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Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in California

Sr. Machine Learning Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

Minimum Qualifications Bachelors in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning ... tasks and engineering tasks Proficient in at least two programming languages such as: C/C++, Go ...

About the Role At Poesis, machine learning and artificial intelligence open the door to improved ... We're looking for an exceptional Machine Learning Engineer to help build the systems that make this ...

... in Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning • Demonstrated experience with detection ... software engineering skills and prior web development experience using Javascript/TypeScript or ...

About the Role We're hiring our first Machine Learning Engineer in the United States, a ... Strong academic background in computer science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or ...

Showing results 21-40

Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineer information

See California salary details

$31.1K

$127.1K

$191K

How much do artificial intelligence machine learning engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for artificial intelligence machine learning engineer in California is $127,083.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,200.00 and $153,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an artificial intelligence machine learning engineer?

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) Machine Learning Engineer is a professional who designs, builds, and implements machine learning models and AI systems. They work with large datasets, develop algorithms, and use programming languages like Python or R to enable computers to learn from data and make predictions or decisions. Their work is essential in fields such as natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. These engineers collaborate with data scientists, software developers, and business stakeholders to deploy AI solutions in real-world applications.

What are some common challenges faced by artificial intelligence machine learning engineers when deploying models to production?

One of the main challenges AI/ML engineers encounter is ensuring that models trained in a controlled environment perform reliably in real-world production settings. This often involves handling issues like data drift, scaling models to handle large volumes of requests, and integrating with existing infrastructure. Collaboration with data engineers and software developers is crucial to streamline deployment, monitor model performance, and address any unexpected behavior quickly. Keeping up with evolving tools and best practices is also important for long-term model maintenance and success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an artificial intelligence machine learning engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineer, you need strong programming skills (typically in Python or R), a background in mathematics or statistics, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with machine learning frameworks (such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn), cloud platforms, and relevant certifications are highly valuable. Problem-solving ability, creativity, and effective communication are important soft skills that distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are crucial for designing robust AI solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and driving innovation in rapidly evolving technological environments.

What is the difference between Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectArtificial Intelligence Machine Learning EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS, AI, ML, or related; certifications like TensorFlow, AWSBachelor's or higher in CS, Statistics, or related; certifications in data analysis or visualization
Work EnvironmentDevelops AI/ML models, coding, deploying algorithms in software environmentsAnalyzes data, builds models, interprets data insights for business decisions
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, AI startups, R&D departmentsFinance, healthcare, marketing, consulting firms

While both roles involve working with data and algorithms, Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers focus on designing, building, and deploying AI/ML models in software systems. Data Scientists primarily analyze data to extract insights and support decision-making. The roles often overlap but differ in their core focus and daily tasks.

What job categories do people searching Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 86% In-person, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $127,083 per year, or $61.1 per hour.

Senior Machine Learning Engineer II

Rocket Lab Corporation

Long Beach, CA • On-site

$128K - $169K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New


Rocket Lab rating

9.2

Company rating: 9.2 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

4th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab, we're not just launching rockets - we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it's a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space - our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

SENIOR MACHINE LEARNING ENGINEER II

Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.

As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer II based at our Optical Systems sites in Long Beach, CA, you will have the opportunity to support Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency's (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and beyond by building deep learning neural networks for advanced Electro-Optical (EO/IR) image processing.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Contribute your experience to developing solutions for real-world problems.
  • Design, train, and deploy machine learning models for Optical Systems applications
  • Build and maintain ML pipelines for data ingestion, feature engineering, training, and inference.
  • Collaborate with other researchers/engineers on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision.
  • Preform rapid prototyping and enhanced development to be integrated into operational systems.
  • Perform troubleshooting, bug fixes, and maintenance of existing and new systems.
  • Stay current with ML research and evaluate new tools, frameworks, and techniques

 WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN A SENIOR MACHINE LEARNING ENGINEER II:

  • Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of experience, master's degree and 6+ years of experience, or a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related field
  • Strong background in machine learning including model selection, architecting, training, validation, testing, and deployment
  • Experience in building deep learning neural network for computer vision, image processing, or video analysis (e.g., object detection, image segmentation, and tracking)
  • Strong math background, particularly linear algebra
  • Proficiency in Python
  • Experience with deep learning libraries (Keras, TensorFlow, Pytorch, etc)
  • Software engineering fundamentals: version control, testing, CI/CD, containerization
  • U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements
  • Ability to obtain and maintain an U.S. Government Security Clearance

NICE TO HAVE: 

  • Proficiency in C/C++/Rust
  • Experience curating quality, real-world datasets for training deep learning models
  • TS/SCI security clearance

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.


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