Chief AI Architect

Banque Nationale du Canada$150K — $180K *
Finance & Insurance
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 15+ years in enterprise/solution architecture with focus on AI technologies.
  • Expertise in machine learning, generative AI, and agent-based systems.
  • Strong grasp of AI governance, ethics, and regulatory frameworks.
  • Experience in designing AI reference architectures and scalable patterns.
  • Knowledge of cloud-native AI services (AWS, Azure) and MLOps/LLMOps.
  • Bilingual in English and French, with strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Define the Bank's AI architecture strategy aligned with business needs and risk management.
  • Establish AI principles and patterns that ensure delivery consistency.
  • Lead the architectural vision for generative and agent-based AI solutions.
  • Define parameters for agentic systems, including safety controls.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to create a unified AI approach and clarify decision processes.
  • Advise executives on AI investments, platform choices, and associated risks.
  • Manage AI risk, assess emerging technologies, and resolve complex architectural issues.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellness programs with multiple options.
  • Flexible group insurance plans.
  • Generous pension plan offerings.
  • Employee Share Ownership Plan participation.
  • Access to employee and family assistance programs.
  • Preferential banking services for employees.
  • Opportunities for involvement in community initiatives.
  • Availability of telemedicine services and virtual wellness clinics.
Full Job Description
The Bank is accelerating its transformation by placing artificial intelligence at the core of its business and technology strategies. AI is a key enabler for innovation, operational efficiency, and hyper-personalized customer experiences. To support this ambition, we are creating a strategic role dedicated to shaping the Bank's AI architecture vision.

The rapid evolution of generative and agent-based AI introduces new architectural, operational, and risk challenges that cannot be addressed through traditional solution or data architecture practices alone. This role exists to ensure the Bank can leverage AI at scale, at speed, and within its risk appetite, while preserving security, regulatory compliance, ethical standards, and enterprise coherence .

You are a senior architect recognized not only for your ability to combine strategic vision with deep technical expertise in AI, but also for your strong leadership presence and your ability to influence peers, executives, and multidisciplinary teams. You thrive in uncertainty and fast-moving environments, consistently demonstrating initiative, sound judgment, and accountability. You are comfortable taking decisions, assuming responsibility for them, and constructively challenging internal stakeholders as well as vendors, partners, and suppliers to protect the Bank's interests and raise the quality of outcomes. You balance time-to-value with risk management, challenge the status quo when needed, and foster collaboration across disciplines. You operate naturally at the executive level, leveraging your credibility, clarity, and structured approach to create real impact through your leadership and vision.

Your role:
  • Define and evolve the Bank's enterprise AI architecture strategy, roadmap, and reference architectures in alignment with business priorities, enterprise architecture, and risk appetite.
  • Establish pragmatic AI principles, guardrails, and reusable patterns that accelerate delivery while ensuring consistency, reuse, and control across the organization
  • Lead the architectural vision for generative and agentic AI, ensuring solutions are secure-by-design, auditable, and operable at enterprise scale.
  • Define enterprise patterns for agentic systems, including autonomy boundaries, human-in-the-loop controls, lifecycle management, and safe-stop mechanisms.
  • Partner with AI delivery, governance, business, data, and technology stakeholders to drive a coherent enterprise AI approach, clarify decision rights, and translate opportunities into scalable golden paths.
  • Advise executives on AI-related investments, platform and vendor choices, adoption sequencing, and trade-offs between speed, control, and risk.
  • Oversee AI risk management, emerging technology assessment, and architectural escalation for complex or high-risk AI initiatives.


Your team:

As Chief AI Architect, you are accountable for defining and driving the Bank's enterprise AI architecture strategy, including the reference architectures, guardrails, and scalable patterns required to enable AI adoption and operationalization across the organization. Reporting to the Chief Architect, you ensure that AI solutions can scale safely, remain aligned with enterprise standards, and operate within the Bank's risk appetite.

Prerequisites:
  • Minimum of 15 years of experience in enterprise and/or solution architecture, including significant hands-on experience in AI-related domains.
  • Deep expertise in AI technologies, including machine learning, generative AI, agent-based systems, and the enterprise platforms required to operationalize them.
  • Strong understanding of AI governance, ethics, regulatory constraints, and risk management in large organizations.
  • Demonstrated experience designing AI reference architectures, defining enterprise guiding principles, and shaping scalable architectural patterns.
  • Solid knowledge of data platforms, MLOps / LLMOps, and cloud-native AI services such as AWS and Azure.
  • Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence executives and senior peers, challenge stakeholders constructively, and communicate with clarity and accountability in both French and English.


Languages:

English, French

Reason to require this language: you will need to discuss frequently with our service providers or partners who speak a language other than French.

Skills

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Artificial Intelligence Cloud Computing Coaching Diversity & Inclusion Enterprise Architecture Solution Architecture Teamwork Architecture Governance Cloud-Native Architecture Decision Making Domain-Driven Design Empathy Event Driven Architecture Initiative Mobilization

Your benefits

In addition to competitive compensation, upon hiring you'll be eligible for a wide range of flexible benefits to help promote your wellbeing and that of your family such as:

* Health and wellness program, including many options

* Flexible group insurance

* Generous pension plan

* Employee Share Ownership Plan

* Employee and family assistance program

* Preferential banking services

* Involvement in community initiatives

* Telemedicine service

* Virtual sleep clinic

We have an offer that keeps up with trends as well as your needs and those of your family.

Our dynamic work environments and cutting-edge collaboration tools foster a positive employee experience. We value employees' ideas. Whether through our surveys or programs, regular feedback and ongoing communication are encouraged.

About Banque Nationale du Canada

Banque Nationale du Canada Careers

Joining Banque Nationale du Canada presents a prime opportunity to be part of a team that values innovation, leadership, and diversity. As one of the leading financial institutions, the bank offers a variety of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and professional aspirations.

Explore Career Opportunities

Banque Nationale du Canada is actively hiring and continually seeks passionate, creative, and solution-driven team players. Explore open positions that match individual skills and interests in the dynamic world of finance. From entry-level roles to executive positions, each career path at Banque Nationale du Canada is designed to foster growth and leadership.

Internship Programs

Kickstart a career in banking with Banque Nationale du Canada’s internship programs. These opportunities allow interns to work on real projects, gaining hands-on experience and valuable insights into the financial sector. Internships are a stepping stone to full-time employment and offer a robust platform for networking and professional development.

Employee Benefits and Culture

Banque Nationale du Canada is committed to supporting its employees through comprehensive benefits, diversity training, and a culture that promotes work-life balance. The company’s benefits package includes health, dental, and vision insurance, alongside retirement plans and paid time off. The inclusive culture at Banque Nationale du Canada ensures that all team members feel valued and respected.

Professional Growth and Development

The bank champions professional growth and offers numerous resources for career advancement, including workshops, seminars, and continued education programs. Employees at Banque Nationale du Canada are encouraged to harness their potential and advance their careers within the company.

Innovation and Industry Leadership

At the intersection of technology and financial services, Banque Nationale du Canada leads with innovative solutions that redefine banking. Employees are part of a forward-thinking team that leverages technology to enhance customer experiences and drive industry leadership.

Join the Team

Search for job opportunities that align with personal career goals at Banque Nationale du Canada. The company is looking for individuals who are curious, driven, and eager to make an impact in the financial industry.

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