Senior AI/ML Research Director, Applied Science

lululemon; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 224,000 - 293,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health and dental benefits

Mental health plans

Paid time off

Savings and retirement plan matching

Generous employee discount

Fitness & yoga classes

Parenthood top-up

Development course offerings

Mentorship programs

Job summary

lululemon is seeking a Senior Director, AI/ML Research and Science to advance the company's AI capabilities through research, development, and deployment of innovative models that drive measurable business impact.

You will lead a lean team of AI researchers and applied scientists, balance long-range exploration with near-term business needs, and partner with AI Platform and Data teams to productionize solutions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of AI/ML experience with emphasis on research and innovation.
• PhD preferred in Computer Science, ML, AI, or related field with strong publication record.
• Proven experience leading technical research teams in industry or academia.
• Deep expertise in modern AI/ML techniques (e.g., deep learning, NLP, generative AI, optimization).
• Track record of developing novel models, frameworks, or applied research solutions.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive a forward-looking AI research roadmap (3–5-year horizon) aligned to business priorities.
• Explore emerging technologies, methods, and models to unlock future capabilities.
• Lead the design, development, and optimization of complex AI/ML models.
• Translate complex business challenges into AI-driven solutions.
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to identify high-impact use cases.
• Ensure research outputs are aligned with tangible business outcomes.
• Provide expert guidance shaping the broader AI/ML research strategy.
• Act as a thought leader across the organization in AI innovation.
• Collaborate with AI Platform and Data teams to productionize solutions.
• Balance experimentation with scalable, practical implementation.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of AI/ML researchers.

Skills

AI/ML leadership

Deep learning

NLP

Generative AI

Optimization

Research leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in CS/ML

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Python

Job description

lululemon is seeking a Senior Director, AI/ML Research and Science to advance the company's AI capabilities through research, development, and deployment of innovative models that drive measurable business impact.

You will lead a lean team of AI researchers and applied scientists, balance long-range exploration with near-term business needs, and partner with AI Platform and Data teams to productionize solutions.