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Senior Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in Irvine, CA

Yum! Brands

Sr Machine Learning Engineer

Irvine, CA

$112K - $154K/yr

We are seeking a hands-on Senior Machine Learning Engineer to support and enhance machine learning platforms used for media measurement and customer analytics. This role partners closely with Data ...

Yum Brands

Sr Machine Learning Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

We are seeking a hands-on Senior Machine Learning Engineer to support and enhance machine learning platforms used for media measurement and customer analytics. This role partners closely with Data ...

Yum

Sr Machine Learning Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

We are seeking a hands-on Senior Machine Learning Engineer to support and enhance machine learning platforms used for media measurement and customer analytics. This role partners closely with Data ...

Medium

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$180 - $215/hr

You'll collaborate closely with machine learning scientists, software engineers, and robotics experts to design and implement FFM capabilities that generalize across tasks and environments. Beyond ...

New

FieldAI

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Irvine, CA

$180K - $215K/yr

... engineering with learning systems proven in globally deployed solutions that deliver results today and get better every time our robots run in the field. What You'll Get To Do Machine Learning ...

FieldAI

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Irvine, CA

$180K - $215K/yr

... engineering with learning systems proven in globally deployed solutions that deliver results today and get better every time our robots run in the field. What You'll Get To Do Machine Learning ...

Capgroup

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Irvine, CA

$131K - $173K/yr

Access on-demand professional development resources that allow you to hone existing skills and learn new ones "I can succeed as a Machine Learning Engineer at Capital Group" We are looking for ...

Kinetic

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$110K - $152K/yr

In this role, you will collaborate with engineers and researchers to develop and deploy vision models for tasks like semantic segmentation and object detection across 2D and 3D data. Responsibilities ...

Kinetic

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

You'll collaborate with other engineers and researchers to develop, evaluate, and help deploy vision models for tasks like semantic/instance segmentation and object/damage detection across 2D and 3D ...

FieldAI

Senior Machine Learning Platform Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$110K - $152K/yr

The Senior Machine Learning Platform Engineer will design and manage scalable ML infrastructure, develop cloud-based pipelines, and ensure the reliability of MLOps workflows while mentoring junior ...

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Senior Machine Learning Engineer information

See Irvine, CA salary details

$63.9K

$135.8K

$197K

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

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior machine learning engineer in Irvine, CA is $135,845.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $112,200.00 and $154,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior machine learning engineer do?

A Senior Machine Learning Engineer designs, develops, and implements machine learning models to solve complex problems. They are responsible for selecting appropriate algorithms, preprocessing data, and optimizing model performance. Additionally, they collaborate with data scientists, software engineers, and product teams to integrate machine learning solutions into production systems. Senior engineers also mentor junior team members and contribute to setting technical direction for machine learning projects.

What are some common challenges senior machine learning engineers face when deploying models to production, and how can they be addressed?

Senior Machine Learning Engineers often encounter challenges related to model scalability, maintaining performance in real-world scenarios, and ensuring reliable integration with existing systems. Addressing these challenges typically involves thorough testing, implementing robust monitoring for model drift, and collaborating closely with DevOps and software engineering teams to streamline deployment pipelines. Staying updated on best practices in MLOps and adopting tools for automated deployment and monitoring can greatly improve the reliability and efficiency of production models.

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

To thrive as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, you need advanced knowledge of machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and programming languages like Python or Java, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Experience with frameworks and tools such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, and cloud platforms, as well as familiarity with version control and CI/CD systems, is essential. Strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills help you collaborate effectively and mentor junior team members. These capabilities are crucial for designing scalable ML solutions and driving impactful results within complex, dynamic projects.

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

AspectSenior Machine Learning EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS, ML, or related; experience with ML frameworksBachelor's/Master's in CS, Statistics, or related; strong analytical skills
Work EnvironmentDevelops and deploys ML models in production systemsAnalyzes data, builds models, and provides insights
Industry UsageTech, finance, healthcare, e-commerceResearch, finance, marketing, tech

While both roles require strong technical skills and knowledge of machine learning, Senior Machine Learning Engineers focus more on deploying scalable ML solutions in production environments, whereas Data Scientists primarily analyze data and develop models for insights. The roles often overlap but differ in their core responsibilities and focus areas.

What are the most commonly searched types of Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Irvine, CA?

The most popular types of Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Irvine, CA are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Irvine, CA?

For Senior Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Irvine, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Irvine, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Machine Learning Engineer jobs in Irvine, CA are:

What cities near Irvine, CA are hiring for Senior Machine Learning Engineer jobs?

Cities near Irvine, CA with the most Senior Machine Learning Engineer job openings:

Senior Machine Learning Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Machine Learning Engineer job openings in Irvine, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 22% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,845 per year, or $65.3 per hour.

Senior Machine Learning Engineer II

Rocket Lab Corporation

Long Beach, CA

$128K - $169K/yr

Full-time

Posted 22 hours ago

Posted today

Rocket Lab rating

9.2

Company rating: 9.2 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

4th of 72 rated aerospace companies

Job description

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab, we're not just launching rockets - we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it's a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space - our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

SENIOR MACHINE LEARNING ENGINEER II

Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.

As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer II based at our Optical Systems sites in Long Beach, CA, you will have the opportunity to support Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency's (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and beyond by building deep learning neural networks for advanced Electro-Optical (EO/IR) image processing.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Contribute your experience to developing solutions for real-world problems.
  • Design, train, and deploy machine learning models for Optical Systems applications
  • Build and maintain ML pipelines for data ingestion, feature engineering, training, and inference.
  • Collaborate with other researchers/engineers on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision.
  • Preform rapid prototyping and enhanced development to be integrated into operational systems.
  • Perform troubleshooting, bug fixes, and maintenance of existing and new systems.
  • Stay current with ML research and evaluate new tools, frameworks, and techniques

 WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN A SENIOR MACHINE LEARNING ENGINEER II:

  • Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of experience, master's degree and 6+ years of experience, or a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related field
  • Strong background in machine learning including model selection, architecting, training, validation, testing, and deployment
  • Experience in building deep learning neural network for computer vision, image processing, or video analysis (e.g., object detection, image segmentation, and tracking)
  • Strong math background, particularly linear algebra
  • Proficiency in Python
  • Experience with deep learning libraries (Keras, TensorFlow, Pytorch, etc)
  • Software engineering fundamentals: version control, testing, CI/CD, containerization
  • U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements
  • Ability to obtain and maintain an U.S. Government Security Clearance

NICE TO HAVE: 

  • Proficiency in C/C++/Rust
  • Experience curating quality, real-world datasets for training deep learning models
  • TS/SCI security clearance

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

What Rocket Lab employees say

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