Senior Data Scientist

Scotiabank • Toronto, ON

8d • Onsite

About The Position

We are hiring a Senior Data Scientist to lead the design, development, and deployment of AI-powered software solutions that transform how teams across Scotia Global Asset Management (SGAM) operate. This is a hands-on, individual contributor role for a senior practitioner who spends the majority of their time building in Python and SQL, while also owning architectural decisions for modern AI systems — including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agentic workflows, and advanced financial modeling algorithms. You will work directly with end users across investment management, distribution, product development, marketing, finance, compliance, and operations to translate business needs into production-grade AI applications. This role has meaningful influence over technical direction, system design, and AI product roadmap decisions.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience delivering data science, machine learning, or applied AI solutions in large, complex environments.
• Strong foundation in machine learning, statistical modeling, and data science, including experience with generative AI systems.
• Hands-on expertise in Python and SQL, with experience working with large and complex datasets.
• Experience designing or contributing to production AI systems, not just experiments or POCs.
• Ability to evaluate architectural trade-offs and make sound technical decisions aligned with business goals.
• Degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, Physical Sciences, or a related quantitative field (or equivalent experience).
• Comfortable collecting and incorporating feedback from users to continuously improve the product.
• Able to work in an Agile environment and adapt quickly to shifting priorities or direction.
• Strong collaboration skills, with a willingness to work closely with engineers, designers, and product managers.
• Curious and eager to learn new technologies, tools, and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy production-grade AI applications, including both enhancements to existing platforms and net-new AI products.
• Write high-quality Python and SQL to support data analysis, model development, prompt engineering, and system integration.
• Own solutions end-to-end — from ideation through development, deployment, monitoring, and iteration.
• Evaluate and define the technical architecture for AI solutions, including RAG pipelines and vector-based retrieval, agentic and workflow-oriented GenAI systems, and financial modeling and analytical algorithms.
• Assess technical trade-offs across build vs. buy, model selection, infrastructure, cost, latency, and risk.
• Partner with platform, security, and data teams to ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and compliant.
• Engage directly with business users to understand real-world problems and workflows.
• Translate ambiguous or complex requirements into clear technical designs and implementation plans.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, platform, security, and governance teams to shape AI product direction.

Benefits

• Upskilling through online courses, cross-functional development opportunities, and tuition assistance.
• Competitive Rewards program including bonus, flexible vacation, personal, sick days and benefits will start on day one.
• Free tea & coffee, universal washrooms, and lots of space for team collaboration.
• Opportunities for community engagement & belonging with our various programs such as hackathons.

What This Job Offers

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