Machine Learning Engineer

About The Company

USAA is a leading financial services organization dedicated to serving the military community and their families. Our mission is to empower our members to achieve financial security through highly competitive products, exceptional service, and trusted advice. We are committed to fostering a culture of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service, which guides our interactions with members and employees alike. USAA prides itself on providing innovative solutions tailored to the unique needs of the military community, supporting active-duty service members, veterans, and their families.

Our organization values diversity, inclusion, and professional growth, offering a dynamic work environment that encourages innovation and collaboration. We understand the importance of work-life balance and offer flexible work arrangements, including remote and hybrid options, especially for military spouses. At USAA, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact while advancing their careers in a supportive and respectful environment.

About The Role

The Senior Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Engineer will join our dedicated AI engineering team focused on developing and deploying AI/ML solutions across all lines of business within USAA. This role offers a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies, including sentiment analysis, agentic AI applications, and generative AI solutions, aimed at enhancing customer service and operational efficiency. The successful candidate will be instrumental in designing, building, and maintaining scalable data pipelines, training sophisticated models, and deploying APIs to support AI-driven initiatives.

This position requires a highly skilled engineer capable of managing the full lifecycle of machine learning projects—from data preprocessing and model training to deployment and ongoing support. The role involves collaborating with data scientists, architects, and business partners to deliver innovative solutions that align with USAA’s strategic objectives. The position is based in San Antonio, TX, or Plano, TX, with a requirement to work in-office four days a week. Relocation assistance is not provided.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, with at least six years of relevant experience in machine learning engineering, data engineering, or software development. Extensive programming skills in Python, SQL, Java, or similar languages are essential, along with a strong background in data engineering and pipeline development. Proven experience in delivering end-to-end AI/ML solutions, including data curation, modeling, and deployment, is required.

Additional qualifications include familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure, and experience with ML Ops principles and automated workflows. Demonstrated technical leadership, mentoring abilities, and a solid understanding of data science methodologies are highly valued. Candidates should possess effective communication skills to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences and have knowledge of stochastic modeling or advanced mathematical techniques.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with data scientists and business stakeholders to develop and implement machine learning models and solutions.
• Provide technical feedback and guidance within the ML engineering community to ensure best practices and solution quality.
• Lead the full lifecycle of machine learning projects, including data analysis, pipeline engineering, testing, deployment, and application integration.
• Configure, manage, and optimize AI/ML infrastructure in cloud and on-premise environments, including AWS, GCP, and graph databases.
• Work with architects to define and influence model implementation patterns suitable for complex operational environments.
• Design and develop proof of concepts and prototypes for highly complex AI solutions, presenting findings to leadership for strategic decision-making.
• Mentor junior team members, fostering growth and technical excellence within the team.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to AI/ML initiatives, ensuring compliance with security and regulatory standards.

Benefits

USAA offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, financial, and emotional well-being of our employees. Benefits include competitive medical, dental, and vision plans, a 401(k) plan with company matching, pension options, life insurance, and parental leave programs. We also provide adoption assistance, paid time off including holidays and volunteer hours, and a variety of wellness programs aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle. Our commitment to professional development is reflected in career path planning, continuing education opportunities, and leadership development programs to help employees achieve their career goals.

Equal Opportunity

USAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. We believe in creating a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve and provides equal opportunities for growth and success for all employees.