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Machine Learning Research Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Senior Research Engineer - ML Systems

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$107K - $147K/yr

Strong background in machine learning research and ML systems * Experience building and training ... Strong software engineering and system architecture skills * 5+ years building ML or performance ...

Machine Learning Researcher

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$250K - $300K/yr

... machine learning & deep learning to solve challenging trading problems. This role is part of a ... This is an opportunity to dive deep into feature engineering and alpha research, and focus on ...

... machine learning & deep learning to solve challenging trading problems. This role is part of a ... This is an opportunity to dive deep into feature engineering and alpha research, and focus on ...

You will collaborate closely with cross-disciplinary R&D teams to develop and deploy machine ... D. (preferred) or M.S. in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied ...

Machine Learning Researcher

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$200K - $275K/yr

... machine learning & deep learning to solve challenging trading problems. This role is part of a ... This is an opportunity to dive deep into feature engineering and alpha research, and focus on ...

You will collaborate closely with cross-disciplinary R&D teams to develop and deploy machine ... S. in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a closely ...

Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$95K - $138K/yr

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 ...

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Showing results 1-20

Machine Learning Research Engineer information

See Illinois salary details

$35.9K

$102.7K

$138.1K

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

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for machine learning research engineer in Illinois is $102,729.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,800.00 and $100,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a machine learning research engineer do?

A Machine Learning Research Engineer develops and improves machine learning models, conducts research to advance AI techniques, and implements scalable algorithms. They work at the intersection of applied research and engineering, leveraging mathematical and statistical methods to optimize performance. Their role involves experimenting with new architectures, analyzing large datasets, and collaborating with data scientists and software engineers to deploy models into production.

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

A Machine Learning Research Engineer typically needs a strong background in computer science, mathematics, and statistics, often with a graduate degree in a related field. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or C++, experience with machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, and familiarity with tools for data analysis are crucial, along with relevant certifications being a plus. Strong problem-solving skills, collaboration, and effective communication help drive innovative research and facilitate teamwork. These competencies are essential for developing advanced machine learning models, staying current with evolving technologies, and effectively translating research into real-world applications.

What are some common challenges faced by machine learning research engineers in their daily work?

Machine Learning Research Engineers often encounter challenges such as sourcing and preparing large, high-quality datasets, tuning complex model architectures, and ensuring reproducibility of experimental results. They work closely with cross-functional teams, including data scientists and software engineers, to deploy models in production environments and must frequently adapt to rapidly evolving research. Keeping up with the latest scientific literature and integrating new algorithms into ongoing projects can be demanding but is also rewarding. This collaborative, fast-paced environment provides constant opportunities for learning and professional development.

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

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

Infographic showing various Machine Learning Research Engineer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,729 per year, or $49.4 per hour.

Research Scientist/Research Engineer, Reinforcement Learning

Chicago, IL โ€ข On-site

Jump Trading
Finance and Insuranceย โ€ขย 501 - 1,000 employees

$200K - $350K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Design, evaluate, and optimize reinforcement learning policy architectures, reward formulations, and objective horizons with rigorous out-of-sample benchmarking.

  • Partner with trading and research teams to source, integrate, and validate alpha signals within the reinforcement learning framework.

  • Build and maintain systems for storing, processing, and analyzing large volumes of market and signal data, and ensure simulation fidelity against live trading.


Job description

Jump Trading Group is committed to world-class research. We empower exceptional talents in Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science to seek scientific boundaries, push through them, and apply cutting-edge research to global financial markets. Our culture is unique. Constant innovation requires fearlessness, creativity, intellectual honesty, and a relentless competitive streak. We believe in winning together and unlocking unique individual talent by incentivizing collaboration and mutual respect. At Jump, research outcomes drive more than superior risk-adjusted returns. We design, develop, and deploy technologies that change our world, fund start-ups across industries, and partner with leading global research organizations and universities to solve problems.
Our team is a group of quantitative researchers, engineers, and ML experts leading reinforcement learning research and trading at Jump. Our mission is to combine emerging techniques and original research to learn optimal decision-making policies from financial market data and monetize them globally. We are building the future of ML-powered trading through breakthrough reinforcement learning, and we're looking for an exceptional Research Scientist/Research Engineer to join our team.
What You'll Do
As a Research Scientist/Research Engineer working on RL, you'll be at the forefront of applying reinforcement learning to markets. You'll conduct original research and own the systems that turn it into production trading: designing and evaluating policy architectures, reward formulations, and objective horizons with rigorous out-of-sample benchmarking; partnering with trading and research teams to source, integrate, and validate their alpha signals within the RL framework; ensuring simulation fidelity against live trading by modeling market microstructure, fill dynamics, liquidity, and latency; building efficient tooling to store, process, and analyze very large volumes of market and signal data; and communicating findings to technical and trading audiences. This isn't incremental optimization; we're pushing the boundaries of what reinforcement learning can do at scale, where your improvements directly impact live trading.
Other duties as assigned or needed.
Skills You'll Need
  • 5+ years of experience developing reinforcement learning and/or deep learning systems with measurable impact in industry and/or academia
  • Depth in reinforcement learning, including experience designing reward formulations, policy architectures, and evaluation, and taking RL methods from research into production
  • Proficiency in Python and/or C++
  • Familiarity with ML libraries/frameworks such as PyTorch (preferred), TensorFlow, and/or JAX
  • Strong foundation in mathematics and statistics
  • PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics (or a related subject)
  • Strong publication record at ICML, ICLR, AAAI, NeurIPS, CVPR, or equivalent
  • Ability to thrive in a collaborative, team-oriented environment
  • Creative thinkers who are driven, self-motivated, and eager to solve challenging problems
  • Reliable and predictable availability
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

Benefits
  • Discretionary bonus eligibility
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care options
  • Employer Paid Group Term Life and AD&D Insurance
  • Voluntary Life & AD&D insurance
  • Paid vacation plus paid holidays
  • Retirement plan with employer match
  • Paid parental leave
  • Wellness Programs

Annual Base Salary Range
$200,000-$350,000 USD