Principal data engineer, artificial intelligence & data platform development & support

BMO Financial Group; Toronto; On-site; CAD 94,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Toronto is looking for an experienced professional for an Individual Contributor role in Technology. This position requires extensive background in data and AI, where the candidate will lead various initiatives, collaborate across teams, and translate complex business requirements into scalable solutions. Ideal candidates will have over 15 years of relevant experience, strong hands-on skills in ETL processes, and familiarity with cloud services such as AWS and Azure. The role offers a hybrid work environment, competitive compensation, and incentives, with a focus on positive change and innovation.

Benefits

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement savings plans

Performance-based incentives

Qualifications

• 15+ years of relevant experience with IT education and/or certification.
• Hands-on experience with ETL for various sources.
• Experience with AI-powered tools and data products.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, design, development, testing, implementation, and support of data and AI products.
• Partner with business stakeholders to translate business requirements into data and AI products.
• Provide technical direction and guidance to junior developers.

Skills

Data analysis

AI concepts

DevOps methodologies

Code optimization

SQL and NoSQL

Agile delivery

Education

IT education or certification

Tools

AWS

Azure

Hadoop

Apache Airflow

SSIS

Job description

Application Deadline: 12/30/2025

Address: 4100 Gordon Baker Road

Job Family Group: Technology

Please note this is an Individual Contributor role and subject to Hybrid Work Model (2 days/ week in the office at 33 Dundas St. W or 4100 Gordon Baker Rd). Artificial Intelligence experience is a MUST as it relates to Data Platforms development and support.

Data and AI Technology (DAT) Engineering supports BMO's Digital-First, risk, regulatory and compliance requirements by building data and AI products that provide timely actionable insights to drive desired business outcomes and value. DAT Engineering collaborates with multiple groups across the bank to deliver hundreds of initiatives every year, to help our partners solve problems and make smarter data-driven decisions.

We are a very diverse organization with plenty of exciting opportunities to apply your unique skills to solve complex business problems. If you love data, complex challenges, cutting-edge technologies, and opportunities to learn, then this is the team you want to be in.

What will you do

• Lead in the planning, design, development, testing, implementation, documentation, and support of data and AI products
• Partner with business stakeholders in translating business requirements (functional and non-functional) into data and AI products
• Build the infrastructure required for optimal extraction, transformation, and loading of data from a wide variety of data sources
• Provide direction on technical designs and ensure alignment with standards and roadmaps
• Provide technical direction and guidance to junior and intermediate developers
• Identify, track, and perform regression testing on defects found
• Identify, design, and implement internal process improvements: automating manual processes, optimizing data delivery, redesigning infrastructure for greater scalability
• Accelerate development by building frameworks, automation scripts, and reusable code
• Strengthen development capability via mentoring, knowledge sharing, and building communities of practice
• Operate at a group/enterprise-wide level and serve as a specialist resource to senior leaders and stakeholders

What do you need to succeed

• 15+ years of relevant experience and IT education and/or certification(s)
• Hands‑on experience with ETL (extract, transform, load) for various sources and downstream consumption, ability to write code and guide other team members in writing complex transformations
• Hands‑on experience in solution architecture, data modelling, designing complex systems to support large‑scale transformations, hands with data mining & analysis for existing and new data warehouses on‑prem and cloud
• Hands‑on experience in one or more of SQL, NoSQL, Python, Spark, Scala, code optimization, debugging
• Experience with AI concepts, GenAI, prompt engineering, retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG), AI‑powered tools in SDLC, etc.
• Hands‑on experience with SSIS, Glue, cloud storage and computing services (e.g. AWS, Azure), Hadoop, Netezza, Apache Airflow or similar tools
• Experience with structured, semi‑structured and unstructured datasets in batch and streaming
• Experience with data analysis, data mapping and data profiling
• Hands‑on experience with DevOps methodologies, including CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code
• Experience in handling process improvements using automation, re‑modelling, modernization, re‑design or update design, solution for optimal and cost‑efficient needs
• Experienced in guiding the team to code, develop, unit test and QA new/existing pipelines, automated solutions and ability to structure new solutions with minimal requirements provided yet seek clarification as needed
• Experience in spearheading discussions with counterparts, stakeholders, business, architecture teams, operations and other engineering teams
• Experience in Agile delivery, including usage of JIRA
• Experience in defining software engineering standards and best practices
• Experience in large enterprise setting
• Experience interacting with senior leaders
• Experience working in highly regulated industries

Salary

$94,600.00 - $176,000.00

Pay Type

Salaried

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type. Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part‑time roles will be pro‑rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance‑based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, visit https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

About Us

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one – for yourself and our customers. We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network‑building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at https://jobs.bmo.com/ca/en.

BMO is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. By learning from each other’s differences, we gain strength through our people and our perspectives. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To request accommodation, please contact your recruiter.

Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.