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Freelance Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in California

As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, you will design, build, and scale advanced software systems that automate Design for Manufacturing analysis, leveraging deep learning and computer vision ...

We are looking for a Machine Learning Engineer to join our team and help us push the boundaries of what's possible in smart manufacturing. In this role, you will design, build, train, and deploy ...

They are seeking a Machine Learning Engineer to contribute to the development of tools and infrastructure for interpretable AI systems, playing a key role in transforming research into usable product ...

We're hiring an Machine Learning Engineer as the volume and complexity of legal AI workflows in our system scale rapidly. As more firms rely on Eve to automate high-stakes legal work - from intake ...

Machine Learning Engineer

Chatsworth, CA · On-site

$160K - $190K/yr

We are looking for a Machine Learning Engineer to join our team and help us push the boundaries of what's possible in smart manufacturing. In this role, you will design, build, train, and deploy ...

Machine Learning Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

Bachelor degree with 4+ years experience as a machine learning engineer * AND 2+ years of Python and PyTorch or TensorFlow experience * Must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain necessary ...

Who We're Looking For As a Machine Learning Engineer in Delivery, you are a problem solver who stays anchored to impact. You are someone who can grasp advanced engineering concepts across multiple ...

They are seeking a Machine Learning Engineer to design and develop scalable training pipelines for multimodal AI systems, collaborating with data engineering and research teams to drive the technical ...

We are looking for a Machine Learning Engineer to join and play a big part in the next revolution of Maps; to enable users to find more things in innovative ways. On our team, you will have plenty of ...

The Machine Learning Engineer will design and develop scalable training pipelines for multimodal AI systems, collaborate with data engineering and research teams, and influence core decisions around ...

Machine Learning Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$150.40 - $277.60/hr

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 ...

Role Description Founding Data Scientist / Machine Learning Engineer We're looking for a highly ambitious Data Scientist to help build the predictive intelligence layer behind nowfluence. This is not ...

Position starts off as a 6 month contract Machine Learning Engineer Location: Pleasanton, California (Remote) Role Overview This role is focused on developing, deploying, and optimizing machine ...

New

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 ...

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 ...

Showing results 41-60

Freelance Machine Learning Engineer information

See California salary details

$14

$47

$130

How much do freelance machine learning engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance machine learning engineer in California is $47.08, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.94 and $60.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a freelance machine learning engineer do?

A Freelance Machine Learning Engineer designs, develops, and implements machine learning models and algorithms for clients on a project basis. They work independently to analyze data, build predictive models, and help businesses solve complex problems using AI and machine learning techniques. Their responsibilities may also include data preprocessing, model evaluation, and deploying solutions into production environments. Freelance Machine Learning Engineers often collaborate remotely with teams and must manage their own schedules and client relationships.

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

To thrive as a Freelance Machine Learning Engineer, you need expertise in programming (especially Python), a solid grasp of machine learning algorithms, and a relevant academic background such as a degree in computer science, mathematics, or engineering. Familiarity with frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), and experience with version control systems are typically required. Strong problem-solving, self-management, and client communication skills help set successful freelancers apart. These competencies are crucial for delivering effective solutions, managing projects independently, and building client trust in a competitive market.

How do freelance machine learning engineers typically manage client expectations and project scopes?

Freelance machine learning engineers often work with clients who may not have a deep technical understanding of AI or data science. A common challenge is clearly defining the project scope and deliverables at the outset, ensuring both parties understand what is feasible given the data, time, and budget constraints. Successful freelancers use regular progress updates, milestone-based deliverables, and transparent communication to manage expectations and avoid scope creep. Building trust through clear documentation and setting realistic timelines also helps foster long-term client relationships.

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

AspectFreelance Machine Learning EngineerData Scientist
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in computer science, data science, or related fields; certifications in machine learning or AI are a plusUsually holds a degree in statistics, data science, or related areas; certifications in data analysis or visualization are common
Work EnvironmentIndependent, project-based work often remotely for various clientsOften employed full-time in organizations or consulting roles, sometimes freelance
Industry UsageUsed across tech, finance, healthcare, and startups for deploying ML modelsApplied in research, analytics, and strategic decision-making across industries

Freelance Machine Learning Engineers focus on developing and deploying ML models independently for diverse clients, while Data Scientists analyze data to extract insights, often working within organizations. Both roles require strong technical skills, but their work scope and environment differ significantly.

What are the most commonly searched types of Machine Learning Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Machine Learning Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Freelance Machine Learning Engineer jobs in California? For Freelance Machine Learning Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Machine Learning Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Machine Learning Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Freelance Machine Learning Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Freelance Machine Learning Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Freelance Machine Learning Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $97,931 per year, or $47.1 per hour.

Machine Learning Engineer

Hadrian

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Hadrian is a company focused on building autonomous factories for the aerospace and defense industries. As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, you will design, build, and scale advanced software systems that automate Design for Manufacturing analysis, leveraging deep learning and computer vision technologies.
Responsibilities:
• Research, develop and deploy cutting-edge deep learning models, including OCR, vision-language, and detection models for document understanding and layout analysis
• Contribute to the ongoing development and refinement of current models in close collaboration within the engineering team and end users
• Work in every facet of the Machine Learning lifecycle - including the creation and optimization of production data pipelines, and software systems for training, inference, labeling, and evaluation
• Judiciously combine open-source solutions and novel research to create world-class vision systems for manufacturing applications
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelors in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (or similar discipline), or an equivalent amount of deep learning experience
• 5+ years of experience in Computer Vision and/or Machine Learning, including ownership of projects throughout the entire ML Lifecycle
• Proficiency in Python, OpenCV, SQL, and one or more deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, Tensorflow, etc.)
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Preferred:
• A Master’s Degree in Computer Science with focus in Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning
• Demonstrated experience with detection/segmentation models and achieving high performance results - including exploratory analysis, model selection, and hyperparameter tuning
• Previously worked in aerospace, defense, or manufacturing, and have experience working 3D/CAD/CAM data for manufacturing applications
• Strong software engineering skills and prior web development experience using Javascript/TypeScript or Python, and familiarity with FastAPI or Express frameworks
• Prior experience with distributed training using cloud infrastructure
• Prior experience with visual document understanding and layout analysis
• Published research or achieved SOA results on an ML application
• Prior experience with multi-modal deep learning models
• You have a passion for manufacturing and believe that the industry needs better software
• Prior experience working in a startup environment
Company:
Hadrian builds AI-powered automated factories that manufacture precision parts for defense, aerospace, and space industries. Founded in 2020, the company is headquartered in Torrance, USA, with a team of 201-500 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.