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Reinforcement Learning Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania

They will have experience at all levels of the ML stack, including feature engineering, developing training data, fine-tuning, reinforcement learning, quality evaluations, deployment, and monitoring.

Senior AI Research Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA

$101K - $139K/yr

They will have experience at multiple levels of the ML stack, including feature engineering, developing training data, fine-tuning, reinforcement learning, quality evaluations, deployment, and ...

Showing results 21-40

Reinforcement Learning Engineer information

See Pennsylvania salary details

$38.1K

$116.1K

$192K

How much do reinforcement learning engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for reinforcement learning engineer in Pennsylvania is $116,143.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,200.00 and $151,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a reinforcement learning engineer?

Reinforcement Learning Engineers are specialized professionals who design, develop, and implement algorithms based on reinforcement learning, a type of machine learning where agents learn to make decisions by receiving rewards or penalties. They work on building models that enable machines to learn optimal actions through trial and error in complex environments. Their responsibilities often include developing RL architectures, tuning hyperparameters, running simulations, and applying RL methods to real-world problems like robotics, gaming, or recommendation systems. RL Engineers typically have strong backgrounds in computer science, mathematics, and deep learning, along with experience in programming languages like Python and frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.

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

To thrive as a Reinforcement Learning Engineer, you need a strong background in machine learning, mathematics (especially probability and statistics), and programming languages like Python, often supported by a relevant degree in computer science or engineering. Familiarity with deep learning frameworks (such as TensorFlow or PyTorch), RL libraries (like OpenAI Gym), and cloud computing platforms is typically required. Problem-solving skills, creativity, and effective collaboration help set outstanding engineers apart in this field. These competencies enable the design and deployment of advanced RL solutions that address real-world challenges and drive innovation.

What are some common challenges faced by reinforcement learning engineers when deploying models in real-world environments?

One of the main challenges Reinforcement Learning (RL) Engineers face is bridging the gap between simulation and real-world deployment. Models that perform well in controlled environments may struggle with unpredictable data, safety constraints, or limited feedback in production. Additionally, RL algorithms often require significant computational resources and careful tuning to avoid instability. Collaboration with domain experts and software engineers is essential to address these issues and ensure successful integration of RL solutions into existing systems.

What is the difference between Reinforcement Learning Engineer vs Machine Learning Engineer?

AspectReinforcement Learning EngineerMachine Learning Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS, AI, or related; experience with RL frameworksBachelor's/Master's in CS, Data Science, or related; experience with ML algorithms
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, AI startups, tech companies focusing on RL applicationsTech companies, data-driven firms, AI departments across industries
Industry UsageSpecialized in RL projects like robotics, game AI, autonomous systemsBroader applications including predictive modeling, NLP, computer vision

Reinforcement Learning Engineers focus on developing algorithms that learn through interactions with environments, often in robotics or gaming. Machine Learning Engineers work on a wider range of models and applications. While both roles require strong programming and math skills, RL Engineers specialize in sequential decision-making, whereas ML Engineers handle diverse data-driven tasks across industries.

What cities in Pennsylvania are hiring for Reinforcement Learning Engineer jobs? Cities in Pennsylvania with the most Reinforcement Learning Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Reinforcement Learning Engineer job openings in Pennsylvania as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,143 per year, or $55.8 per hour.

Principal AI/ML Engineer (Large Language Model) (TS/SCI) {S} with Security Clearance

ARKA Group LP

King Of Prussia, PA • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

ARKA Group L.P. ("ARKA") is an advanced technologies company serving the U.S. military, intelligence community, and commercial space industry delivering next-generation solutions to support the national security space enterprise. Built on more than six decades of excellence, ARKA brings modern approaches and a culture of innovation to the challenges of today. Join the ARKA team to learn how Beyond Begins Here. Discover your next career opportunity now! Position Overview: The Principal AI/ML Engineer will support the development of AI/ML algorithms in a multitude of disciplines from object detection/classification, natural language processing, reinforcement learning, and large language models. We offer generous relocation benefits for eligible candidates. In support of work/life balance, many positions are available for a flexible schedule within the pay period. Ask us about the opportunity for flex scheduling if that's of interest to you. Responsibilities: Lead and mentor a multidisciplined team consisting of developers and researchers to implement machine learning algorithms to solve a broad set of challenges for our various customers * Apply Large Language Models (LLMs) to a variety of applications within remote sensing such as tasking collections, identifying gaps in collection plans, analyzing patterns of life, and more.
* Fine tune foundation models and building adaptors for new applications (llama factory, PEFT)
* Apply retrieval augmented generation (RAG) techniques to data to populate and query vector databases (e.g. Weaviate)
* Build custom applications with LLM frameworks such as LangChain, DSPy
* Deploy LLM solutions across cloud-based and local resources using kubernetes (llama.ccp, vllm etc)
* Analyze large multi-domain datasets such as images, text and/or graph data, to identify statistically relevant features to build models that provide analysts with actionable data
* Review relevant publications to understand and apply cutting edge concepts to defense and commercial applications
* Interface with both internal and external leadership to communicate technical status
Required Qualifications: * BS in machine learning, computer science, mathematics, or related fields.
* 10+ years of experience, preferably in software development or as a data scientist with 2+ years of building LLM applications using some of the following:
* Fine-tuning foundational models
* Steering Techniques (e.g Sparse auto encoders, representation tuning)
* Building adapters to use foundational models (e.g. PEFT, llama factory)
* Prompt engineering techniques / Inference time techniques (e.g. chain of thought, tree of thoughts, etc.)
* Using Retrieval Augmented Generation techniques to populate and query vector databases (e.g. Weaviate, pinecone)
* Using LLM Frameworks (e.g. LangChain, DSPy)
* Using AI APIs ( e.g AWS Bedrock, OpenAI)
* Using LLM deployment frameworks (eg llama.cpp, vllm, tgi)
* Developing UIs with ReAct
* Experience leading an interdisciplinary team of researchers and software developers and working with a program manager to define project scope and schedule to ensure we meet project milestones as defined by our customers
* Experience with Python and data science / machine learning libraries (e.g. PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, OpenCV, NumPy, Pandas, Polars, scikit-learn, etc.)
* Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance
Preferred Qualifications: * MS or PhD in machine learning, computer science, mathematics, or related fields.
* Experience leading an interdisciplinary team of researchers and software developers
* Experience with any of the following Computer Vision domains:
* Large Language Models and experience identifying ways to incorporate them into new areas and applications
* Applying Transformer-based architectures to domains in other areas outside of Natural Language Processing (NLP) such as computer vision
* Object detection algorithms such as YOLO and Faster-RCNN
* Natural Language Processing algorithms such as BERT
* Generative Adversarial Networks and Variational Autoencoders
* Reinforcement learning and familiarity with Gymnasium Gym, RLlib, and Stable Baselines
* Applying clustering algorithms and/or deep neural networks to real life problems
* Implementing tracking and pattern-of-life algorithms
* Experience with Machine Learning libraries and frameworks such as HuggingFace and LangChain
* Experience with Computer Vision libraries such as OpenCV, Nerfstudio, FiftyOne, etc.
* Experience with Linux
* Familiarity with using AWS cloud computing resources such as EC2, S3, Lambda, etc.
* Experience with any of the following additional languages: Java, C++, Rust, Go, and/or C#
* Experience implementing algorithms on the GPU in Python or C++ using CUDA and other CUDA libraries
* Experience with implementing tracking and pattern-of-life algorithms
* Experience in application deployment, virtualization, and containerization (e.g. Podman, Docker, Kubernetes, Rancher)
* Experience working with various Remote Sensing datasets (e.g. EO/OPIR/SAR images, passive RF, etc.)
* Experience shaping and writing proposals
Location: King of Prussia, PA Situated less than an hour outside of Philadelphia and hosting the largest mall on the east coast, King of Prussia offers the urban feel sought in the city, while also giving opportunities to experience the beauty and history found only in Pennsylvania. What We Offer: * Comprehensive medical/vision/dental insurance packages
* Company contributions to qualified HSA accounts
* 401k retirement plan with industry leading company contributions
* 3 weeks of vacation accrual per year plus time off for sick leave and unscheduled life events
* 13 paid holidays
* Upfront tuition assistance for approved degree programs
* Annual bonus program based on company and employee performance
* Company paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
* 4 weeks paid Parental Leave
* Employee assistance program (EAP)
EHS/Environmental Requirements: This job operates in a professional office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee routinely is required to use hands to keyboard, communicate, listen to, and interpret instructions and remain stationary for extended periods of the time. This would require the ability to move around the campus and occasionally move/lift items weighing up to 25 lbs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Applicants are invited to apply for a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the job. To apply, send a request to or contact 203-797-5000 and press 2 for Human Resources. ITC & Security Clearance Requirements: This position requires an active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance. Visa Restrictions: No visa sponsorship is available for this position. Pre-employment Screenings: Employment with any ARKA companies in the U.S. is contingent upon satisfactory completion of several pre-employment requirements to include a credit check, background check, and drug screen.