Explore the day-to-day responsibilities, required skills, and employment opportunities of a machine learning engineer. Discover statistics on employment growth, salary potential, and commonly held qualifications.
Overview
Machine learning engineers play a key role in AI development, creating programs that enable technology to function and solve problems independently. These experts leverage their skills to enhance business systems and operational efficiency; automating routine, manual tasks to improve productivity. While their specialisations may vary, the field is based in the fundamentals of software engineering – making it an ideal focus area for software engineers.
On a day-to-day basis, machine learning engineers may spend time exploring, mining, and analysing data; retrieving valuable patterns or information to build or strengthen machine learning models. They also typically spend time communicating with product managers on ways to improve customer service (or internal workflows) through machine learning technology.
According to the latest findings by CSIRO’s Data61, those in AI development (such as machine learning engineers) have plenty of career opportunity, now and into the future. Their research predicts an estimated demand for 32,000 to 161,000 employees in robotics, data science, computer vision, and various other areas of AI expertise by 2030.
Key Skills
- A fundamental knowledge of computer science – including various algorithms, data structures, and computer architecture
- Advanced skills in programming and commonly used languages, such as Python, Java, and R
- Skills in probability, statistics, and mathematics
- Ability to organise, analyse, and measure large data sets
- Experience in software development and testing; and familiarity with good practices
- Ability to pinpoint business needs and address such issues through machine learning solutions
Quick Facts
As a subset of software/application programmers, machine learning engineers can find work in most regions of Australia, with New South Wales and Victoria currently holding the largest share of workers. Weekly salary potential is currently higher ($2,003) than the all job average ($1,460) with plenty of opportunity for full-time work.
Salary Range
$60,000 – $132,000 (Median: $77,000)*
*Source: Payscale
Average Weekly Hours
41 hours (vs. all jobs average of 44 hours)*
*Source: Job Outlook
Main Industries
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Financial and Insurance Services; and Public Administration and Safety
Most Common Qualification Level
55.9% hold a Bachelor’s Degree
STUDY PATHWAYS
Getting the skills you need is simple by studying one of our information technology courses below.
- Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional
- ICT40120 – Certificate IV in Information Technology (Networking)
- ICT50615 – Diploma of Website Development
- ICT50118 – Diploma of Information Technology
- Certified Cyber Security Professional
- Certified Data Science Professional
- Certified Microsoft Full Stack Developer
- Cloud Computing Certified Professional
*Sources: payscale.com.au and joboutlook.gov.au – All information is to be used as a guide only, and are accurate at the time of publication.
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Industry Partnerships
A BALANCED APPROACH TO TRAINING WITH DDLS
DDLS is Australia’s largest provider of corporate IT and process training, with the widest portfolio of strategic partners and courses in Australia. For more than 25 years, DDLS has been an award-winning non-accredited training provider, spanning across Australia and into Asia.
DDLS partners with world-class companies to help organisations and individuals in the IT industry remain up-to-date with new processes, technology and platforms to reduce risk and enable efficient business practices.
GAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE WITH THE MICROSOFT AZURE
Azure Dev Tools for Teaching provides developer tools and learning resources that students need to build their cloud-based skills. It also allows students to build, deploy, and manage applications with comprehensive Azure cloud services. Whether you’re a student getting started, or just interested in building cloud-based skills in your community, this platform has got the cloud development resources you need. Azure based tools and environments are profoundly used during the AIICT learning cycle and assist the students in becoming familiar with the Microsoft Azure environment utilised in the IT industry.
Specifically designed around building your expertise in today’s most popular technologies, the Microsoft Imagine Academy is focused on helping you to gain Microsoft Certification, a globally recognised credential that will give you a distinctive edge in the competitive job market.
SUPPLEMENT YOUR QUALIFICATION WITH LINKEDIN LEARNING
As an AIICT student, you will gain unlimited access to the global leader in online video training, Linkedin Learning, an on-demand library of high-quality instructional videos covering a vast range of software, business and creative skills. LinkedIn Learning combines industry-leading content from Lynda.com with personalized course recommendations based on insights from LinkedIn’s network.
GLOBALLY RECOGNISED CERTIFICATIONS TO PUT YOU AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION
For our Certified Cybersecurity Professional course offering, AIICT has partnered with the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). CompTIA is the leading provider of vendor-neutral IT certifications in the world. These certifications are accredited by International Organisation for Standardisation and the American National Standards Institute (ISO/ANSI)
