Head of Toronto AI Center

Samsung Electronics GmbH; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Samsung’s AI research team in Toronto is seeking an outstanding and highly self-motivated leader to head the lab. The candidate will guide a team of researchers and engineers focused on deep learning, computer vision, and physics-based AI to generate high-impact insights shaping Samsung product direction.

The AI Center in Toronto participates in global R&D efforts and offers opportunities to publish at top conferences, while collaborating with international teams and industry partners to scale

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or equivalent education/experience.
• 10+ years of post-PhD experience leading advanced AI research.
• Deep expertise in vision and multimodal AI and agentic AI (autonomous agents, reasoning, decision-making).
• Strong publications in AI (peer-reviewed).
• Proficiency in programming in C/C++, Python, Java, etc.
• Experience with DL libraries PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX; hands-on required.
• Experience with GPUs, parallel programming, and simulation environments a plus.
• Android development and graphic rendering a plus.
• Excellent communication, teamwork, and international collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Build, manage, develop, lead, and support the AI research team, with high-impact research insights that influence the product roadmap.
• Present research findings and insights both within and outside the company.
• Serve as a thought partner with the executive, cross-functional, and line of business leadership teams.
• Be an evangelist of research practices throughout the company, influencing partner teams.
• Drive innovation programs within the relevant fields of Artificial Intelligence.
• Lead external face for the AI Research Lab’s advanced technology capabilities.
• Drive University technology collaboration programs to build long-term innovation partnerships.
• Lead Technology Pathfinding to understand key tech trends and impact for Samsung.

Skills

Deep learning

Computer vision

Multimodal AI

Agentic AI

Research leadership

Publications

Communication

Networking

Education

PhD in Computer Science/AI

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

JAX

C/C++

Python

Java

Job description

Samsung Research America (SRA) develops next-generation technologies in software, user experience, and services for future products. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with locations across North America, we partner with industry and academia to translate research and innovation into tangible outcomes. We lead in machine intelligence by building AI that is user-centric and physically grounded—AI that understands not just what users want, but their physical context and environment.

Samsung is uniquely positioned to bring this vision to life through nearly 500 million connected devices we sell annually. Our mission is to holistically integrate AI into connected ecosystems—homes, offices, robotics, and beyond—creating a platform that scales quickly while providing deep contextual understanding and spatial awareness.

The AI Center in Toronto, Canada plays a pivotal role in developing next-generation software, user experiences, and intelligent services that enrich consumers’ lives. This lab actively contributes to the international research community through publications and presentations at major conferences.

Areas of Research:

• Computer Vision
• Inference and Reasoning
• Machine and Deep Learning
• Human Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Natural Language Processing

Position Summary:

Samsung’s AI research team in Toronto is looking for an outstanding and highly self-motivated leader to head the lab. The candidates should have extensive expertise in deep learning, computer vision and physics-based AI.

The AI research center is a key part of Samsung’s global R&D effort and aims to have direct impact on future Samsung products reaching hundreds of millions of users globally. The candidate will work with a team of research scientists and engineers tackling real-world problems involving Samsung’s Artificial intelligence products. The candidate can also have the opportunity to publish at top-tier conferences in deep learning, computer vision, and language understanding.

Position Responsibilities:

• Build, manage, develop, lead, and support the AI research team, with the outcome of high-impact research insights that influence the product roadmap
• Present research findings and insights both within and outside of the company
• Serve as a thought partner with the executive, cross-functional, and line of business leadership teams
• Be an evangelist of research practices throughout the company, influencing partner teams
• Drive innovation programs within the relevant fields of Artificial Intelligence,
• Serve as the external face for the AI Research Lab’s advanced technology capabilities
• Drive key University technology collaboration program to build long term innovation partnerships
• Lead Technology Pathfinding to understand key technology trends and impact for Samsung, to help drive growth and new business opportunities for Samsung

Required Skills:

• PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• 10+ years of post-PhD experience leading advanced AI research.
• Deep expertise in vision and multimodal AI and agentic AI (autonomous agents, reasoning, decision-making), plus strong foundations in computer vision, image/video processing, and generative AI applications.
• Significant experience of publishing relevant peer-reviewed articles on artificial intelligence
• Strong algorithmic problem-solving skills, and the ability to program in C/C++, Python, Java, etc.
• Experience in publishing scientific papers in top quality conferences/journals (CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, AAAI, IJCAI, ACL, SIGGRAPH, CoRL, etc.)
• Experience in DL library such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, etc. with strong hands on experience is required
• Experience working with GPU, parallel programming, and Simulation environments is a plus
• Experience in Android development and graphic rendering is a plus
• Ability to work as a team, motivation for international collaboration, strong communication skills, self-motivated, proactive, flexible and passionate about learning
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced global team environment
• Strong network of relationships with entrepreneurs, VC’s industry executives, and technology thought leaders
• Strong presentation skills and excellent interpersonal skills

Additional Information

Disclosure of Trade Secrets

Samsung has a strict policy on trade secrets. In applying to Samsung and progressing through the recruitment process, you must not disclose any trade secrets of a current or previous employer.

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, and frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

At Samsung, we believe that innovation and growth are driven by an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce. We aim to create a global team where everyone belongs and has equal opportunities, inspiring our talent to be their true selves. Together, we are building a better tomorrow for our customers, partners, and communities.

Samsung Research America is committed to employing a diverse workforce, and provide Equal Employment Opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

For more information regarding protection from discrimination under Federal law for applicants and employees, please refer to this link: Pay Transparency