Job Details

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Engineer

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Engineer.

Position Details

Location: Marine Research Center

1030 West Pier, Port of Gulfport

Gulfport, Mississippi, 39501

United States

Division: Ocean Enterprise

Position Type: Staff

Employment Status: Full Time

Grant Funded: Yes

Salary Range: 85,349.00 - 115,000.00

Pay Grade: E16

Posting Close Date: February 1, 2026

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

Job Summary

This is an early to mid-career role that will require the incumbent to design, build and maintain machine learning (ML) models focusing on making AI models practical and scalable for real-world applications, often bridging the gap between data science and software engineering. The position is located at the USM Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

1. Design, develop, and optimize machine learning models for diverse business and research applications.
2. Collaborate with data scientists, software engineers, and product teams to integrate ML models into production systems and ensure scalability.
3. Lead data preparation efforts, including preprocessing, feature engineering, and exploratory data analysis to support model development.
4. Evaluate and refine models using appropriate metrics, improving accuracy, efficiency, and robustness against real-world data challenges.
5. Maintain and enhance ML pipelines and infrastructure, ensuring reliability, reproducibility, and continuous improvement.
6. Stay current with AI/ML research and apply emerging methods to solve complex practical problems.
7. Translate research into practice by collaborating with principal investigators and research teams, and assisting in preparing technical reports, visualizations, and academic publications.
8. Document models, processes, and codebases to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and effective knowledge sharing across teams.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering or a related field and 6 years of experience or a Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering or a related field and 4 years of experience. Demonstrated experience working in the full lifecycle of an ML Model. U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain a Government clearance. A valid driver's license and eligibility to receive a Trusted Worker Identification Card (TWIC)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and XGBoost.
• Experience with data manipulation tools like Pandas, NumPy, and SQL.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud (especially services like SageMaker, Vertex AI, etc.).
• Experience with model deployment tools and frameworks (e.g., Docker, FastAPI, Flask, MLflow).
• Strong understanding of supervised and unsupervised learning, neural networks, NLP, and computer vision.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work independently and in teams.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with MLOps practices and tools. Familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop). Knowledge of data visualization tools (e.g., Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly). Contributions to open-source projects or published research in AI/ML Proficiency in programming languages like C, Java, C++ and Python

About The University of Southern Mississippi

Since our founding in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi has remained dedicated to preparing students for success. We deliver programs to more than 13,000 students in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. We are a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, earning distinction as one of the nation's leading research institutions.

Southern Miss is known for pioneering work in polymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, and bringing language to children with communication disorders. We are also a national leader in a broad range of disciplines, including cybersecurity, hydrography, nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development, among others.

We produce graduates ready to enter fields that are leading the way in emerging technologies through programs such as computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We're developing the next generation of business leaders, while also responding to critical workforce shortages by producing skilled professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition of excellence in the arts, we are one of only 36 public institutions in the nation accredited in four major areas of the arts. Home to the Golden Eagles, our student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports. With a culture marked by passion and persistence, Southern Miss is delivering graduates who are ready for life.