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Senior Machine Learning Software Engineer Jobs in Tucson, AZ

Rocket Lab Corporation

Senior Software Engineer I

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$115K - $152K/yr

SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER I Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space ... Collaborate with researchers on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision.

Phase2 Technology

Senior Software Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$117.88 - $153.25/hr

Ken Coit College of Pharmacy is seeking an experienced and high-performing Senior Software Engineer ... Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent advanced learning attained ...

Rincon Research Corporation

Sr. Software Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$113K - $150K/yr

They are seeking a Sr. Software Engineer to design real-time cloud processing solutions, implement advanced algorithms, and provide technical leadership while working on cutting-edge geolocation and ...

Teaching with Telescopes

Principal AI Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$179 - $226/hr

... in software engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or related fields, including experience serving as a Principal Engineer, AI Technical Lead, Architect, or equivalent senior ...

Rubin Obs

Principal AI Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$179 - $226/hr

... in software engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or related fields, including experience serving as a Principal Engineer, AI Technical Lead, Architect, or equivalent senior ...

Rincon Research Corp

Sr. Software Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$229K - $280K/yr

What are the primary responsibilities in the Sr. Software Engineer position? * Responsible for overseeing the expanded development of an existing C++, Python, and Next.js React program with new ...

Varsity Tutors

Machine Learning Tutor

Tucson, AZ · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of supervised learning, unsupervised learning, feature engineering, model selection ... Familiar with machine learning curricula and common challenges such as understanding bias-variance ...

Universal Avionics

Director of Engineering

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Your teams will work across artificial intelligence and machine learning, software, systems ... Represent Engineering with senior leadership and translate complex technical topics into clear ...

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Senior Machine Learning Software Engineer information

See Tucson, AZ salary details

$71.4K

$135.5K

$181.5K

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

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior machine learning software engineer in Tucson, AZ is $135,479.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,800.00 and $152,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior machine learning software engineer?

A Senior Machine Learning Software Engineer is an experienced professional who designs, develops, and deploys machine learning models and systems to solve complex problems. They work closely with data scientists, engineers, and other stakeholders to build scalable and efficient solutions that leverage large data sets and advanced algorithms. Their responsibilities often include architecting ML pipelines, optimizing model performance, and mentoring junior team members. Typically, they have a strong background in computer science, programming, and applied mathematics, along with several years of hands-on experience in machine learning and software engineering.

What are some common challenges senior machine learning software engineers face when deploying models to production?

Senior Machine Learning Software Engineers often encounter challenges such as ensuring model scalability, maintaining performance under real-world data conditions, and integrating models seamlessly with existing systems. Handling data drift and monitoring model predictions for accuracy over time are also critical responsibilities. Collaboration with data engineers, DevOps, and product teams is essential to address these challenges and ensure robust, reliable deployments.

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

A Senior Machine Learning Software Engineer requires deep expertise in machine learning algorithms, statistical analysis, and strong programming skills in languages like Python or Java, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, as well as experience with cloud platforms and version control systems, is standard. Exceptional problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills help drive project success and mentor junior engineers. These competencies are crucial for designing scalable ML solutions, ensuring code quality, and effectively collaborating within cross-functional teams.

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

AspectSenior Machine Learning Software EngineerData Scientist
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in CS, ML, or related; experience with ML frameworksBachelor's or Master's in Data Science, Statistics, or related; strong analytical skills
Work EnvironmentDevelops ML models, integrates algorithms into products, collaborates with engineering teamsAnalyzes data, builds statistical models, visualizes insights, collaborates with business teams
Industry UsageTech, finance, healthcare, e-commerceResearch, finance, marketing, healthcare

While both roles involve working with data and algorithms, Senior Machine Learning Software Engineers focus on developing and deploying scalable ML models within software systems, whereas Data Scientists primarily analyze data to generate insights and inform business decisions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Machine Learning Software Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ?

The most popular types of Machine Learning Software Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Machine Learning Software Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ?

For Senior Machine Learning Software Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Machine Learning Software Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Machine Learning Software Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ are:

Senior Machine Learning Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Machine Learning Software Engineer job openings in Tucson, AZ as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $135,479 per year, or $65.1 per hour.

Senior Machine Learning Engineer II

Tucson, AZ • On-site

Rocket Lab Corporation
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing • 201 - 500 employees

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

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Paid breaks

Learn more about Rocket Lab Corporationexternal

$115K - $152K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

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 Tucson, AZ, 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
  • 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.

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