Staff Research Scientist - Video & Audio Generative AI

Canva • San Francisco, CA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

At Canva, we’re building a future powered by AI that’s as magical as it is impactful. As a Staff Research Scientist , you’ll shape that future by pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with foundational models and leading research that translates into practical, scalable impact. This role blends hands-on model development with strategic research leadership — from exploring new architectures to influencing product direction through scientific breakthroughs. You’ll operate at the intersection of innovation and impact, helping set our long-term AI research agenda while ensuring our work lands in the hands of millions of users around the world.

Requirements

• Deep & demonstrated expertise in machine learning and foundational model development -particularly in areas like LLMs, vision-language models, generative AI, or multi-modal systems
• Experience in developing and deploying generative AI models for video synthesis and audio generation
• A strong publication record or evidence of research impact in industry
• Experience owning research strategy and execution end-to-end — from problem formulation through to real-world deployment
• Proficiency in turning complex theoretical ideas into something tangible, and evaluating them with rigor
• Collaborative mindset — you work exceptionally well with engineers, product teams, and other researchers

Responsibilities

• Lead high-impact research initiatives that drive the development of foundational models across Canva’s AI domains
• Design and execute experiments to validate hypotheses, optimize model behavior, and measure real-world performance
• Translate theoretical research and papers into robust, production-ready implementations
• Develop novel model architectures and training methodologies that advance state-of-the-art outcomes
• Partner closely with ML Engineers to scale models and integrate them into Canva’s product ecosystem
• Shape our research roadmap by identifying emerging trends, technologies, and open challenges
• Share your knowledge internally through documentation and cross-team collaborations, and externally through papers or talks where appropriate

Benefits

• Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
• Health benefits plans to support you and your wellbeing
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution
• Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
• An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
• Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees