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Senior Machine Learning Researcher Jobs in California

Bland

Machine Learning Researcher, Audio

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $250K/yr

Machine Learning Researcher, Audio Location: San Francisco, CA or Remote About Bland At Bland.com, our mission is to empower enterprises to build AI phone agents at scale. Based in San Francisco, we ...

Multicoin

Machine Learning Researcher

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$250 - $350/hr

Perform reinforcement learning research to improve model alignment and capability * Develop and improve our distillation pipeline for training high‑quality models from frontier teachers * Train ...

Inference

Machine Learning Researcher

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$250K - $350K/yr

Perform reinforcement learning research to improve model alignment and capability * Develop and improve our distillation pipeline for training high-quality models from frontier teachers * Train ...

Valence AI

Machine Learning Researcher

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$100 - $150/hr

We are looking for an ML researcher who will be responsible for designing, training, and testing data pipelines and ML models while collaborating with current developers on existing models and ...

Capable

Machine Learning Researcher

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $300K/yr

... learning methods. * Build internal evaluations that measure whether ML systems are accelerating drug development in practice. Who You Are * You have, or are eager to develop, strong research judgment ...

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All JobsMachine Learning Researcher JobsSenior Machine Learning Researcher JobsSenior Machine Learning Researcher Jobs in California

Senior Machine Learning Researcher information

See California salary details

$28.1K

$75.6K

$135.7K

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

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior machine learning researcher in California is $75,604.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,300.00 and $97,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior machine learning researcher do?

A Senior Machine Learning Researcher leads the development and application of advanced machine learning models to solve complex problems. They are responsible for designing experiments, analyzing large datasets, publishing research findings, and collaborating with engineering teams to implement solutions. Additionally, they mentor junior researchers, stay updated with the latest advancements in AI, and often contribute to setting the research agenda for their organization.

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

To thrive as a Senior Machine Learning Researcher, you need advanced knowledge in machine learning algorithms, statistical analysis, programming (typically in Python), and a relevant advanced degree such as a PhD or Master's in computer science or a related field. Experience with frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, as well as familiarity with cloud computing platforms and research publication, is often required. Strong problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills help you work effectively with cross-functional teams and present complex ideas clearly. These skills and qualities are essential for driving innovation, developing robust models, and translating research into practical, impactful solutions.

What opportunities for collaboration typically exist for senior machine learning researchers within a company?

Senior Machine Learning Researchers frequently collaborate with cross-functional teams, including data engineers, software developers, and domain experts. This collaboration ensures that research insights are effectively translated into scalable solutions and integrated into products or services. Researchers often participate in brainstorming sessions, code reviews, and joint publications, fostering a culture of innovation and shared knowledge. These interactions not only drive the success of projects but also provide valuable learning experiences and networking opportunities.

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

AspectSenior Machine Learning ResearcherData Scientist
CredentialsAdvanced degrees in CS, ML, or related fieldsDegree in CS, statistics, or related fields; certifications optional
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, R&D teams, academiaBusiness analytics, product teams, startups
Industry UsageResearch-focused roles in tech, academia, R&DData analysis, business insights, product development
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding research vs applied roles in MLExploring data analysis careers and skills

While both roles involve working with data and machine learning, a Senior Machine Learning Researcher primarily focuses on developing new algorithms and advancing ML theory in research settings. In contrast, a Data Scientist applies existing models to analyze data, generate insights, and support business decisions. The roles differ mainly in their focus—research innovation versus practical application—though they share overlapping skills and credentials.

What are the most commonly searched types of Machine Learning Researcher jobs in California?

The most popular types of Machine Learning Researcher jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Machine Learning Researcher jobs in California?

For Senior Machine Learning Researcher jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Machine Learning Researcher jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Machine Learning Researcher jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Senior Machine Learning Researcher jobs?

Cities in California with the most Senior Machine Learning Researcher job openings:

Senior Machine Learning Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Machine Learning Researcher job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $75,604 per year, or $36.3 per hour.

AIML - Machine Learning Researcher, Speech

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 680 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

Play a part in building the next revolution in speech and machine learning technology. We're looking for passionate researchers to work on ambitious, curiosity-driven, long-term speech research projects. In this role, you'll have the opportunity to work on innovative foundational research in speech technology and machine learning. As a member of the team, you will be inspired by a diversity of challenging problems, collaborate with world-class machine learning engineers and researchers to impact the future of Apple products, and publish some of your results in high-quality scientific venues.
Description
In this position, you will be responsible for pushing the boundaries of machine learning research, with a focus on running state-of-the-art speech models efficiently on-device. You will collaborate with researchers to push the state-of-the-art in the speech domain, specifically focusing on ASR and speech language models. You will publish your results in top conferences, making sure that your research results are reproducible and of high quality. You will prepare technical reports for publication and conference talks, and have the opportunity to collaborate with broader teams across Apple.
Minimum Qualifications
Demonstrated expertise in machine learning research
Publication record in relevant machine learning conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, etc.) and/or relevant speech conference/Journals (e.g., Interspeech, ICASSP, ASRU, etc.)
Hands-on experience working with deep learning toolkits such as PyTorch
Strong mathematical skills in linear algebra and statistics
PhD, or equivalent practical experience, in Computer Science, or related technical field.
Preferred Qualifications
Ability to formulate a research problem and design, experiment, implement, and communicate solutions.
Ability to work in a diverse, collaborative environment
High-quality open-source contributions to related projects
Strong presentation skills for internal and external communications.

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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