Senior Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Engineer

About the role

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 pride ourselves on fostering a culture rooted in core values such as honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service, which guide our interactions with members and colleagues alike. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, USAA continually seeks to enhance its offerings and operational efficiency to meet the evolving needs of our members.

We are proud to support active-duty military spouses and offer flexible work arrangements, including remote or hybrid options, to accommodate their unique circumstances. Our organization emphasizes professional growth, diversity, and inclusion, creating an environment where employees can thrive and make a meaningful impact. Join us to be part of a company that values service, leadership, and the pursuit of excellence in everything we do.

About The Role

The Senior Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Engineer at USAA is a pivotal member of our AI engineering team, responsible for developing and deploying innovative AI/ML solutions across various lines of business. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects, including sentiment analysis, agentic AI applications, and other advanced AI-driven initiatives designed to elevate member service. The engineer will be instrumental in data preprocessing, model training, building APIs, and designing scalable data pipelines that support the organization’s AI ecosystem.

This position requires a collaborative mindset, as it involves working closely with data scientists, architects, and business partners to translate complex requirements into effective technical solutions. The role is based in either San Antonio, TX, or Plano, TX, with a flexible work environment requiring in-office presence four days a week. Relocation assistance is not provided for this position.

As a senior member of the team, you will have the opportunity to influence technical strategies, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to the overall success of USAA’s AI initiatives. Your expertise will help shape the future of AI/ML deployment in a highly regulated industry, ensuring that solutions are robust, secure, and aligned with organizational goals.

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, and other relevant languages are essential. Candidates should have a strong background in building end-to-end AI/ML solutions, including data pipeline development, model curation, and deployment.

Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or similar environments is required, along with familiarity with ML Ops principles and automated workflows. Demonstrated technical leadership, mentoring abilities, and effective communication skills are critical to success in this role. Knowledge of data science principles, stochastic modeling, and advanced mathematical techniques will be highly valued. Candidates should also have experience working in agile environments and delivering multiple projects within strict regulatory frameworks.

Proficiency in tools such as FastAPI, OpenShift, Snowflake, and related platforms is a plus. Candidates with military experience or those who are military spouses are encouraged to apply, as their background aligns well with USAA's commitment to supporting military communities.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with data scientists and business partners to develop and implement machine learning models that meet organizational needs.

Provide technical feedback and guidance within the ML solutions community, ensuring best practices are followed.

Lead the full lifecycle of machine learning engineering projects, including analysis, design, data pipeline creation, testing, deployment, and application integration.

Configure, manage, and optimize AI/ML infrastructure components across cloud and on-premises environments, including AWS, GCP, and graph databases.

Work with architects to influence and define implementation patterns for complex ML models and AI solutions.

Design and implement technical solutions for AI, GenAI, and machine learning applications, including proof of concepts and prototypes for executive presentation.

Mentor junior team members, fostering technical growth and knowledge sharing within the team.

Identify and mitigate risks associated with AI/ML activities, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and industry standards.

Benefits

USAA offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, financial, and emotional well-being of our employees. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision plans, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, pension options, life insurance, and parental leave programs. We also provide adoption assistance, paid time off including holidays and volunteer hours, and various wellness initiatives. Our commitment to professional development is reflected in our career path planning and continuing education programs, enabling employees to achieve their career goals and grow within the organization.

Additional benefits and detailed information can be found on our benefits webpage. We believe in fostering a supportive work environment that promotes work-life balance, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring our employees feel valued and empowered.

Equal Opportunity

USAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace 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 that a diverse workforce enhances our ability to serve our members effectively and innovate continuously. All employment decisions are made based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.