Principal Engineer, AI & ML Solutions, GFT

Royal Bank of Canada • Vancouver, BC

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Global Functions Technology (GFT) is a division within RBC’s Technology and Operations, responsible for collaborating with partners across the company to deliver innovative and transformative IT solutions. GFT's clients include Risk, Finance, HR, CAO, Audit, Legal, Compliance, Financial Crime, Capital Markets, Personal and Commercial Banking, and Wealth Management. Additionally, GFT leads the development of digital tools and platforms to enhance collaboration. This opportunity is for a talented, creative, and results-driven professional to join GFT as a Principal Engineer, AI & ML Solutions, focusing on delivering high-performing applications.

Requirements

• 10+ years software or platform engineering experience, with at least 5 years focused on AI/ML infrastructure, API platform engineering, or large-scale distributed systems
• Strong knowledge of algorithms and data structures, plus systems engineering fundamentals, reliability, performance, and debugging.
• Hands on experience with data engineering platforms and tools, commonly including Python, PySpark, Databricks, Airflow, Kafka, Snowflake, and modern data integration patterns.
• Experience building production services and APIs, including service design, authentication and authorization, and integration patterns.
• Practical experience delivering AI powered systems, including one or more of: RAG systems and vector search, embeddings, reranking, and grounding strategies; LLM application development, structured outputs, prompt and tool calling, orchestration patterns; AI evaluation, test harnesses, regression testing, and lifecycle management for prompts and models; Observability for AI systems, tracing, monitoring, alerting, and cost controls.

Nice To Haves

• Node.js and Apigee are a plus (for building production services and APIs)

Responsibilities

• Oversees machine learning programs and projects, managing resources, driving innovation, and collaborating across teams to enhance machine learning systems and deliver impactful results.
• Directs the management of multiple teams in machine learning development, focusing on strategy implementation.
• Directs the planning, execution, and oversight of machine learning programs and projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and delivering both short and long term impact on schedules, quality, compliance, and resource allocation.
• Manages and guides teams, including senior managers and managers, to ensure effective leadership, operational efficiency, and adherence to organizational policies and procedures.
• Collaborates with cross functional teams and stakeholders to identify and develop business opportunities through the application of artificial intelligence technologies, while monitoring and optimizing machine learning systems.
• Leads the development and implementation of advanced machine learning algorithms and systems, addressing complex technical challenges and ensuring their scalability and alignment with organizational strategies.
• Manages machine learning development initiatives of significant complexity, applying advanced technical expertise to solve abstract problems, and making independent decisions across business units.
• Makes independent decisions on program, technical or operational strategy for the department, providing leadership, coaching and mentorship through senior managers and managers.
• Sets strategic direction for the department or area receiving high level direction from senior leaders.
• Drives innovation across areas of responsibility identifying opportunities for making operational changes and practices, solving highly complex problems broadly related to machine learning development.
• Leads cross functional collaboration efforts, fostering strong internal relationships across the organization and external relationships to drive business outcomes.

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
• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team
• A world-class training program in financial services
• Flexible work/life balance options
• Opportunities to do challenging work

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees