AI Engineer Lead

RBC • New York, NY

3d • $225,000 - $300,000

About The Position

What is the opportunity? Join RBC Capital Markets’ AI & Digital Engineering team as a Senior AI Engineer and shape the strategic direction of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Reporting directly to the Head of AI & Digital Engineering, you’ll drive innovation across global financial markets while mentoring high-performing teams and influencing executive stakeholders. What will you do? Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the AI technology roadmap, aligning with business goals and regulatory requirements. Lead thought leadership initiatives to position RBC as an innovator in financial technology. Advanced Solution Architecture: Design and oversee the development of enterprise-grade AI/ML systems, emphasizing scalability, security, and compliance. Focus on Generative AI, NLP, and blockchain applications. Cross-Functional Influence: Collaborate with senior leaders, data scientists, engineers, and business units to translate complex challenges into actionable AI strategies. Mentor junior team members and foster a culture of innovation. Research & Innovation: Lead feasibility studies, proof-of-concepts, and R&D efforts for emerging technologies. Evaluate and integrate cutting-edge tools, frameworks, and cloud-native solutions (AWS/GCP/Azure). Production Excellence: Ensure robust deployment and optimization of AI pipelines, balancing technical rigor with business impact. Champion MLOps and DevOps best practices. Stakeholder Engagement: Communicate technical visions and project outcomes to C-suite executives, clients, and regulators. Represent RBC at industry conferences and forums. Risk & Compliance: Proactively address ethical AI, data governance, and regulatory considerations in financial services. What do you need to succeed? Experience: Significant related experience in AI/ML engineering, including leadership or architectural roles, with a proven track record of delivering production-scale AI solutions, ideally within finance or related industries. Technical Expertise: Deep expertise in Generative AI (e.g., LLMs, diffusion models), NLP, and computer vision. Proficiency in Python and experience with C/C++ or Java. Hands-on with frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Hugging Face. Blockchain knowledge (e.g., smart contracts, decentralized finance) and cloud-native AI deployment (Kubernetes, serverless). Strategic Thinking: Ability to align technical innovation with business outcomes and regulatory constraints. Experience influencing organizational strategy. Leadership & Mentorship: Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams, mentor talent, and drive cultural change. Education: Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Computer Science, AI, or a quantitative field preferred. Certifications: AWS/GCP/Azure AI certifications, CFA, or FRM a plus. Industry Insight: Strong understanding of capital markets, risk management, and financial regulations (e.g., MiFID II, Dodd-Frank). What’s in it for you? We thrive on the challenge to be our best, progressive thinking to keep growing, and working together to deliver trusted advice to help our clients thrive and communities prosper. We care about each other, reaching our potential, making a difference to our communities, and achieving success that is mutual. A comprehensive Total Rewards Program include competitive compensation and flexible benefits, such as 401(k) program with company-matching contributions, health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance, and paid-time off. Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities. Ability to make a difference and lasting impact. Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team. Opportunities to do challenging work. Opportunities to build close relationships with clients. The expected salary range for this particular position in New York is $225,000 - $300,000 depending on your experience, skills, and registration status, market conditions and business needs. You have the potential to earn more through RBC’s discretionary variable compensation program which gives you an opportunity to increase your total compensation, provided the business meets its performance targets and you meet your individual goals. RBC’s compensation philosophy and principles recognize the importance of a highly qualified global workforce and plays a critical role in attracting, engaging and retaining talent that: Drives RBC’s high-performance culture Enables collective achievement of our strategic goals Generates sustainable shareholder returns and above market shareholder value

Requirements

• Significant related experience in AI/ML engineering, including leadership or architectural roles, with a proven track record of delivering production-scale AI solutions, ideally within finance or related industries.
• Deep expertise in Generative AI (e.g., LLMs, diffusion models), NLP, and computer vision.
• Proficiency in Python and experience with C/C++ or Java.
• Hands-on with frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Hugging Face.
• Blockchain knowledge (e.g., smart contracts, decentralized finance) and cloud-native AI deployment (Kubernetes, serverless).
• Ability to align technical innovation with business outcomes and regulatory constraints.
• Experience influencing organizational strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams, mentor talent, and drive cultural change.
• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Computer Science, AI, or a quantitative field preferred.
• Strong understanding of capital markets, risk management, and financial regulations (e.g., MiFID II, Dodd-Frank).

Nice To Haves

• AWS/GCP/Azure AI certifications, CFA, or FRM a plus.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the AI technology roadmap, aligning with business goals and regulatory requirements.
• Lead thought leadership initiatives to position RBC as an innovator in financial technology.
• Advanced Solution Architecture: Design and oversee the development of enterprise-grade AI/ML systems, emphasizing scalability, security, and compliance.
• Focus on Generative AI, NLP, and blockchain applications.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Collaborate with senior leaders, data scientists, engineers, and business units to translate complex challenges into actionable AI strategies.
• Mentor junior team members and foster a culture of innovation.
• Research & Innovation: Lead feasibility studies, proof-of-concepts, and R&D efforts for emerging technologies.
• Evaluate and integrate cutting-edge tools, frameworks, and cloud-native solutions (AWS/GCP/Azure).
• Production Excellence: Ensure robust deployment and optimization of AI pipelines, balancing technical rigor with business impact.
• Champion MLOps and DevOps best practices.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Communicate technical visions and project outcomes to C-suite executives, clients, and regulators.
• Represent RBC at industry conferences and forums.
• Risk & Compliance: Proactively address ethical AI, data governance, and regulatory considerations in financial services.

Benefits

• A comprehensive Total Rewards Program include competitive compensation and flexible benefits, such as 401(k) program with company-matching contributions, health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance, and paid-time off.
• Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities.
• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact.
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team.
• Opportunities to do challenging work.
• Opportunities to build close relationships with clients.
• You have the potential to earn more through RBC’s discretionary variable compensation program which gives you an opportunity to increase your total compensation, provided the business meets its performance targets and you meet your individual goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level