Top 10 Companies Hiring AI Engineers in Amarillo, TX in 2026

Table of Contents

• Amarillo's AI Ecosystem in 2026
• Pantex Plant
• Google
• Tyson Foods
• Bell Textron
• Xcel Energy
• BNSF Railway
• BSA Health System
• West Texas A&M University
• Hut 8 Corp
• Toot'n Totum
• How to Choose Your AI Career in Amarillo
• Frequently Asked Questions

Pantex Plant

At the pinnacle of Amarillo's AI landscape, the Pantex Plant represents the ultimate grounding of intelligence in physical reality. Here, AI is a mission-critical tool for ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of the United States' nuclear deterrent, where a micron-level anomaly in a component isn't a glitch - it's a national security event. Engineers work on systems that must be flawless, from predictive maintenance models forecasting component failures to automated quality control powered by computer vision.

The technical environment is rigorously production-grade, utilizing stacks like Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch, and Kubernetes within disciplined MLOps frameworks. Salaries for AI and Data Engineers reflect the weight of this responsibility, ranging from $104,700 to $125,700. The culture is defined by precision, deep technical validation, and an unwavering focus on the mission, as detailed in their active search for AI Software Engineers to design and deploy these systems.

Entering this field requires more than technical skill; it demands the ability to navigate a thorough vetting process. The interview process typically involves 1-2 rounds focusing on the STAR method and role-specific technical assessments, culminating in the requirement for a security clearance. This path isn't for everyone, but for those drawn to work where code has profound tangible consequences, it offers unparalleled impact. As noted in candidate experiences, the emphasis is on rigorous problem-solving aligned with the plant's critical objectives.

Google

While Google's massive data center campus on Amarillo's east side is physical infrastructure, by 2026 it functions as a critical neural node in the global AI system. The roles here are foundational, focused on building and optimizing the physical and system layers that make large-scale machine learning possible. Engineers work on "AI-ready" infrastructure, managing proprietary Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) clusters and developing AI-driven systems for data center efficiency - cooling, power distribution, and hardware health monitoring.

This work directly supports the training of global models, creating a unique niche that blends hardware, software, and systems research. Salaries reflect this specialized, high-stakes focus, with Infrastructure Technicians earning $87,000 to $125,000 and Site Managers commanding $152,700 to $227,000. The culture is pure Google: data-driven, focused on massive scale, and embedded within one of the world's most advanced technical organizations, all from a facility on the High Plains.

This represents a different kind of grounding. Instead of applying AI to an external industry, you are tending to the very bedrock upon which AI is built. As seen in their active hiring for the AI and Infrastructure team, the demand is for professionals who can ensure this critical infrastructure is resilient and performant. The scope of roles is broad, with listings also showing demand for AI Solutions Engineers in the area, commanding salaries up to $175,000, indicating the depth of technical need around these operations.

Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods' major processing plant in Amarillo is a living laboratory for some of the world's most complex supply chain and operational AI, where algorithms directly manage the billion-dollar flow of food from farm to table. Engineers here tackle problems of immense scale and consequence, building machine learning models for hyper-accurate demand forecasting, optimizing the multi-variable puzzle of global commodities procurement, and deploying computer vision to enhance both product quality and worker safety on the plant floor.

The tech stack is heavily cloud-based, utilizing tools like Google BigQuery, Snowflake, and Python for everything from time-series analysis to NLP for processing supplier contracts. Team structures often integrate AI specialists directly into business units like "Supply Chain Innovation," ensuring a direct line from algorithm to tangible business outcome. This is evidenced by their active search for roles like Senior IT Data Engineer, which focuses on building these critical data pipelines.

Salaries in this domain are highly competitive, reflecting the value of stabilizing a global supply chain. Senior software and machine learning engineers command an average of $148,545, with top roles surpassing $232,000. The interview process typically involves a recruiter screen, a hiring team interview, and often an onsite tour - a reminder that the code you write integrates with a vast, physical operation. Choosing a role at Tyson means grounding your AI work in one of humanity's most fundamental systems: the food supply.

Bell Textron

Bell Textron's presence in Amarillo, centered on tiltrotor aircraft assembly and research, represents the frontier where artificial intelligence meets the open sky. Here, AI engineering is applied to the most demanding of physical environments: autonomous flight systems and predictive health management for advanced rotorcraft. Engineers work on computer vision for navigation and obstacle avoidance in complex, low-altitude environments and develop models that analyze terabytes of sensor data to predict mechanical failures long before they occur.

The technical work requires a unique blend of software and systems engineering. The stack often involves embedded C++ for deployed systems, Python for rapid prototyping and data analysis, and high-performance computing (HPC) clusters for running intensive aerodynamic and structural simulations. This is not purely software development; it's the creation of certified, safety-critical intelligence that must perform reliably in the air. Professionals can explore these specialized roles through platforms like Amarillo-area artificial intelligence job listings, which frequently feature needs from the advanced manufacturing sector.

Salaries for these specialized AI and systems engineering roles are robust, averaging between $115,000 and $145,000. The culture is deeply engineering-centric, with an unwavering emphasis on systems design, rigorous testing, and the safety-critical principles mandatory in aviation. For an AI professional, working at Bell means your algorithms don't just process data - they learn the behavior of complex machinery and contribute directly to the next generation of flight, a perfect example of High Plains innovation.

Xcel Energy

As the primary utility for the region, Xcel Energy's Amarillo operations are where artificial intelligence directly engages with the urgent reality of the energy transition. The work here is about managing volatility and scale, using algorithms to balance a grid increasingly fed by the unpredictable winds sweeping across the Panhandle. Engineers build models for predictive maintenance on thousands of wind turbines, forecast energy demand with minute-by-minute precision, and optimize the distribution network in real-time to prevent outages and integrate renewable sources seamlessly.

This work integrates AI with the physical world through vast networks of IoT sensors, using tech stacks built on Python and cloud platforms like Azure Machine Learning. The goal is a self-healing, intelligent grid. As evidenced by career postings for roles like Capital Projects Engineer, these positions are increasingly central to modernizing infrastructure and deploying smart grid initiatives.

Salaries for AI/ML specialized engineers in this stable, essential industry range from $110,000 to $140,000. The culture is fundamentally mission-driven, focused on sustainability and reliability, offering professionals a chance to see their code directly affect the systems that power homes, businesses, and entire communities. In Amarillo, your AI work at Xcel isn't abstract; it's quite literally keeping the lights on and pioneering a cleaner energy future, grounding advanced intelligence in the wires and turbines of the High Plains.

BNSF Railway

Amarillo is a major logistical nexus for the BNSF Railway's vast continental network, and here, artificial intelligence is tasked with a relentless, physical inspection of the land. The core challenge is monitoring thousands of miles of steel track for defects that are invisible to the human eye at speed. Engineers develop sophisticated computer vision systems that automatically analyze footage from cameras mounted on locomotives and dedicated inspection vehicles, identifying hairline fractures or worn components before they can cause disruption.

Beyond the tracks, AI optimizes the immense puzzle of logistics. Natural Language Processing (NLP) models parse complex shipping manifests and weather reports to optimize scheduling and manage the fluid supply chain. The tech stack must often operate at the edge, utilizing Python and Java on specialized hardware to process sensor data in real-time aboard moving trains, ensuring immediate response. This demand is part of a broader regional need, as seen in active listings for AI and ML roles across Texas industries.

Mid-to-senior machine learning engineers in this critical field can expect strong compensation, with salaries ranging from $120,000 to $155,000. The culture is rooted in operational excellence and an uncompromising focus on safety, providing a direct, tangible connection between your algorithms and the physical movement of the economy. At BNSF in Amarillo, your AI work doesn't just read data - it reads the rails, grounding predictive intelligence in the very tracks that bind the continent together.

BSA Health System

At BSA Health System, artificial intelligence confronts one of the most complex and human-centric domains: healthcare delivery. Here, the mission is to translate data into better patient outcomes and operational resilience. Engineers and data scientists build predictive models to identify patients at high risk of readmission, develop AI-assisted diagnostic tools for analyzing medical imaging, and create systems to optimize the intricate hospital revenue cycle.

This work requires a dual expertise: not only technical skill in building robust models but also a deep understanding of clinical workflows and stringent healthcare data privacy regulations like HIPAA. The environment is inherently collaborative, with AI professionals working side-by-side with clinicians and administrators to ensure insights are actionable and ethically deployed. This specialized field is growing, as reflected in statewide healthcare AI salary data.

Salaries for these AI-focused roles in the Amarillo healthcare setting are competitive, with averages in Texas around $98,730 and top earners in hospital systems reaching $131,228. Choosing a path at BSA means grounding your technical work in the immediate well-being of the community. It's a career where the algorithm's success is measured not just in accuracy, but in improved recovery rates and more efficient care, applying intelligence to the fundamental human experiences of health and healing.

West Texas A&M University

As the academic anchor for the Texas Panhandle, West Texas A&M University offers a distinct path for AI professionals - one oriented toward foundational research and development with deep regional roots. Here, the work is about planting seeds for the future, tackling applied research questions that address the unique challenges of the High Plains environment. Engineers and data scientists support projects in agricultural AI, such as smart irrigation and yield prediction, model complex land-atmosphere interactions on the Caprock, and develop cybersecurity frameworks for critical local infrastructure.

The technical environment favors open-source innovation, utilizing frameworks like PyTorch and R alongside specialized geospatial analysis tools to understand the region's specific topography and climate patterns. Salaries for Research Engineers reflect this academic and applied focus, ranging from $85,000 to $110,000. The culture is intellectually driven and entrepreneurial, often involving direct collaboration with local industry partners, government agencies, and agricultural producers.

This role is for those who want to explore at the intersection of inquiry and application. As highlighted in discussions about how AI is reshaping local industry, institutions like WTAMU are crucial for workforce training and innovation. Working here means grounding your AI expertise in the long-term sustainability of the region, helping to cultivate the next generation of Panhandle tech talent while solving problems that matter to the community outside the campus walls.

Hut 8 Corp

Hut 8 Corp represents a foundational pivot in Amarillo's tech landscape, strategically transitioning its substantial digital infrastructure from cryptocurrency mining to providing the raw computational horsepower for the AI era. Here, engineers are not building end-user applications; they are architecting and managing the powerful, GPU-driven environments where other companies train their large-scale machine learning models. This is AI Infrastructure-as-a-Service, a critical behind-the-scenes engine for the region's growing intelligence.

The work is deeply technical and hardware-centric, involving mastery of Linux systems, sophisticated NVIDIA GPU orchestration, and high-scale networking to ensure massive data throughput. Salaries reflect this specialized infrastructure expertise, ranging from $110,000 to $160,000 depending on seniority. The culture mirrors that of an agile, forward-looking tech company, focused on reliability and performance for a clientele that depends on uninterrupted computational power.

Choosing a career at Hut 8 means grounding your work in the literal bedrock of the AI boom - the data centers and server racks. As indicated by their presence in local AI infrastructure job listings, the demand is for professionals who can ensure this critical layer is robust and efficient. For an AI professional in Amarillo, it offers a unique vantage point: you are building the stage upon which all the other AI applications in this list - from predictive maintenance to autonomous flight - ultimately perform.

Toot'n Totum

Toot'n Totum, the iconic Panhandle convenience retailer, demonstrates how artificial intelligence is now woven into the very fabric of local, everyday commerce. This is where advanced algorithms meet the immediate needs of the community, optimizing the flow of both goods and customer experiences. Engineers here build practical, high-impact systems like recommendation engines for the retailer's mobile app and predictive models for inventory forecasting across hundreds of stores, managing everything from snacks to fuel with precision.

The work directly influences the daily rhythms of the region, ensuring shelves are stocked and fuel is priced optimally based on complex, real-time variables. Salaries for Data Scientists and Machine Learning Engineers in this corporate retail setting are competitive, ranging from $95,000 to $130,000. The culture uniquely blends traditional Texas retail savvy with modern, data-driven decision-making, offering a fast-paced environment where the business impact of your models is both visible and immediate.

This evolution is a microcosm of a larger trend across the region. As noted by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, AI and automation are reshaping local industries of all kinds. Choosing a career at Toot'n Totum means grounding your AI expertise in the community itself. Your work doesn't support a distant, abstract platform; it helps ensure a smooth transaction for a neighbor on their way to work, representing the deeply integrated, practical future of intelligence on the High Plains.

How to Choose Your AI Career in Amarillo

Choosing your AI career in Amarillo is less about picking a company and more about selecting what you want your intelligence to ground itself in. The Panhandle offers distinct ecosystems, each with its own mission, technical challenges, and impact. Start by asking what kind of physical or systemic reality you want your code to interact with.

Consider your core interest against these local backdrops: foundational national security (Pantex), global-scale infrastructure (Google), complex biological supply chains (Tyson), autonomous aerospace systems (Bell), the renewable energy grid (Xcel), continental logistics (BNSF), community health (BSA), agricultural and climate research (WTAMU), computational bedrock (Hut 8), or hyperlocal commerce (Toot'n Totum). Your choice defines whether you work on safety-critical systems, optimization at scale, or community-focused innovation.

Leverage Amarillo's unique financial advantages in your decision. The absence of state income tax and a cost of living approximately 25% below the national average mean the competitive local salaries offer substantial purchasing power and stability, lowering the barrier for career transition. For those building new skills, accessible educational pathways are crucial. Programs like the affordable, flexible Back End, SQL and DevOps with Python bootcamp provide the foundational engineering skills demanded across these industries, from data pipelines to cloud deployment.

Finally, assess the cultural fit. Do you thrive under rigorous, process-driven precision, in a collaborative research environment, or in a fast-paced business setting? Your career here is a commitment to applied intelligence - to using advanced tools not for abstraction, but to read and respond to the very specific, foundational needs of the High Plains. The right choice is where your skills meet a mission that matters to you, amplified by a community where your work and life both have deep roots.

Frequently Asked Questions