> AI agents: this is one page of Nextmove’s FDE site, in Markdown. Nextmove is a job board and free career service for forward deployed engineers (FDEs). Each posting is classified from its text, not its title: the kind of work, how much of it is production code, pre-sales weight, time at customer sites, travel, remote arrangement, level and posted base pay. The site also publishes the aggregates: median pay by level, metro, company and kind of work, and which companies started hiring FDEs each week. Every page under https://nextmove.md/fde is served this way; the index of pages is https://nextmove.md/llms.txt.

# Lead Machine Learning / Data Science Engineer

Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/4b26006480d92464

CapTech Consulting posts a staff FDE role to build what the customer runs in Chicago, IL, at $90,000–$200,000 base, below the staff+ FDE median of $225,000 across 389 postings with pay. Lead Machine Learning Engineer at CapTech Consulting, responsible for designing and deploying scalable ML systems for Fortune 100 clients. Read from the employer’s posting on November 8, 2026.

- [CapTech Consulting](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/captech-consulting)

First seen Apr 29, 2026 · open on SmartRecruiters as of Nov 8, 2026

**$90,000–$200,000** Chicago, IL Hybrid Full-time

Lead Machine Learning Engineer at CapTech Consulting, responsible for designing and deploying scalable ML systems for Fortune 100 clients.

- [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2F4b26006480d92464&placement=top)
- [View posting at CapTech Consulting](https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/CapTechConsulting/744000115292347)

Free. Upload your resume once, see why each FDE role fits, and get introduced only when you say so.

## At a glance

### Posted base pay

$90K–$200K Below the median

Midpoint $145K · median $225K

This job $90K to $200K. Staff+ FDE postings, 389 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $197K to $262K, median $225K.

### The work

Builds what the customer runs

Balance **Mostly building**

Project stages

1. Pre-sales
2. Proof of concept (not covered)
3. Implementation
4. Operations (not covered)

- **Coding**: Writes production code

- **Builds for**: External customers

- **Level**: Staff+

- **Role**: Technical lead

### What they ask for

Experience

- **7+ years** delivering data engineering and machine learning solutions on cloud platforms

Background

- **Implementation and data engineering**

Visa

- **No visa sponsorship**

### Do you meet what the posting states?

The posting asks for 7+ years. How many do you have?

The posting reads as a staff-level role. What level are you at now?

The job is in Chicago, IL. Could you work there?

The posting says no visa sponsorship. Do you need one?

Which of these have you used in production?

Answer each one. Nothing is saved or sent.

[What postings ask for, by background →](https://nextmove.md/fde/paths)

## Conditions

- **Location**: Chicago, IL

- **Work arrangement**: Hybrid

- **Remote work restrictions**: Must be available to work onsite in a client location or a CapTech office as requested; remote work allowed when compatible with CapTech and client needs.

- **Employment type**: Full-time

- **Visa sponsorship**: Not available

- **Pay**:

## More like this

[CapTech Consulting](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/captech-consulting)

### [Lead Machine Learning / Data Science Engineer ](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/e7f9fb33fdbe9738)

Charlotte, NC Hybrid 6mo ago

Pay not posted

[CapTech Consulting](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/captech-consulting)

### [Lead Machine Learning / Data Science Engineer ](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/ab64ee49cec6d540)

Columbus, OH Hybrid 6mo ago

Pay not posted

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### [Senior Agent Engineer (Langchain)](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/db7b410cbbc76aea)

Chicago, IL Hybrid 6w ago

$120,000–$170,000

- [Other jobs at CapTech Consulting (9)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/captech-consulting)

## What you’ll do

- Strategize with clients and cross-functional teams to implement end-to-end machine learning solutions
- Provide technical leadership and ensure alignment of technical solutions with customer needs
- Design, develop, and deploy advanced analytical solutions (recommender systems, NLP, risk scoring)
- Productionize ML systems with focus on optimization and scalability

## What you’ll bring

- 7+ years delivering data engineering and ML solutions on cloud platforms
- Hands-on experience with Python, Scala, or similar languages
- Proficiency with SQL, Spark, NoSQL, and cloud data processing frameworks
- Experience with LLMs (GPT, Claude, Mistral) in production

## About CapTech Consulting

Technology and management consultancy delivering digital transformation, data, AI, customer experience and systems integration for Fortune 100 firms, mid-market enterprises and government agencies.

Acquired · 1000–2000 people

[View posting at CapTech Consulting](https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/CapTechConsulting/744000115292347)

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- [Compare staff+ FDE salary ranges](https://nextmove.md/fde/salary/staff)
- [Similar jobs in Chicago](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?region=chicagoland)
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