or Chinese nationals facing backlogs.
Understand cap-exempt employer options if you miss the H-1B lottery
Universities, nonprofit research labs, and government-affiliated institutions are H-1B cap-exempt, meaning they can file year-round without lottery risk. Senior ML roles exist at places like national labs and research universities, and sponsorship there sidesteps the annual cap entirely.
Use Migrate Mate to filter roles by verified sponsorship history
Not every job posting that mentions visa sponsorship follows through at the offer stage. Migrate Mate surfaces employers with documented sponsorship activity for ML engineering roles, reducing time spent on applications that stall once immigration costs enter the conversation.
Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer JobsSee all 249+ Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do employers typically sponsor H-1B visas for Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer roles?
Yes, sponsorship rates for this title are high relative to the broader tech job market. Sr Staff ML Engineers command enough strategic value that most large tech employers absorb H-1B costs without hesitation. You're most likely to encounter resistance at early-stage startups without dedicated HR or legal infrastructure for immigration filings. Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically for employers with verified sponsorship history at this seniority level.
What degree qualifies for H-1B sponsorship as a Machine Learning Engineer?
A bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or Statistics is the standard qualifying credential for this role under H-1B specialty occupation rules. USCIS looks for a direct relationship between the degree field and the job duties. A general engineering or business degree without strong quantitative coursework can trigger a Request for Evidence. Relevant graduate degrees, especially in ML or AI, significantly strengthen the petition.
Can a Sr Staff ML Engineer qualify for an O-1A visa instead of H-1B?
Potentially yes, and it's worth evaluating seriously at this level. The O-1A requires evidence of extraordinary ability, typically demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, patents, significant open-source contributions, or a high salary relative to peers. Sr Staff engineers who have published research, led breakthrough model deployments, or received industry awards often meet multiple O-1A criteria. Unlike H-1B, the O-1A has no lottery and can be filed year-round.
How does Indian or Chinese nationality affect sponsorship timelines for this role?
H-1B approval and work authorization are unaffected by nationality, but employer-sponsored green card timelines are heavily impacted. Indian and Chinese nationals face employment-based visa backlogs measured in decades for EB-2 and EB-3 categories. At the Sr Staff level, it's worth asking employers whether they support EB-1A or EB-1B (Outstanding Researcher) pathways, which currently have no backlog for any nationality and offer a substantially faster route to permanent residence.
What is the H-1B approval rate for Machine Learning Engineer petitions?
USCIS doesn't publish approval rates broken down to this specific title, but ML engineering petitions filed under Computer Occupations SOC codes consistently see approval rates above 90% when the petition is well-documented and filed by experienced immigration counsel. The main risk factor is a Request for Evidence challenging specialty occupation status, which is more common for roles where the degree requirement isn't explicitly stated in the job description. Clear job duty language in the LCA and offer letter reduces this risk substantially.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Sr Staff Machine Learning 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.
See which Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Sr Staff Machine Learning Engineer Jobs