Senior Principal AI Engineer
RBC is hiring a Senior Principal AI Engineer in Toronto, Canada. Level rates it ; you can apply on Level.
Level's read on this job
- On Level's scale, this AI engineer role is Builds AI ●●●●: the job is building AI systems.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include LangChain, LlamaIndex and Vertex AI.
- Level files it as a lead role.
- Level lists 823 other open roles at RBC.
- The role was posted in the last few days.
AI in this role
Job Description
What is the opportunity?
We're looking for an experienced Senior Principal AI Engineer who will bring strategic leadership and deep subject-matter expertise in designing and implementing enterprise-scale AI/ML infrastructure, automation tools (MLOps and DevOps), and cloud-native AI solutions. This is a unique opportunity to lead and shape the future of machine learning infrastructure and work with a team of passionate individuals committed to bringing ML to the enterprise.
What will you do?
Leading the design, architecture, and optimization of machine learning deployment tools and automation systems that operate the business's data and ML applications
Defining and implementing best practices and standards for data and machine learning pipelines across the organization
Collaborating with engineers and machine learning researchers to automate code analysis, build, integration, and deployment of ML applications
Providing technical guidance on infrastructure design decisions and monitoring solutions
Building highly scalable, resilient cloud and on-premise systems for hosting machine learning systems using state-of-the-art technologies, including Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Vertex AI
Mentoring junior engineers and contributing to team growth and technical excellence
What do you need to succeed?
Must have:
Extensive experience designing and implementing distributed ML systems at scale
Hands-on experience with GCP services, particularly Vertex AI for model training, deployment, and monitoring
Experience building and integrating Generative AI solutions, including LLMs, RAG architectures, and AI harnesses/orchestration frameworks (e.g., LangChain, LlamaIndex)
Proficiency with MLOps orchestration tools such as AirFlow, KubeFlow, Dagster, or Flyte
Experience with DevOps pipelines (Jenkins, GitHub Actions)
Strong programming skills in Python; familiarity with Bash or JavaScript a plus
Hands-on experience deploying hybrid environments across GCP, AWS, and/or Azure
Familiarity with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
Knowledge of software engineering best practices including testing, code reviews, and source control
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.
Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment
RBC is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veterans status, Aboriginal/Native American status or any other legally-protected factors. Disability-related accommodations during the application process are available upon request.
#LI-POST
#TECHPJ
Job Skills
Big Data Management, Data Modeling, Data Science, Decision Making, Deep Learning, Machine Learning (ML), Predictive Analytics, Programming Languages, Relationship BuildingAdditional Job Details
Address:
RBC WATERPARK PLACE, 88 QUEENS QUAY W:TORONTOCity:
TorontoCountry:
CanadaWork hours/week:
37.5Employment Type:
Full timePlatform:
TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONSJob Type:
RegularPay Type:
SalariedPosted Date:
2026-07-08Application Deadline:
2026-10-31Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above
Our Employment Opportunities
At RBC, we are guided by living shared values of Client First, Integrity, Collaboration, Respect and Excellence and winning together as One RBC. We believe an inclusive workplace that has diverse perspectives is core to our continued growth as one of the largest and most successful banks in the world. Maintaining a workplace where our employees feel supported to perform at their best, effectively collaborate, drive innovation, and grow professionally helps to bring our Purpose to life and create value for our clients and communities. RBC strives to deliver this through policies and programs intended to foster a workplace based on respect, belonging and opportunity for all.
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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.
How we rate this
Senior Principal AI Engineer at RBC rates 94 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Open the description and count.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Also common in AI engineer jobs at this level
Pay
- Typical AI engineer job
- $184k
This posting doesn't list pay. Use the typical AI engineer figure when pay comes up. See AI engineer jobs
Questions you could be asked
- How would you design a retrieval step so the model answers from real data instead of guessing?
- How do you monitor a model once it's live, and how do you know it needs retraining?
- How do you think about the risk of an AI system in this kind of role failing silently?
- What's a project where you used LangChain hands-on?
- Walk me through how you've used LlamaIndex in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: RAG, ML Ops, AI Safety, LangChain, and LlamaIndex. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
- Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.
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