Principal AI Engineer

Socket.dev; Toronto; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellbeing resources

Paid vacation and sick days

Hybrid work environment (3+ days in‑办公

Competitive compensation and benefits

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Questrade Financial Group of Companies seeks a Principal AI Engineer to embed AI models into our high-frequency trading platforms, optimize for low latency, and architect autonomous, multi-agent systems. You will fine-tune models on proprietary data and design scalable APIs that integrate with existing .NET, Angular/Next.js frontends and GCP infrastructure.

The role requires 7+ years of software engineering experience, 2+ years shipping production-grade Generative AI features, and strong Python

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• 2+ years of production-grade Generative AI, RAG, or agentic features experience.
• Strong proficiency in Python (FastAPI, PyTest) with enterprise ecosystems like C#/.NET Core, Node.js/TypeScript, or C++.
• Hands-on experience with cloud-native architecture (GCP) using Docker, Kubernetes, and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform).
• Strong database skills (Google Cloud SQL, BigQuery, NoSQL).
• Experience building complex RAG pipelines and multi-agent systems (LangGraph, CrewAI, Semantic Kernel, MCP).
• Proficiency with vector databases and real-time, low-latency data streams.
• Knowledge of design patterns (DDD), event-driven architectures (Kafka, Pub/Sub).

Responsibilities

• Embed AI models into high-frequency trading platforms and optimize for low latency.
• Design scalable REST/gRPC APIs and integrate LLM orchestration with existing microservices and frontends.
• Fine-tune models (LoRA/QLoRA) on proprietary data for production readiness.
• Build and manage autonomous multi-agent workflows and digital investment assistants.
• Implement strict guardrails, auditing, and real-time monitoring for regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with software, data engineering, product, and security teams to deploy intelligence features.

Skills

Python

FastAPI

PyTest

C#

.NET Core

Node.js

TypeScript

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

GCP

BigQuery

NoSQL

LangGraph

CrewAI

Semantic Kernel

Model Context Protocol

Vector databases

Kafka

Google Pub/Sub

RAG pipelines

Multi-agent systems

Software design patterns

Event-driven

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

GCP

PostgreSQL/BigQuery

Job description

Questrade Financial Group (QFG), through its companies - Questrade, Questbank, Questrade Wealth Management, Community Trust Company, Zolo, and Flexiti, provides securities and foreign currency investment, professionally managed investment portfolios, mortgages, real estate services, financial services and more. We use cutting-edge technology to help Canadians become much more financially successful and secure.

At QFG, we combine human-centric collaboration with AI-driven innovation to redefine financial services. The ideal candidate will be a catalyst for change, using AI to transform and deliver unparalleled customer experiences and shaping a future where AI empowers our teams to do their best work.

Join our diverse, inclusive, and hybrid workplace to unleash your creativity and nurture your curiosity without limits. If you share this sense of infinite possibility, come shape your future at QFG.

What’s in it for you as an employee of QFG?

• Health & wellbeing resources and programs
• Paid vacation, personal, and sick days for work-life balance
• Competitive compensation and benefits packages
• Work-life balance in a hybrid environment with at least 3 days in office
• Career growth and development opportunities
• Opportunities to contribute to community causes
• Work with diverse team members in an inclusive and collaborative environment

This job posting is for an existing vacancy

We’re looking for our next Principal AI Engineer. Could It Be You?

The Principal AI Engineer is a comprehensive, hybrid role requiring deep full-stack engineering discipline. You will be responsible for embedding foundational AI models into our high-frequency trading platforms, fine-tuning and optimizing models for low-latency financial contexts, and architecting autonomous, self-correcting agent systems that can handle complex multi-step investing workflows.

Need more details? Keep reading…

In this role, responsibilities include but are not limited to:

AI Systems Engineering

• Build and maintain the underlying infrastructure required to deploy AI within a high-performance brokerage environment.
• Design scalable REST/gRPC APIs, manage vector embeddings of market data, and integrate LLM orchestration layers cleanly with Questrade’s existing C#/.NET microservices, Angular/Next.js frontends, and GCP cloud infrastructure.
• Consistently evaluate emerging AI trends and frameworks to build new and better ways for the platform to remain a market leader.

Model Optimization & Productionization

• Adapt open-source and frontier models to the nuances of Canadian financial markets.
• You will fine-tune models (using LoRA/QLoRA) on proprietary market research, client portfolios, and compliance data. Optimize models for maximum throughput and minimum latency to ensure real-time response times in active trading dashboards.

Autonomous Brokerage Workflows

• Design and implement stateful multi-agent systems using frameworks like LangGraph or custom runtime loops.
• Build autonomous "digital investment assistants" capable of multi-step execution—such as checking account balances, querying market data streams, analyzing asset allocations against a user’s risk profile, drafting rebalancing orders, and routing them safely to human validation queues.

Guardrails, Compliance & Auditing

• In a heavily regulated brokerage space, safety is non-negotiable. Implement strict deterministic guardrails, prompt injection defenses, and real-time automated audit frameworks using Kafka data streams.
• Ensure all AI actions are auditable, verifiable, and adhere to strict regulators and privacy compliance standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with software and data engineering squads, product managers, and cybersecurity to embed intelligence capabilities smoothly into brokerage products.
• Communicate complex technological concepts and algorithmic logic clearly to non- technical business partners.

So are YOU our next Principal AI Engineer? You are if you…

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, or a closely related quantitative field.

Experience: 7+ years of professional software engineering experience, with 2+ years of dedicated experience shipping production-grade Generative AI, RAG, or Agentic features to end-users.

Strong proficiency in Python (FastAPI, PyTest) paired with experience in enterprise ecosystems like C#/.NET Core, Node.js/TypeScript, or C++.

Hands-on experience within a cloud-native architecture (preferably GCP) using Docker, Kubernetes, and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform). Strong database skills across Google Cloud SQL, BigQuery, and NoSQL solutions (MongoDB, Redis).

Proven experience building complex RAG pipelines and orchestrating multi-agent systems utilizing LangGraph, CrewAI, Semantic Kernel, or Model Context Protocol (MCP). Proficient with vector databases

Deep understanding of software design patterns (Domain-Driven Design), event-driven architectures (Kafka, Google Pub/Sub), and handling real-time, low-latency data streams.

Demonstrated ability to approach intricate business barriers with an analytical, innovative mindset

Compensation Information:

• Base salary range: $150,000 - $190,000
• The final compensation package will be commensurate with the successful candidate's experience, skills, and geographic location (Canada). It includes a comprehensive benefits plan and a competitive incentive (bonus) program for Full-Time Permanent roles.

"Sounds like you?" Please note this line was removed as part of the refinement process. If you require accommodation during the recruitment/selection process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

At Questrade Financial Group of Companies, with multiple office locations around the world, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and accessible work environment. This is an environment where individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Here, the unique skills and experience you bring will be valued. You will be supported and motivated, so that you can harness your unlimited potential. Our team reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and operate in. Having a collaborative and diverse team helps us push boundaries to bring the future of fintech into existence—not only for the benefit of our customers, but for those who build their career with us.

Questrade Financial Group of companies Applicant Tracking System utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) for application screening. The AI system operates on predetermined criteria, with final decisions subject to human review.

Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly. If you require accommodation during the recruitment/selection process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.