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Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist Jobs in Chicago, IL

IMC

Machine Learning Research Lead

Chicago, IL · On-site

IMC Trading is seeking a Machine Learning Research Lead with proven experience applying ... PhD or Master's in Engineering, Math, Statistics, Computer Science, or related quantitative field ...

Elevance Health

Research Scientist Senior

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$101K - $129K/yr

Research Scientist Senior Research Scientist Senior This role requires associates to be in-office ... Develops scalable machine learning and reinforcement learning systems that improve healthcare ...

Elevance Health

Research Scientist Senior

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$101K - $129K/yr

Research Scientist Senior This role requires associates to be in-office 1 - 2 days per week ... Develops scalable machine learning and reinforcement learning systems that improve healthcare ...

IBM

Research Scientist

Chicago, IL · On-site

Your role and responsibilities IBM Research is seeking a research scientist to advance novel ... Improve upon and develop novel quantum machine learning methods that combine quantum and classical ...

IBM

Research Scientist

Chicago, IL · On-site

Your role and responsibilities IBM Research is seeking a research scientist to advance novel ... Improve upon and develop novel quantum machine learning methods that combine quantum and classical ...

IMC Trading

Machine Learning Researcher

Chicago, IL · On-site

... Research, test and prototype new algorithmic ideas; deploy advanced ML techniques applicable to ... Required : • PhD or Master's in Engineering, Math, Statistics, Computer Science, or related ...

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All JobsContract Machine Learning Research Scientist JobsContract Machine Learning Research Scientist Jobs in Chicago, IL

Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$52K

$134K

$179.2K

How much do contract machine learning research scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract machine learning research scientist in Chicago, IL is $134,039.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,700.00 and $178,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a contract machine learning research scientist do?

A Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist is a professional hired on a temporary or project basis to design, develop, and implement machine learning models and algorithms. They collaborate with teams to analyze data, conduct experiments, and improve AI systems, often in academic, industrial, or commercial settings. Their work typically involves researching new techniques, publishing findings, and translating research into practical applications. Since they work on a contract basis, their roles may vary depending on the project's needs and duration.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract machine learning research scientist?

To thrive as a Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist, you need advanced knowledge of machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and a graduate degree in computer science, mathematics, or a related field. Expertise with programming languages such as Python or R, familiarity with ML frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, and experience using version control systems are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills set standout candidates apart in collaborative and fast-paced research environments. These skills are crucial for developing innovative solutions, interpreting complex data, and delivering high-quality research outcomes within contractual timelines.

What are some common challenges faced by contract machine learning research scientists when working on short-term projects?

Contract machine learning research scientists often encounter challenges such as limited timeframes to achieve research milestones, quickly adapting to new domains or datasets, and efficiently integrating with existing teams. As short-term contributors, they must rapidly understand the project's context and deliver impactful results within strict deadlines. Clear communication and proactive collaboration with permanent staff are essential to ensure alignment with project goals and to maximize the value delivered during the contract period.

What is the difference between Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist vs Data Scientist?

AspectContract Machine Learning Research ScientistData Scientist
CredentialsMaster's or PhD in CS, ML, or related fieldsBachelor's or Master's in CS, Statistics, or related fields
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, R&D teams, academic collaborationsBusiness analytics, product teams, data-driven decision making
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, research institutions, startupsFinance, healthcare, e-commerce, tech firms

Contract Machine Learning Research Scientists focus on developing new algorithms and conducting research, often in academic or R&D settings. Data Scientists analyze data to generate insights and support business decisions. While both roles require strong ML knowledge, the research scientist role emphasizes innovation and experimentation, whereas data scientists focus on applying existing models to real-world problems.

What are the most commonly searched types of Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist job openings:

Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Machine Learning Research Scientist job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $134,039 per year, or $64.4 per hour.

Research Scientist/Research Engineer, Reinforcement Learning

Jump Trading

Chicago, IL • On-site

$200K - $350K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Jump Trading Group is committed to world-class research. We empower exceptional talents in Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science to seek scientific boundaries, push through them, and apply cutting-edge research to global financial markets. Our culture is unique. Constant innovation requires fearlessness, creativity, intellectual honesty, and a relentless competitive streak. We believe in winning together and unlocking unique individual talent by incentivizing collaboration and mutual respect. At Jump, research outcomes drive more than superior risk-adjusted returns. We design, develop, and deploy technologies that change our world, fund start-ups across industries, and partner with leading global research organizations and universities to solve problems.
Our team is a group of quantitative researchers, engineers, and ML experts leading reinforcement learning research and trading at Jump. Our mission is to combine emerging techniques and original research to learn optimal decision-making policies from financial market data and monetize them globally. We are building the future of ML-powered trading through breakthrough reinforcement learning, and we're looking for an exceptional Research Scientist/Research Engineer to join our team.
What You'll Do
As a Research Scientist/Research Engineer working on RL, you'll be at the forefront of applying reinforcement learning to markets. You'll conduct original research and own the systems that turn it into production trading: designing and evaluating policy architectures, reward formulations, and objective horizons with rigorous out-of-sample benchmarking; partnering with trading and research teams to source, integrate, and validate their alpha signals within the RL framework; ensuring simulation fidelity against live trading by modeling market microstructure, fill dynamics, liquidity, and latency; building efficient tooling to store, process, and analyze very large volumes of market and signal data; and communicating findings to technical and trading audiences. This isn't incremental optimization; we're pushing the boundaries of what reinforcement learning can do at scale, where your improvements directly impact live trading.
Other duties as assigned or needed.
Skills You'll Need
  • 5+ years of experience developing reinforcement learning and/or deep learning systems with measurable impact in industry and/or academia
  • Depth in reinforcement learning, including experience designing reward formulations, policy architectures, and evaluation, and taking RL methods from research into production
  • Proficiency in Python and/or C++
  • Familiarity with ML libraries/frameworks such as PyTorch (preferred), TensorFlow, and/or JAX
  • Strong foundation in mathematics and statistics
  • PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics (or a related subject)
  • Strong publication record at ICML, ICLR, AAAI, NeurIPS, CVPR, or equivalent
  • Ability to thrive in a collaborative, team-oriented environment
  • Creative thinkers who are driven, self-motivated, and eager to solve challenging problems
  • Reliable and predictable availability
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

Benefits
  • Discretionary bonus eligibility
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care options
  • Employer Paid Group Term Life and AD&D Insurance
  • Voluntary Life & AD&D insurance
  • Paid vacation plus paid holidays
  • Retirement plan with employer match
  • Paid parental leave
  • Wellness Programs

Annual Base Salary Range
$200,000-$350,000 USD

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