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Machine Learning Research Scientist Jobs in Chicago, IL

IMC

Machine Learning Research Lead

Chicago, IL · On-site

IMC Trading is seeking a Machine Learning Research Lead with proven experience applying ... PhD or Master's in Engineering, Math, Statistics, Computer Science, or related quantitative field ...

IMC

Machine Learning Research Lead

Chicago, IL · On-site

$250K - $300K/yr

IMC Trading is seeking a Machine Learning Research Lead with proven experience applying ... PhD or Master's in Engineering, Math, Statistics, Computer Science, or related quantitative field ...

Elevance Health

Research Scientist Senior

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$101K - $129K/yr

Research Scientist Senior Research Scientist Senior This role requires associates to be in-office ... Develops scalable machine learning and reinforcement learning systems that improve healthcare ...

Elevance Health

Research Scientist Senior

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$101K - $129K/yr

Research Scientist Senior This role requires associates to be in-office 1 - 2 days per week ... Develops scalable machine learning and reinforcement learning systems that improve healthcare ...

IBM

Research Scientist

Chicago, IL · On-site

Your role and responsibilities IBM Research is seeking a research scientist to advance novel ... Improve upon and develop novel quantum machine learning methods that combine quantum and classical ...

IBM

Research Scientist

Chicago, IL · On-site

Your role and responsibilities IBM Research is seeking a research scientist to advance novel ... Improve upon and develop novel quantum machine learning methods that combine quantum and classical ...

IMC Trading

Machine Learning Researcher

Chicago, IL · On-site

... Research, test and prototype new algorithmic ideas; deploy advanced ML techniques applicable to ... Required : • PhD or Master's in Engineering, Math, Statistics, Computer Science, or related ...

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All JobsMachine Learning Research Scientist JobsMachine Learning Research Scientist Jobs in Chicago, IL

Machine Learning Research Scientist information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$52K

$134K

$179.2K

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

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for machine learning research scientist in Chicago, IL is $134,039.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,700.00 and $178,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a machine learning research scientist?

A Machine Learning Research Scientist develops new algorithms and models to advance the field of artificial intelligence. They conduct experiments, analyze data, and publish research to push the boundaries of machine learning theory and applications. Their work often involves designing novel architectures, optimizing existing models, and collaborating with engineers to bring research into production. This role typically requires a deep understanding of mathematics, statistics, and programming, along with experience in areas like deep learning, reinforcement learning, or probabilistic modeling.

What does a machine learning research scientist do?

As a Machine Learning Research Scientist, your typical projects may include developing novel algorithms, conducting experiments on large datasets, implementing and tuning models, and publishing research findings. Your daily responsibilities often involve coding, data analysis, reading the latest literature, collaborating with engineers and product teams, and participating in internal discussions about research direction. You may also mentor junior researchers, contribute to open-source projects, and present results at conferences or internal meetings. This role offers a dynamic work environment where continuous learning and innovative problem-solving are highly encouraged.

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

To thrive as a Machine Learning Research Scientist, you need a strong background in mathematics, statistics, programming (typically Python or similar), and experience with machine learning frameworks, usually supported by an advanced degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, and proficiency in data handling and cloud platforms is highly valued, alongside certifications like Google Cloud ML Engineer as a plus. Innovative thinking, strong communication, and effective problem-solving skills help set exceptional researchers apart. Mastery of both technical and soft skills is essential for developing impactful models, collaborating across multidisciplinary teams, and staying ahead in this fast-evolving field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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The top searched job categories for Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Machine Learning Research Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Machine Learning Research Scientist job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $134,039 per year, or $64.4 per hour.

Research Scientist/Research Engineer, Reinforcement Learning

Jump Trading

Chicago, IL • On-site

$200K - $350K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago

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

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