Principal AI / ML Scientist

Vanguard; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment management firm in Toronto seeks a Principal AI Research Scientist to drive research in Large Language Models and AI innovations. You will lead AI projects, collaborate with partners, and publish impactful research. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in AI research, a PhD, and be skilled in machine learning frameworks. This role supports a hybrid work model, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in AI research in industry or academia.
• Expertise in AI/ML, especially in Large Language Models, NLP, and Reinforcement Learning.
• Ability to develop and document reproducible models.

Responsibilities

• Drive research in AI techniques to support Vanguard's strategic goals.
• Lead AI research initiatives and publish at AI/ML conferences.
• Collaborate with partners to enhance AI capabilities.
• Mentor research scientists and engineers.
• Develop analytical models to support data-driven decisions.

Skills

Large Language Models

Reinforcement Learning

AI/ML concepts

NLP

Generative AI

Knowledge Graphs

Time-Series Analysis

Statistical analysis

Education

PhD or Master’s in Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Keras

scikit-learn

numpy

Job description

Vanguard is one of the world's largest and most respected investment management companies, known for its client-centric approach, low-cost investment products, and commitment to long-term, data-driven investment strategies. Our Enterprise AI and Research (EAiR) team is actively working on advancing AI innovation by integrating cutting-edge concepts into the Vanguard AI ecosystem, establishing strategic AI partnerships, and building enterprise-level AI capabilities to empower Vanguard clients with advanced AI research and technology. The team aims to ultimately accelerate critical business solutions with AI capabilities. Some of the team’s areas of research include Agentic AI, Responsible AI, and Cognitive AI Architecture.

Role Overview :

As a Principal AI Research Scientist, you will drive groundbreaking research in Large Language Models, Agentic AI, Responsible AI, and Cognitive AI Architecture, while contributing significantly to the broader AI research community. You will bring your extensive experience in AI principles, methodologies, and tools to lead cutting-edge projects, author high-impact publications, and represent the organization at conferences and workshops. You will also foster strong relationships with university and industry partners, identify strategic alignment opportunities, and facilitate collaborations to advance AI research. Your ability to translate complex concepts for diverse audiences will ensure Vanguard remains at the forefront of AI innovation and ethical practices.

Core Responsibilities :

• Research innovative techniques to solve AI/ML problems supporting Vanguard's strategic goals, including LLM, Autonomous Agents, Knowledge Graph, AI in Finance, Generative AI, and Reinforcement Learning.
• Serve as an expert on cross-functional teams for strategic initiatives. Educate and train stakeholders on AI research innovations.
• Lead AI research strategies creating long-term business benefits. Collaborate with university partners and publish at AI/ML conferences such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, EMNLP, ACL, AAAI.
• Conduct deep diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics to support data-driven decisions. Develop models to assess and enhance AI capabilities.
• Lead R&D on algorithms for LLM fine-tuning, Autonomous Agents, Knowledge Graph, Generative AI, Responsible AI, especially in financial applications.
• Mentor research scientists and engineers, guiding technical roadmaps.
• Engage with stakeholders to understand business processes, formulate hypotheses, and develop analytical approaches.
• Collaborate across units to identify opportunities and design innovative solutions for process optimization and decision-making.
• Work with product teams, sharing best practices and staying updated on AI advancements.

Qualifications :

• PhD or Master’s in Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Electrical & Computer Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in industry or academia in AI research.
• Expertise in AI/ML concepts, especially in Large Language Models, NLP, Reinforcement Learning, Knowledge Graphs, Time-Series Analysis, Generative AI.
• Experience with ML lifecycle and frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, scikit-learn, numpy.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, and document reproducible models following industry standards.

How We Work

Vanguard has adopted a hybrid working model, balancing flexibility with in-person collaboration, supporting our mission-driven culture and long-term client outcomes.