Royal Bank of Canada

Staff ML Research Engineer

Royal Bank of Canada$120K — $150K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Machine Learning, or related field.
  • 10+ years of leadership experience in machine learning within product-focused environments.
  • Experience mentoring high-performing teams of researchers and engineers.
  • Proven expertise from prototyping to production in R&D lifecycle.
  • Deep knowledge in machine learning, statistics, and data science.
  • Exceptional communication skills to convey complex concepts to various audiences.
  • Mastery of end-to-end ML system ownership and model architecture.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement advanced AI systems to solve complex organizational challenges.
  • Lead collaboration with internal teams and external research groups to enhance AI capabilities.
  • Mentor junior developers to ensure project execution and skill development.
  • Evaluate and adopt new technologies to optimize ML system performance.
  • Drive complex machine learning initiatives that deliver impactful solutions.
  • Oversee decision-making on complex issues with significant organizational impact.
  • Cultivate high-impact relationships for strategic insights and value delivery.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work in a leading AI accelerator within a major financial institution.
  • Collaboration with cross-functional teams and top academic research groups.
  • Access to cutting-edge technology and methodologies in AI and machine learning.
  • Chance to mentor and build a high-performing team in a thriving environment.
  • Engagement in transformative projects that have real-world business impact.
Full Job Description
Job Description

RBC Borealis is seeking an experienced Staff Machine Learning Research Engineer to drive innovation in advanced AI systems and architectures. In this role, you will design and implement cutting-edge solutions to complex organizational challenges, while establishing thought leadership across mission-critical ML systems.

Responsibilities Include:
• Develop and implement advanced artificial intelligence systems and architectures, applying extensive expertise to design innovative solutions that address highly complex organizational challenges and align with strategic objectives.
• Lead cross functional collaboration with internal teams and external academic research groups to integrate cutting edge artificial intelligence advancements into enterprise systems, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and competitive positioning.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior developers and teams, fostering skill development and ensuring the successful execution of high impact projects.
• Drive the evaluation and adoption of new technologies, algorithms, and methodologies, making strategic recommendations to enhance system capabilities, optimize performance, and deliver measurable business value.
• Lead complex machine learning research engineering initiatives, solving abstract problems and delivering impactful solutions using advanced technical and business expertise.
• Oversee decision making for highly complex issues with significant financial or operational impact, providing clear direction and actionable recommendations to management on key organizational priorities.
• Develop and implement innovative solutions to address highly complex machine learning research engineering related problems ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Cultivate and maintain high impact relationships across multiple areas to provide strategic insights and delivering measurable value as a trusted advisor.

You're our ideal candidate if you have:
  • A Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Machine Learning, or a related technical field;
  • 10+ years of experience leading high-impact machine learning solutions in a product-centric environment;
  • Experience managing/mentoring high-performing teams of researchers, data scientists, and engineers;
  • Proven expertise across the research and development lifecycle, from prototyping to production, with strong ability to engage stakeholders;
  • Deep expertise in machine learning, statistics, and data science with experience in optimization, A/B testing, and causal inference;
  • Exceptional communication skills and ability to translate complex concepts to diverse audiences.
  • Demonstrated a mastery of end-to-end ML system ownership in production environments, including model design, feature engineering, model architecture, drift detection, and serving infrastructure at scale.
  • A deep expertise in building models that serve as shared ML platforms for multiple downstream teams and use cases.
  • A proven ability to lead cross-functional technical initiatives by coordinating with diverse stakeholder groups (feature providers, policy teams, client teams) while maintaining system integrity and translating technical results to non-technical audiences.
  • Demonstrated a strong track record of leading and mentoring senior engineers through career advancement and establishing thought leadership as the primary technical authority on complex, mission-critical systems.
  • Bring experience transferring ML expertise across domains and applying behavioral signal analysis, anomaly detection, or graph-based systems to high-stakes production environments with real-world business impact.


About the AI Group:
RBC's AI Group is the AI accelerator for RBC, with a focus on driving the shift from early-stage AI projects to scaled, client outcomes that amplify the impact of RBC's people. In addition to helping scale the biggest AI opportunities at RBC, the AI Group is responsible for advancing research into emerging use cases across generative and agentic AI, while maintaining expertise in security, responsible AI and regulatory expectations. The Business Enablement function within the AI Group partners with LOBs and Functions to set AI ambition, originate transformation opportunities, and frame programs for delivery - ensuring RBC remains at the frontier of AI-enabled value creation.

Job Skills
Analytical Thinking, Decision Making, Detail-Oriented, Long Term Planning, Machine Learning (ML), Product Development Design, Programming Languages, Quantitative Research, Research and Development Operations, Research Documents

Additional Job Details

Address:

777 BAY ST, TH 27:TORONTO

City:

Toronto

Country:

Canada

Work hours/week:

37.5

Employment Type:

Full time

Platform:

TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONS

Job Type:

Regular

Pay Type:

Salaried

Posted Date:

2026-07-21

Application Deadline:

2026-08-25
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above

RBC is presently inviting candidates to apply for this existing vacancy. Applying to this posting allows you to express your interest in this current career opportunity at RBC. Qualified applicants may be contacted to review their resume in more detail.

About Royal Bank of Canada

Royal Bank of Canada Careers

Join the dynamic team at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), a global leader in financial services and a company committed to excellence and innovation. At RBC, we offer a wide range of job opportunities that empower professionals to shape their career paths with leadership, diversity training, and continuous growth.

Work You’ll Do

At Royal Bank of Canada, we are not just hiring; we are building a culture of innovation and leadership. Our team members are at the forefront of the financial industry, driving transformation and delivering targeted solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients and communities.

Explore Job Opportunities and Employment at RBC

Whether you are starting your career or looking to take it to the next level, RBC offers positions that challenge your skills and fuel your ambition. From entry-level positions to leadership roles, our job opportunities span across various functions and regions. Join us and be part of a team that values professional growth and diversity.

Internship and Professional Development

Kickstart your career with an internship at Royal Bank of Canada. Our internships provide invaluable hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and insights into the financial services industry. Interns at RBC gain the skills necessary to excel and are often considered for full-time positions within the company.

Benefits and Culture

At RBC, we prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of our employees. Our benefits package is designed to support our team members at every stage of their life and career. RBC’s culture is built on a foundation of respect, integrity, and responsibility, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.

Career Growth and Innovation

We believe in nurturing the potential of our employees through continuous learning and career development programs. At RBC, you will find endless opportunities to grow professionally through on-the-job experiences, formal training programs, and leadership development initiatives. Our commitment to innovation means we are constantly seeking out new ideas and perspectives, making RBC a perfect place for those who aim to lead and innovate.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity is our strength. At Royal Bank of Canada, we are committed to building an inclusive workplace where every employee feels valued and respected. Our diversity training programs are designed to educate and inspire, creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace.

Join Our Team

Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Start your journey with RBC today and be part of a world-class team known for its commitment to client service, community involvement, and innovation.

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Learn more about Royal Bank of Canada
Size
86,007 employees
Market Cap
$130.3 billion
Industry
5 Year Trend
+8.7%
NASDAQ

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