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Founding Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in Cupertino, CA

Clera

Founding Machine Learning Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$220K - $300K/yr

About the Role This is a founding-level ML engineering role at an early-stage AI data and services company, building core machine learning systems from the ground up alongside a small, high-ownership ...

Advatix Inc.

Machine Learning Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$110 - $165/hr

Not Available Role Summary We are looking for a highly skilled Machine Learning Engineer / Research Engineer to join our founding team and help develop intelligent systems that transform how hardware ...

Tapestry

Machine Learning Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

About the role: We're looking for an early career Machine Learning Engineer to join our team. In this role you will build and deploy state of the art machine learning models to solve complex ...

Winaxis

Machine Learning Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

Machine Learning Engineer Location: Fremont, CA (Local) Onsite interview Duration: 12+ Mos H1B Only h1 candidate About the Role: Our direct client is hiring a Machine Learning Engineer for their ...

Pattern AI

Machine Learning Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

Company Description PatternAI is an automated machine learning platform that reveals critical patterns in data for narrow business problems. We're seeking an outstanding ML Engineer to join our data ...

MM International

Machine Learning Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

Machine Learning Engineer Location: Fremont, CA once the documents are verified, a Codility assessment will be shared with the candidate, where they need to score a minimum of 70% and post that, a ...

Pattern AI

Machine Learning Engineer

San Mateo, CA

Company Description PatternAI is an automated machine learning platform that reveals critical patterns in data for narrow business problems. We're seeking an outstanding ML Engineer to join our data ...

Nace AI

Machine Learning Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

As a Machine Learning Engineer, you will play a central role in translating cutting-edge machine learning research into scalable, production-ready solutions. You will collaborate closely with cross ...

A/V Services LLC

Machine Learning Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$102K - $144K/yr

Machine Learning Engineer II The Machine Learning Engineer II will be a member of the Learning and Active Perception (LEAP) group in AV's MacCready Works division and support the development of a ...

New

A/V Services LLC

Machine Learning Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$102K - $144K/yr

Machine Learning Engineer II The Machine Learning Engineer II will be a member of the Learning and Active Perception (LEAP) group in AV's MacCready Works division and support the development of a ...

New

Apple

Machine Learning Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Description Apple's Video Computer Vision (VCV) Face and Body technologies team is looking for a skilled Machine Learning Engineer with experience developing ML models for computer vision and ...

Apple

Machine Learning Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

Our team comprises a diverse range of backgrounds, including applied machine learning engineers with a focus on ML and LLM, and experienced distributed systems engineers. As such, we are seeking ...

Apple

Machine Learning Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Description Apple's Video Computer Vision (VCV) Face and Body technologies team is looking for a skilled Machine Learning Engineer with experience developing ML models for computer vision and ...

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All JobsFounding Machine Learning Engineer JobsFounding Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in Cupertino, CA

Founding Machine Learning Engineer information

See Cupertino, CA salary details

$38.9K

$158.9K

$238.7K

How much do founding machine learning engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for founding machine learning engineer in Cupertino, CA is $158,868.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $125,200.00 and $191,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a founding machine learning engineer?

A Founding Machine Learning Engineer is one of the first technical team members at a startup who specializes in designing, building, and deploying machine learning systems. This role involves working closely with the founders to set the technical direction, build core AI products, and establish best practices for data and model development. In addition to hands-on coding and experimentation, a Founding Machine Learning Engineer often influences product decisions and helps shape the company's engineering culture. The role typically requires a blend of deep technical expertise, startup agility, and a willingness to tackle both high-level strategy and low-level engineering tasks.

What are some unique challenges and expectations for a founding machine learning engineer in an early-stage startup?

As a Founding Machine Learning Engineer, you'll face the unique challenge of building the company's machine learning infrastructure from the ground up, often with limited resources and rapidly evolving requirements. You'll be expected to wear many hats, from designing and deploying models to setting up data pipelines and collaborating closely with product and engineering teams. Your role will also involve making critical decisions about technology stacks and best practices that will shape the company's technical direction. Additionally, you'll have significant influence on the company's culture and have ample opportunities for growth as the team expands.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a founding machine learning engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Founding Machine Learning Engineer, you need deep expertise in machine learning algorithms, software engineering, and data science, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as Python, TensorFlow or PyTorch, cloud platforms, and experience deploying ML models in production are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, entrepreneurial mindset, and excellent communication skills set standout candidates apart. These skills and qualities are vital for driving innovation, building scalable solutions from scratch, and collaborating within a fast-paced startup environment.

Are founding machine learning engineers still in demand?

Founding machine learning engineers remain in high demand as companies seek to develop AI-driven products and services. They often require strong skills in deep learning, data modeling, and proficiency with tools like TensorFlow or PyTorch, with demand driven by growth in AI applications across industries.

How much does a founding machine learning engineer make?

A founding machine learning engineer typically earns between $100,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. Equity and bonuses may also be part of the compensation package, especially in startup environments where they play a significant role in total earnings.

What are popular job titles related to Founding Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Cupertino, CA?

For Founding Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Cupertino, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Founding Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Cupertino, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Founding Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Cupertino, CA are:

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Cities near Cupertino, CA with the most Founding Machine Learning Engineer job openings:

Founding Machine Learning Engineer jobs near you

Founding Machine Learning Engineer

Clera

Mountain View, CA • On-site

$220K - $300K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

About the Role

This is a founding-level ML engineering role at an early-stage AI data and services company, building core machine learning systems from the ground up alongside a small, high-ownership team. You'll bridge research and engineering to design, train, and ship production-grade models that directly serve frontier AI labs — and you'll help shape the technical culture and infrastructure from day one.

What You'll Do

  • Build and optimize end-to-end ML pipelines, from data ingestion through to deployment.

  • Implement and fine-tune LLMs, embeddings, and generative models for real-world applications.

  • Develop efficient training and inference systems leveraging distributed compute.

  • Partner with data and product teams to translate ideas into measurable ML impact.

  • Contribute to model monitoring, evaluation, and continual learning frameworks.

  • Establish best practices in model versioning, reproducibility, and scalability.

What We're Looking For

  • 3–10 years of experience as an ML Engineer, Applied Scientist, or Research Engineer.

  • Proficiency in Python and at least one major ML framework: PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX.

  • Strong grasp of ML fundamentals — data preprocessing, feature engineering, model training, and optimization.

  • Hands-on experience with distributed systems and cloud ML infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or Azure).

  • Familiarity with MLOps tooling such as Weights & Biases or MLflow.

  • Comfort working with large datasets and high-throughput systems.

  • A bias for action, ability to work autonomously, and genuine enthusiasm for building from scratch.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary of $220,000 – $300,000 USD annually. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Location

On-site in Mountain View, California, United States.