Director, Software Development - AI/ML Solutions and Delivery
Top Benefits
About the role
**Job Description
What is the opportunity?
This is an opportunity to work at RBC Insurance Active Data Platform team with a group of professionals dedicated to deliver solutions to Insurance business and clients. We are all in with Agile development, DevOps, Open Source, Software as a Service (SaaS) and modern tools and processes. You will have an opportunity to make a real difference by working on some impactful and meaningful projects.
We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Director to lead our Machine Learning Engineering Group, focusing on the delivery, operationalization, and continuous maintenance of robust, high-performing AI/ML products in production for our Insurance Businesses. This critical role combines deep technical expertise in machine learning and MLOps and AIOps, exceptional leadership capabilities, and a profound understanding of the insurance industry’s unique challenges and opportunities. The successful candidates has the proven ability to navigate ambiguity to lead in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving technological environment, and proven experience supporting and managing production applications.
Our applications are used by RBC staff and clients making your contributions highly impactful and visible, directly contributing to the success of RBC. We deliver digitally enabled applications that are both internal and internet facing. We build cloud data lakehouse, stable web, and back-end applications which are resilient, scalable and high performance that avoids failure and focused on delivering best client experience. We continuously update our tech skills and upgrade our platforms to match industry standards.
What will you do?
- Collaborate closely with Insurance business leaders, product managers, data scientists, and IT stakeholders across various lines to understand the requirements, define scope and manage expectations.
- Mature MLOps system, embedding automated model training, versioning and monitoring
- Tailor infrastructure and platform support to RBCI needs (i.e. integration and scalability)
- Drive improved CI/CD pipeline for Airflow orchestration
- Implement AI model registry and versioning
- Lead operational AI support: incident management, logging, log monitoring, AIOps, performance tuning, model drift detection, etc.
- Define, communicate, and execute the AI/ML roadmap for insurance applications, aligning with overall business vision and emerging AI trends (e.g., Generative AI, Agentic AI, Large Language Models).
- Stay abreast of the latest advancements in AI/ML, particularly in Agentic AI and process automation, and evaluate their applicability and potential for the insurance sector.
- Champion ethical and responsible AI principles, ensure all initiatives comply with regulatory requirements specific to the Insurance industry (e.g., OSFI guidelines, privacy regulations).
- Lead, mentor, and grow a team of high-performing Machine Learning Engineers, fostering a culture of technical innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvements.
- Establish and enforce robust monitoring frameworks for all deployed AI/ML productions, ensure the resilience, uptime, and disaster recovery capabilities of all production systems.
- Oversee talent acquisition, performance management, career development and retention for the ML Engineering team.
- Drive the end-to-end development, deployment and operation of robust, scalable, maintainable, and production-ready AI/ML solutions. Ensure the solutions are well-integrated with existing insurance systems and data infrastructure.
What do you need to succeed?
Must Have:
- 8+ years of progressive experience in Machine Learning Engineering, AI development or Data Science, with 5+ years in leadership role managing ML engineers or data scientist, with a strong emphasis on production system delivery and operations.
- Proven experience working with or within the Insurance industry, demonstrating a clear understanding of its data, processes, and business challenges.
- Exceptional leadership, mentorship, and team-building abilities. Outstanding communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated experience in delivering production-grade AI/ML solutions from concept to production, and production management and support.
- Experience with process automation initiatives and a strong understanding of Agentic AI paradigms.
- Expertise in programming languages commonly used in ML (Python is essential, others like Java, Scala, R are a plus).
- Proficiency with ML frameworks, libraries (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, AirFlow, Hugging Face).
- Strong understanding of MLOps principles, tools and platforms (e.g., MLflow, AWS SageMaker, Azure ML).
- Solid experience with cloud platforms for ML infrastructure, modern data architecture, and scalable computing.
- Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and staying current with AI/ML advancements.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering or a related quantitative field
- Master’s or Ph.D. preferred
Nice to Have
- Knowledge of data engineering tools, such as Apache Beam, Apache Spark, or AWS Glue
- Familiarity with agile development methodologies and version control systems (e.g., Git)
- Certifications including AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty, Specialized MLOps Certifications, AI Engineering Professionals.
- Adaptability, Critical thinking and growing mindset
- Team contributor and care about team members
What’s in it for you?
We thrive on the challenge to be our best, progressive thinking to keep growing, and working together to deliver trusted advice to help our clients thrive and communities prosper. We care about each other, reaching our potential, making a difference to our communities, and achieving success that is mutual.
- A comprehensive Total Rewards Program including bonuses and flexible benefits, competitive compensation, commissions, and stock where applicable
- Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities
- Ability to make a difference and lasting impact
- Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team
- A world-class training program in financial services
- Flexible work/life balance options
- Opportunities to do challenging work
#LI-Post
#TechPJ
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 94,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com. We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at www.rbc.com/community-social-impact.
La Banque Royale du Canada est une institution financière mondiale définie par sa raison d'être, guidée par des principes et orientée vers l'excellence en matière de rendement. Notre succès est attribuable aux quelque 94 000+ employés qui mettent à profit leur créativité et leur savoir faire pour concrétiser notre vision, nos valeurs et notre stratégie afin que nous puissions contribuer à la prospérité de nos clients et au dynamisme des collectivités. Selon la capitalisation boursière, nous sommes la plus importante banque du Canada et l'une des plus grandes banques du monde. Nous avons adopté un modèle d'affaires diversifié axé sur l'innovation et l'offre d'expériences exceptionnelles à nos plus de 17 millions de clients au Canada, aux États Unis et dans 27 autres pays. Pour en savoir plus, visitez le site rbc.com/francais
Nous sommes fiers d'appuyer une grande diversité d'initiatives communautaires par des dons, des investissements dans la collectivité et le travail bénévole de nos employés. Pour de plus amples renseignements, visitez le site www.rbc.com/collectivite-impact-social.
Director, Software Development - AI/ML Solutions and Delivery
Top Benefits
About the role
**Job Description
What is the opportunity?
This is an opportunity to work at RBC Insurance Active Data Platform team with a group of professionals dedicated to deliver solutions to Insurance business and clients. We are all in with Agile development, DevOps, Open Source, Software as a Service (SaaS) and modern tools and processes. You will have an opportunity to make a real difference by working on some impactful and meaningful projects.
We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Director to lead our Machine Learning Engineering Group, focusing on the delivery, operationalization, and continuous maintenance of robust, high-performing AI/ML products in production for our Insurance Businesses. This critical role combines deep technical expertise in machine learning and MLOps and AIOps, exceptional leadership capabilities, and a profound understanding of the insurance industry’s unique challenges and opportunities. The successful candidates has the proven ability to navigate ambiguity to lead in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving technological environment, and proven experience supporting and managing production applications.
Our applications are used by RBC staff and clients making your contributions highly impactful and visible, directly contributing to the success of RBC. We deliver digitally enabled applications that are both internal and internet facing. We build cloud data lakehouse, stable web, and back-end applications which are resilient, scalable and high performance that avoids failure and focused on delivering best client experience. We continuously update our tech skills and upgrade our platforms to match industry standards.
What will you do?
- Collaborate closely with Insurance business leaders, product managers, data scientists, and IT stakeholders across various lines to understand the requirements, define scope and manage expectations.
- Mature MLOps system, embedding automated model training, versioning and monitoring
- Tailor infrastructure and platform support to RBCI needs (i.e. integration and scalability)
- Drive improved CI/CD pipeline for Airflow orchestration
- Implement AI model registry and versioning
- Lead operational AI support: incident management, logging, log monitoring, AIOps, performance tuning, model drift detection, etc.
- Define, communicate, and execute the AI/ML roadmap for insurance applications, aligning with overall business vision and emerging AI trends (e.g., Generative AI, Agentic AI, Large Language Models).
- Stay abreast of the latest advancements in AI/ML, particularly in Agentic AI and process automation, and evaluate their applicability and potential for the insurance sector.
- Champion ethical and responsible AI principles, ensure all initiatives comply with regulatory requirements specific to the Insurance industry (e.g., OSFI guidelines, privacy regulations).
- Lead, mentor, and grow a team of high-performing Machine Learning Engineers, fostering a culture of technical innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvements.
- Establish and enforce robust monitoring frameworks for all deployed AI/ML productions, ensure the resilience, uptime, and disaster recovery capabilities of all production systems.
- Oversee talent acquisition, performance management, career development and retention for the ML Engineering team.
- Drive the end-to-end development, deployment and operation of robust, scalable, maintainable, and production-ready AI/ML solutions. Ensure the solutions are well-integrated with existing insurance systems and data infrastructure.
What do you need to succeed?
Must Have:
- 8+ years of progressive experience in Machine Learning Engineering, AI development or Data Science, with 5+ years in leadership role managing ML engineers or data scientist, with a strong emphasis on production system delivery and operations.
- Proven experience working with or within the Insurance industry, demonstrating a clear understanding of its data, processes, and business challenges.
- Exceptional leadership, mentorship, and team-building abilities. Outstanding communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated experience in delivering production-grade AI/ML solutions from concept to production, and production management and support.
- Experience with process automation initiatives and a strong understanding of Agentic AI paradigms.
- Expertise in programming languages commonly used in ML (Python is essential, others like Java, Scala, R are a plus).
- Proficiency with ML frameworks, libraries (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, AirFlow, Hugging Face).
- Strong understanding of MLOps principles, tools and platforms (e.g., MLflow, AWS SageMaker, Azure ML).
- Solid experience with cloud platforms for ML infrastructure, modern data architecture, and scalable computing.
- Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and staying current with AI/ML advancements.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering or a related quantitative field
- Master’s or Ph.D. preferred
Nice to Have
- Knowledge of data engineering tools, such as Apache Beam, Apache Spark, or AWS Glue
- Familiarity with agile development methodologies and version control systems (e.g., Git)
- Certifications including AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty, Specialized MLOps Certifications, AI Engineering Professionals.
- Adaptability, Critical thinking and growing mindset
- Team contributor and care about team members
What’s in it for you?
We thrive on the challenge to be our best, progressive thinking to keep growing, and working together to deliver trusted advice to help our clients thrive and communities prosper. We care about each other, reaching our potential, making a difference to our communities, and achieving success that is mutual.
- A comprehensive Total Rewards Program including bonuses and flexible benefits, competitive compensation, commissions, and stock where applicable
- Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities
- Ability to make a difference and lasting impact
- Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team
- A world-class training program in financial services
- Flexible work/life balance options
- Opportunities to do challenging work
#LI-Post
#TechPJ
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 94,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com. We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at www.rbc.com/community-social-impact.
La Banque Royale du Canada est une institution financière mondiale définie par sa raison d'être, guidée par des principes et orientée vers l'excellence en matière de rendement. Notre succès est attribuable aux quelque 94 000+ employés qui mettent à profit leur créativité et leur savoir faire pour concrétiser notre vision, nos valeurs et notre stratégie afin que nous puissions contribuer à la prospérité de nos clients et au dynamisme des collectivités. Selon la capitalisation boursière, nous sommes la plus importante banque du Canada et l'une des plus grandes banques du monde. Nous avons adopté un modèle d'affaires diversifié axé sur l'innovation et l'offre d'expériences exceptionnelles à nos plus de 17 millions de clients au Canada, aux États Unis et dans 27 autres pays. Pour en savoir plus, visitez le site rbc.com/francais
Nous sommes fiers d'appuyer une grande diversité d'initiatives communautaires par des dons, des investissements dans la collectivité et le travail bénévole de nos employés. Pour de plus amples renseignements, visitez le site www.rbc.com/collectivite-impact-social.