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Machine Learning Contract Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Role: Agentic AI/AI Engineer - Generative AI & Machine Learning Location:  Schaumburg, IL (Hybrid - 3 Days Onsite per Week) Long Term Contract Job Summary: We are seeking a highly motivated and ...

Enterprise Architect III

Chicago, IL · On-site

$95 - $117/hr

Type: Contract * Job #105216 Senior AI Security Enterprise Architect Location: Remote (U.S ... Agentic AI * Machine Learning * Intelligent Automation * Establish secure-by-design principles ...

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As an experienced machine learning engineer, you understand goodsoftware is more than just a good ... as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected ...

Job Title: GCP AI/ML Engineer Duration: 6 months Contract to hire Location: Chicago is the ... Build, deploy, and manage production-grade machine learning pipelines using Vertex AI Pipelines and ...

GCP Data Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$118K - $141K/yr

GCP Data Engineer Duration: 6 months Contract to hire Location: Chicago is the preferred location ... Collaborate with data architects, business analysts, and machine learning teams to deliver trusted ...

PLANT CONTRACT MANAGER

Beardstown, IL · On-site

$58K - $70K/yr

... machinery, and knives • Slippery floors, cold temperatures, and loud ambient noise Requirements ... Our Company is dedicated to supporting professional growth by offering continuous learning ...

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... machinery, and knives • Slippery floors, cold temperatures, and loud ambient noise Requirements ... Our Company is dedicated to supporting professional growth by offering continuous learning ...

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... machinery, and knives • Slippery floors, cold temperatures, and loud ambient noise Requirements ... Our Company is dedicated to supporting professional growth by offering continuous learning ...

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As a machine learning engineer on our Defense Technology team, you'll train, test, deploy, and ... as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected ...

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Showing results 1-20

Machine Learning Contract information

See Illinois salary details

$13

$22

$30

How much do machine learning contract jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for machine learning contract in Illinois is $22.11, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.09 and $24.71 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Machine Learning Contract job?

A Machine Learning Contract job is a temporary or project-based role where professionals develop and implement machine learning models for a company. Contractors may work on tasks such as data preprocessing, model training, evaluation, and deployment. These roles are often remote or short-term, allowing companies to hire expertise for specific projects without long-term commitments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Machine Learning Contract position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Machine Learning Contract professional, you need a solid background in programming (Python, R), data analysis, and machine learning algorithms, usually supported by a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn, as well as experience with cloud platforms like AWS or Azure, is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, time management, and effective communication are standout soft skills in contract-based roles. These competencies are crucial for efficiently delivering project-based solutions, collaborating with clients, and staying adaptable to varied organizational needs.

What are the typical responsibilities and workflow for a Machine Learning Contract position?

As a Machine Learning Contract professional, you’ll often be brought in to design, build, and deploy machine learning models tailored to a client’s specific challenges, ranging from data preprocessing and exploratory analysis to model selection and performance tuning. You may also be responsible for documenting your work, presenting results to stakeholders, and advising on best practices for model integration. Contract positions frequently involve collaborating remotely with cross-functional teams and meeting project milestones within set timelines. This role is ideal for those who enjoy variety, autonomy, and leveraging their expertise across different industries and datasets.

What are the most commonly searched types of Machine Learning jobs in Illinois? The most popular types of Machine Learning jobs in Illinois are:
What are popular job titles related to Machine Learning Contract jobs in Illinois? For Machine Learning Contract jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Illinois are hiring for Machine Learning Contract jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Machine Learning Contract job openings:
Infographic showing various Machine Learning Contract job openings in Illinois as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 14% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,998 per year, or $22.1 per hour.
Machine Learning Senior/Staff Software Engineer

Machine Learning Senior/Staff Software Engineer

DeepWalk Research, Inc

Chicago, IL • On-site

$150K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 28 days ago


Job description

About DeepWalk
DeepWalk is a fast-growing venture that helps cities keep people safe using computer vision to map and monitor their sidewalks. We have ongoing contracts with cities, universities, and engineering firms.
In the past year, we've processed thousands of miles of sidewalk across 20+ states, generating millions of labeled data points used in real-world infrastructure decisions. We've raised $4.1M, recently closed a $2.1M seed round led by Enable Ventures, and we currently generate 7-figure revenue helping communities across America.
Senior/Staff Software Engineer - Computer Vision Platform
$150,000 - $190,000 base salary + equity • Hybrid (Chicago)
We're hiring a Senior/Staff Software Engineer to lead the technical direction of DeepWalk's computer vision platform for automated sidewalk inspection. This role is focused on tackling high-impact, open-ended problems around large-scale imagery, production ML systems, and data pipelines that handle hundreds of terabytes of data. We're specifically looking for engineers who have built and operated ML or computer vision systems in production at scale (not just research or prototyping).
You'll play a key role in how we process, analyze, and deliver insights from millions of images, supporting cities as they work to build safer, more accessible infrastructure.
In this role, you'll work closely with a handful of experienced engineers, help set technical direction, and establish patterns the team can scale with.
Our core stack today includes Python-based CV/ML systems running on AWS, with data pipelines and services designed to handle large volumes of imagery and geospatial data.
What You'll Do
As a Staff Engineer at DeepWalk, you'll have significant ownership over both the systems we build and how we build them. You will...
  • Own the lifecycle of our computer vision models, including training, evaluation, deployment, and iteration
  • Improve model performance in real-world conditions (noise, edge cases, data drift)
  • Design and improve data pipelines that process thousands of miles of sidewalks and millions of images
  • Lead architectural decisions for handling hundreds of terabytes of geospatial and visual data, including storage layout, pipeline reliability, and inference performance
  • Set and evolve best practices around deployment, observability, system reliability, and scalability
  • Act as a senior individual contributor and mentor, helping raise the technical bar across the engineering team
  • Work closely with the CEO and operations team to turn business needs into clear technical priorities

What Success Looks Like (First 3-6 Months)
  • Build a strong understanding of our current computer vision systems and data pipelines
  • Identify the biggest scaling, reliability, and maintainability gaps as we grow
  • Propose and begin executing on a clear plan to improve how we deploy, monitor, and operate production ML systems
  • Become a trusted technical partner to leadership

What We're Looking For
Required
  • 5+ years of experience, including direct ownership of production ML or computer vision systems (training, deployment, and ongoing operation)
    Experience taking models from training → production → monitoring → iteration in a real-world environment
  • Experience owning system architecture and influencing technical decisions across teams
  • Experience deploying ML systems in real-world production environments
  • Fluency in at least one modern backend language (Python, Java, TypeScript, Go, etc.)
  • Strong understanding of system design, scalability, and distributed systems
  • Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure
  • Comfort working in a startup or growth-stage environment with changing requirements

Nice to Have
  • Experience with large-scale or real-time data pipelines
  • Infrastructure-as-Code experience (Terraform, CDK, etc.)
  • ML observability, data validation, or model deployment experience
  • Familiarity with geospatial, imagery, or sensor-driven data
  • An interest in urban planning, accessibility, or civic technology

Compensation & Benefits
  • $150,000 - $190,000 base salary, based on scope and experience
  • Equity
  • Unlimited PTO (most of our team takes 3-4 weeks per year)
  • Health insurance
  • 401(k) with ~4% match (100% on first 3%, 50% on the next 2%)
  • Convenient office location in The Loop
  • Hybrid work environment (typically 2 days in-office)

DeepWalk participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
DeepWalk is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
In accordance with applicable laws, DeepWalk provides equal pay for equal work and complies with all federal, state, and local pay transparency and compensation requirements.