AI Engineer Lead

Royal Bank of Canada•New York, NY

1d•$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.

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

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.
Design and oversee the development of enterprise-grade AI/ML systems, emphasizing scalability, security, and compliance.
Focus on Generative AI, NLP, and blockchain applications.
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.
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).
Ensure robust deployment and optimization of AI pipelines, balancing technical rigor with business impact.
Champion MLOps and DevOps best practices.
Communicate technical visions and project outcomes to C-suite executives, clients, and regulators.
Represent RBC at industry conferences and forums.
Proactively address ethical AI, data governance, and regulatory considerations in financial services.

Benefits

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.

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume