Lead Data and AI Architect

Royal Bank of Canada • Toronto, ON

12h • Onsite

About The Position

As Lead Data and AI Architect, you will collaborate closely with the Director, AI and Technology Strategy, TEO, to design and implement TEO's integrated AI and data strategy. The AI and Technology Strategy team holds primary accountability for driving the adoption and value creation of data and AI across TEO, in partnership with RBC's IT groups, including Global Functions IT, Payment IT, Borealis, and Lumina.

In this role, you will serve as the architectural authority for TEO's AI platforms, data foundations, reusable AI services, and operations AI enablement capabilities. You will establish scalable, governed data foundations that support enterprise AI readiness across all AI solutions, leveraging deep expertise in enterprise data architecture, metadata management, and emerging AI data patterns.
By working across business, technology, data, and AI teams, you will drive the transformation of AI capabilities into reusable platform services that accelerate adoption, enhance operational efficiencies, and deliver measurable business value across TEO and the enterprise.

Requirements

• 5+ years in architecture, data engineering, AI engineering, or platform engineering with deep understanding of AI/ML fundamentals, frameworks, and programming languages (SQL, Python, Java).
• Working knowledge and experience managing App Code in LeanIX as lead architect or delegate, and Athena certification process.
• Degree in data engineering, Computer Science, or related field; or equivalent work experience in software/model development.
• Proven experience designing large-scale enterprise data and AI platforms in complex environments.
• Strong knowledge of cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP), APIs, data platforms, ML platforms, and GenAI architectures.
• Strong communication skills to translate technical solutions and complex architectures into business outcomes.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in financial shared services, payment and trade, and cash service operations
• Hands-on experience with LLM, AI/ML model development, simulation, and deployment.
• Experience working directly with client or business teams in banking operations industry
• Experience with model lifecycle management, and design thinking
• Prior exposure to RBC enterprise data platforms or financial services.
• Experience of building or leading AI/data science teams.

Responsibilities

• Define target-state architecture for enterprise AI platforms and AI-enabled business solutions aligned with TEO strategy; establish architecture principles, standards, and reference patterns for AI, GenAI, data, and agentic systems.
• Develop reusable architecture blueprints via Athena process and drive the design and evolution of enterprise AI platforms and shared capabilities supporting TEO's operational needs.
• Design solution architectures supporting machine learning, GenAI, and agentic AI solutions; define patterns for data ingestion, knowledge retrieval, vector stores, APIs, metadata management, and data products.
• Partner with engineering teams to deliver scalable AI infrastructure, orchestration services, model gateways, and data access patterns that enable self-service AI development.
• Evaluate emerging technologies including GenAI, Agentic AI, foundation models, vector databases, and AI engineering tooling; translate trends into actionable architecture roadmaps and strategic recommendations.
• Establish architecture standards, technical guardrails, and governance frameworks for AI and data solutions; support architecture reviews to ensure compliance and operational excellence as part of App Code management in LeanIX.
• Collaborate with RBC's AI teams (Global Functions IT, Payment IT, Borealis, Lumina) and senior executives to ensure consistent, enterprise-wide AI architecture standards and architectural consistency across initiatives.

Benefits

• A comprehensive Total Rewards Program including bonuses and flexible benefits, competitive compensation, commissions, and stock where applicable
• Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities
• Opportunity to grow, learn and build strong leadership skills
• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact for both RBC and the community
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team
• Opportunities to do challenging work and grow your technical literacy
• Broad exposure and opportunity to collaborate with many teams across the organization

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree