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Entry Level Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in Illinois

We are seeking a Machine Learning Engineer (MLOps) to support the productionization of traditional ... This is not an entry-level position, and it is not a principal or architect-level role. Location ...

Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

Machine Learning Engineer (14907) At Moody's, we unite the brightest minds to turn today's risks into tomorrow's opportunities. We do this by striving to create an inclusive environment where ...

Role Summary We are seeking a highly motivated Machine Learning Engineer with a strong background in model architecture design and algorithm development, ideally with experience in scientific domains ...

Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$95K - $138K/yr

Expertise in Python programming, including machine learning libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, and PyTorch * Experience with machine learning operations practices, including continuous integration and ...

Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

Preferred Qualifications PhD in Mathematics, Engineering, Physics or related field; 4-8 years experience working in Machine Learning; Experience with deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow or ...

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Schaumburg, IL · On-site

$120K - $159K/yr

Senior Engineer Machine Learning Position Overview Paylocity is growing its Machine Learning Engineering organization! Our machine learning engineering team is responsible for developing ...

Role Summary We are seeking a highly motivated Machine Learning Engineer with a strong background in model architecture design and algorithm development, ideally with experience in scientific domains ...

Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$62K - $100K/yr

As an AI Engineering team member, you will be instrumental in advancing new features and/or solutions from the Proof of Concept stage to full production readiness. Your role involves refining and ...

Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$62K - $100K/yr

As an AI Engineering team member, you will be instrumental in advancing new features and/or solutions from the Proof of Concept stage to full production readiness. Your role involves refining and ...

As an AI Engineering team member, you will be instrumental in advancing new features and/or solutions from the Proof of Concept stage to full production readiness. Your role involves refining and ...

Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80 - $100/hr

About the Role As an AI Engineering team member, you will be instrumental in advancing new features and/or solutions from the Proof of Concept stage to full production readiness. Your role involves ...

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Entry Level Machine Learning Engineer information

See Illinois salary details

$29.1K

$67.2K

$114.3K

How much do entry level machine learning engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level machine learning engineer in Illinois is $67,213.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,900.00 and $76,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry level machine learning engineer?

An Entry Level Machine Learning Engineer is responsible for developing, testing, and deploying machine learning models under the guidance of senior engineers. They work with datasets, implement algorithms, and optimize model performance. Their role often involves data preprocessing, feature engineering, and collaborating with data scientists and software engineers. Strong programming skills in Python, knowledge of ML frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, and an understanding of statistics and algorithms are essential. This position serves as a foundation for building expertise in artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making.

What are some typical projects or tasks an entry level machine learning engineer might work on?

As an Entry Level Machine Learning Engineer, you’ll often work on tasks such as data preprocessing, feature engineering, and assisting in training and evaluating models under the guidance of senior engineers or data scientists. You may help develop prototypes, automate data collection pipelines, and collaborate with software engineers to integrate machine learning solutions into products. Working in this role typically involves frequent collaboration in a team environment, participating in code reviews, and learning best practices for scalable model deployment. These foundational experiences are designed to build your technical expertise and set the stage for future growth within the field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level machine learning engineer?

To thrive as an Entry Level Machine Learning Engineer, you need a solid understanding of machine learning algorithms, programming languages like Python, and a degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, and version control systems like Git is highly valuable, and completing online courses or certifications can further demonstrate your skills. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are important soft skills in this role. These abilities are essential because they enable you to build accurate models, work collaboratively with teams, and communicate insights to stakeholders.

What are the most commonly searched types of Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Entry Level Machine Learning Engineer jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Entry Level Machine Learning Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Machine Learning Engineer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Internship, 84% Full Time, and 12% Contract. Highlights an 74% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 24% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $67,213 per year, or $32.3 per hour.

Machine Learning Engineer

Oakbrook Terrace, IL • On-site

Darwill, Inc.
Marketing • 201 - 500 employees

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

Overview
Darwill is a nationally recognized print and marketing communications firm based in the west suburbs of Chicago. As a premier provider of complex, data-driven marketing solutions, we help CMOs and marketing leaders drive measurable performance through advanced analytics, automation, and AI-powered insights.
We are seeking a Machine Learning Engineer (MLOps) to support the productionization of traditional machine learning models (e.g., propensity and segmentation models) while also building and maintaining the core data pipelines on Databricks that power our analytics and modeling platforms.
This role is intentionally scoped for a mid-level engineer: someone with enough experience to work independently and make sound engineering decisions, but who is still hands-on, execution-focused, and eager to grow. This is not an entry-level position, and it is not a principal or architect-level role.
Location
Chicago, IL area (Oak Brook / West Suburbs)
Hybrid work model with 1-2 days onsite per week required
Reports To
VP of Data Engineering & Data Science
Responsibilities / Essential Functions
Data Engineering & Platform Foundations
  • Design, build, and maintain ETL pipelines in Databricks using Spark and Delta Lake
  • Independently implement data transformations, joins, and aggregations across large, multi-source datasets
  • Build and maintain data validation and quality checks to ensure reliability of downstream analytics and ML workflows
  • Optimize Databricks jobs for performance, scalability, and cost efficiency
  • Write and maintain clear technical documentation for data pipelines and tables

ML Engineering & MLOps
  • Partner closely with Data Scientists to support traditional ML model development, including feature engineering, training, validation, and deployment
  • Productionize propensity, ranking, and segmentation models used in large-scale marketing campaigns
  • Build and maintain repeatable ML pipelines for training, batch scoring, and inference
  • Implement model versioning, experiment tracking, and reproducibility standards
  • Support model performance monitoring, drift detection, and retraining cycles

Deployment, Monitoring & Operations
  • Deploy data pipelines and ML workflows into production environments serving millions of records
  • Implement monitoring and alerting for data and ML pipelines
  • Support A/B testing and model performance evaluation in partnership with Data Science
  • Troubleshoot production issues independently and collaborate effectively when escalation is needed

GenAI (Secondary / Directional)
  • Contribute to GenAI initiatives as capacity allows
  • Stay informed on emerging AI technologies and tooling
  • (GenAI is not the primary focus of this role today.)

Required Qualifications
Experience
  • 3-6 years of professional experience in machine learning engineering, data engineering, or a closely related role
  • Experience working in production environments with minimal day-to-day supervision
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with Data Scientists and translate models into production systems

Technical Skills (Must-Have)
Data Engineering & Platform
  • Apache Spark (PySpark, SparkSQL)
  • Databricks (ETL pipelines, workflows, Delta Lake)
  • Strong SQL skills (complex queries, joins, window functions, optimization)
  • Experience building and maintaining scalable data pipelines

Programming & Machine Learning
  • Python (pandas, numpy, scikit-learn; experience with XGBoost or LightGBM preferred)
  • Feature engineering and data preparation for ML models
  • Working knowledge of supervised learning models (classification, regression, ranking)

MLOps & Production
  • Experience deploying ML models into production
  • Model versioning and experiment tracking (e.g., MLflow or similar)
  • Monitoring data quality and model performance in production
  • Supporting retraining and validation workflows

Cloud & Tooling
  • Experience with a major cloud platform (Databrick, AWS)
  • Familiarity with workflow orchestration tools (Databricks Workflows or similar)

Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-Have)
  • Experience with propensity modeling, customer segmentation, or marketing analytics
  • Exposure to CI/CD concepts for data and ML pipelines
  • Experience with Docker or containerized deployments
  • Exposure to GenAI, LLMs, or RAG-based systems
  • Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field
  • Seniority Level
    Associate
  • Industry
    • Marketing Services
  • Employment Type
    Full-time
  • Job Functions