Nelnet is a diversified and innovative company committed to enriching lives through the power of service as a student loan servicer, professional services company, consumer loan originator and servicer, payments processor, renewable energy solutions, and K-12 and higher education expert. For over 40 years, Nelnet has been serving its customers, associates, and communities.
The perks of working at Nelnet go beyond our benefits package. When you join the Nelnet team, you’re part of a community invested in the success of each individual. That support comes through in our work, as we are united by our mission of creating opportunities for people where they live, learn, and work.

ABOUT US:

At Nelnet, we believe in the transformative power of data and technology to drive business innovation. Our Machine Learning Engineer role is at the core of this transformation, creating intelligent systems that automate processes, derive insights, and enable us to make better decisions. If you’re passionate about applying machine learning techniques to real-world challenges, we invite you to join our team and contribute to shaping the future of our business.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field.

EXPERIENCE:

1. Minimum of 3 years of experience in machine learning engineering or
   related roles.
2. Hands-on experience with machine learning frameworks such as
   TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.
3. Experience in deploying machine learning models in production
   environments.
4. Proven experience working with and implementing large language models.

COMPETENCIES – SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES:

1. Strong programming skills in Python.
2. Familiarity with cloud platforms like AWS for machine learning solutions.
3. Experience with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools like Terraform.
4. Proficiency in using CI/CD pipelines for automating machine learning work
   flows.
5. Experience with containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration
   tools like Kubernetes.
6. Strong understanding of machine learning algorithms and statistical
   modeling techniques.
7. Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a collaborative
   environment.
8. Strong critical thinking, analytical and quantitative problem-solving ability.
9. Strong organization, time management and coordination skills to drive
   projects to completion.
10. Excellent skills in data manipulation, preprocessing, and feature
    engineering.
11. Ability to lead end-to-end development of new products.
    Our benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, HSA and FSA, generous earned time off, 401K/student loan repayment, life insurance & AD&D insurance, employee assistance program, employee stock purchase program, tuition reimbursement, performance-based incentive pay, short- and long-term disability, and a robust wellness program. Click here to learn more about our benefits:

ROLE OVERVIEW:

As a Machine Learning Engineer at Nelnet, you’ll be at the intersection of data science and software engineering. Your primary focus will be on designing, building, and deploying machine learning models to solve various business problems. You’ll collaborate closely with Data Scientists, Data Engineers, and business stakeholders to bring machine learning solutions from conceptualization to production. You will also work extensively with large language models, implementing them in various applications to enhance our AI capabilities.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Model Development: Create, validate, and deploy machine learning models using advanced algorithms and frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.
2. Feature Engineering: Collaborate with Data Scientists to engineer features for machine learning models.
3. Model Optimization: Continuously refine and optimize models for improved performance and efficiency.
4. Scalability: Design and implement scalable machine learning pipelines using cloud-based solutions on platforms like AWS, leveraging tools such as Terraform for infrastructure management.
5. Large Language Models: Work with large language models, implementing them in various applications to provide advanced AI solutions.
6. Collaboration: Work closely with Data Engineers to ensure seamless data integration for machine learning models.
7. Monitoring: Implement monitoring tools to track the performance and outcomes of deployed models. Utilize CI/CD pipelines to automate the deployment and maintenance of machine learning solutions.
8. Documentation: Maintain thorough documentation for model architectures, data flows, and performance metrics.
9. Innovation: Stay updated on industry trends and emerging technologies to incorporate into existing systems.
10. Mentorship: Provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members in machine learning best practices.

Employment and continued employment are contingent upon obtaining and maintaining a favorable security clearance

• Must be a United States Citizen
• Must reside in the United States and be a United States citizen
• This process involves collecting and providing 7 years of previous work experience, previous addresses, and contact information of people that can verify this information
• Must not be delinquent or in default with any federal debt
• Final suitability determination is the sole discretion of the Department of Education

At this time, Nelnet is unable to hire for this position in the following states:

• Washington
• Oregon
• California
• Illinois
• Michigan
• Alabama
• New York
• Vermont
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• Connecticut
• New Jersey
• Hawaii

Starting salary range for this role is $85k - $115k annually