1

Contract Machine Learning Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Lead Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$105K - $139K/yr

Lead Machine Learning Engineer As a Capital One Machine Learning Engineer (MLE), you'll be part of ... Collaborate as part of a cross-functional Agile team to create and enhance software that enables ...

Lead Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$105K - $139K/yr

Lead Machine Learning Engineer As a Capital One Machine Learning Engineer (MLE), you'll be part of ... Collaborate as part of a cross-functional Agile team to create and enhance software that enables ...

Lead Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$105K - $139K/yr

Lead Machine Learning Engineer As a Capital One Machine Learning Engineer (MLE), you'll be part of ... Collaborate as part of a cross-functional Agile team to create and enhance software that enables ...

AI Software Engineer 1

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80K - $100K/yr

The AI Software Engineer I is responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and ... Foundational knowledge of artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, or data-related ...

Showing results 41-60

Contract Machine Learning Software Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$65.4K

$152K

$211.7K

How much do contract machine learning software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract machine learning software engineer in Chicago, IL is $151,971.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,600.00 and $178,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract machine learning software engineer?

A Contract Machine Learning Software Engineer is a professional who is hired on a temporary or project basis to design, develop, and deploy machine learning models and systems. They often work with organizations that need specialized expertise for a limited duration, helping to build algorithms, analyze data, and integrate AI solutions into existing software products. Contract engineers typically have strong backgrounds in programming, mathematics, and data science, and they may work remotely or on-site. Their responsibilities can range from data preprocessing and model training to deploying models in production environments. This arrangement allows companies to access advanced machine learning skills without committing to a full-time hire.

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

To thrive as a Contract Machine Learning Software Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science, proficiency in programming languages like Python, and expertise in machine learning algorithms, typically supported by a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with frameworks and tools such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, and cloud platforms, along with knowledge of version control systems like Git, is essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and the ability to work independently or with cross-functional teams make someone stand out in this role. These skills ensure efficient delivery of scalable machine learning solutions that meet client requirements and project timelines.

How does a contract machine learning software engineer typically collaborate with full-time team members during a project?

As a Contract Machine Learning Software Engineer, you will often work closely with full-time data scientists, software engineers, and product managers. Collaboration usually happens through regular stand-up meetings, code reviews, and shared documentation platforms. Despite being a contractor, you’re expected to integrate seamlessly with the team, communicate progress transparently, and adapt to the company’s workflows. Building strong relationships and proactively seeking feedback can help ensure your contributions align with the project’s goals and timelines.

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

AspectContract Machine Learning Software EngineerData Scientist
CredentialsBachelor's or Master’s in CS, ML, or related fields; experience with ML frameworksBachelor's or Master’s in Statistics, Data Science, or related fields; strong analytical skills
Work EnvironmentProject-based, often remote, focused on developing ML models and softwareData analysis, visualization, and interpretation, often in research or business settings
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, startups, consulting firms; used for deploying ML solutionsResearch institutions, finance, healthcare, and tech; used for insights and decision-making

The main difference is that Contract Machine Learning Software Engineers focus on developing and deploying ML models as software solutions, while Data Scientists analyze data to generate insights. Both roles require strong technical skills, but their primary objectives and work environments differ.

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

The most popular types of Machine Learning Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Contract Machine Learning Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Contract Machine Learning Software Engineer job openings:

Lead Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

Capital One
Funds, Trusts and Financial Programs • 10K+ employees

$105K - $139K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Capital One rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 148 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

90th of 176 rated banks


Job description

Lead Machine Learning Engineer

As a Capital One Machine Learning Engineer (MLE), you'll be part of an Agile team dedicated to productionizing machine learning applications and systems at scale. You'll participate in the detailed technical design, development, and implementation of machine learning applications using existing and emerging technology platforms. You'll focus on machine learning architectural design, develop and review model and application code, and ensure high availability and performance of our machine learning applications. You'll have the opportunity to continuously learn and apply the latest innovations and best practices in machine learning engineering.

What You'll Do:

The MLE role overlaps with many disciplines, such as Ops, Modeling, and Data Engineering. In this role, you'll be expected to perform many ML engineering activities, including one or more of the following:

  • Design, build, and/or deliver ML models and components that solve real-world business problems, while working in collaboration with the Product and Data Science teams

  • Inform your ML infrastructure decisions using your understanding of ML modeling techniques and issues, including choice of model, data, and feature selection, model training, hyperparameter tuning, dimensionality, bias/variance, and validation)

  • Solve complex problems by writing and testing application code, developing and validating ML models, and automating tests and deployment

  • Collaborate as part of a cross-functional Agile team to create and enhance software that enables state-of-the-art big data and ML applications

  • Retrain, maintain, and monitor models in production

  • Leverage or build cloud-based architectures, technologies, and/or platforms to deliver optimized ML models at scale.

  • Construct optimized data pipelines to feed ML models

  • Leverage continuous integration and continuous deployment best practices, including test automation and monitoring, to ensure successful deployment of ML models and application code

  • Ensure all code is well-managed to reduce vulnerabilities, models are well-governed from a risk perspective, and the ML follows best practices in Responsible and Explainable AI

  • Use programming languages like Python, Scala, or Java

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree

  • At least 6 years of experience designing and building data-intensive solutions using distributed computing (Internship experience does not apply)

  • At least 4 years of experience programming with Python, Scala, or Java

  • At least 2 years of experience building, scaling, and optimizing ML systems

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master's or Doctoral Degree in computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, or a similar field

  • 3+ years of experience building production-ready data pipelines that feed ML models

  • 3+ years of on-the-job experience with an industry recognized ML framework such as scikit-learn, PyTorch, Dask, Spark, or TensorFlow

  • 2+ years of experience developing performant, resilient, and maintainable code

  • 2+ years of experience with data gathering and preparation for ML models

  • 2+ years of people leader experience

  • 1+ years of experience leading teams developing ML solutions using industry best practices, patterns, and automation

  • Experience developing and deploying ML solutions in a public cloud such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform

  • Experience designing, implementing, and scaling complex data pipelines for ML models and evaluating their performance

  • ML industry impact through conference presentations, papers, blog posts, open source contributions, or patents

  • Experience leveraging interactive AI tooling to accelerate productivity, utilizing capabilities beyond basic code completion

At this time, Capital One will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization, or offer any immigration related support for this position (e.g. H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-3, and O-1, or any other forms of work authorization that require immigration support from an employer).

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

Chicago, IL: $179,400 - $204,700 for Lead Machine Learning Engineer


New York, NY: $215,200 - $245,600 for Lead Machine Learning Engineer










Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate's offer letter.

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at theCapital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.

This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.No agencies please. Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City's Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.

If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@capitalone.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Careers@capitalone.com

Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.

Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).


What Capital One employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom