AI Lead/Solutions Architect

This is a 12-month contract position for an AI Lead/Solutions Architect based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The role operates on a hybrid schedule with three days per week onsite in Toronto.

Responsibilities

• Lead research and development efforts in AI/ML applications for financial services, including document intelligence and automated decisioning systems
• Architect end-to-end AI solutions from model design to scalable deployment using modern frameworks
• Drive technical innovation through experimentation with cutting-edge methods including retrieval-augmented generation, multi-agent systems, and transformer architectures
• Establish and maintain deployment pipelines for AI model implementation and monitoring
• Lead complex AI projects from conception to production, including solution architecture and system design
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including ML engineers, backend developers, data scientists, and business stakeholders
• Develop project roadmaps, load planning, and optimization strategies for AI implementations
• Ensure smooth integration from prototyping to production environments
• Mentor junior engineers and foster a culture of applied innovation and technical excellence
• Guide team members in understanding AI/ML concepts and their business applications
• Provide technical leadership in algorithm selection, model evaluation, and best practices
• Support professional development through code reviews, technical writing, and knowledge sharing

Qualifications

• Required
  • 10+ years of professional software development or relevant research experience with strong Python background
  • 3+ years of hands-on AI/ML engineering experience in production environments
  • Expert-level Python proficiency
  • Experience with JavaScript, SQL, and web technologies
  • Proficiency with PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, HuggingFace Transformers, and LangChain
  • Experience with FastAPI, Django, Flask, and RESTful API design and development
  • Experience with PostgreSQL, data processing pipelines, and ETL processes
  • Expertise in NLP, computer vision, retrieval-augmented generation, and multi-agent systems
  • Proven track record of leading technical teams and complex AI projects
  • Experience with full-stack development and system integration
  • Background in mentoring and developing technical talent
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
  • Excellent communication skills for technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Ability to work effectively in both collaborative and independent environments
  • Strategic thinking with focus on business impact and ROI
  • Commitment to continuous learning in a rapidly evolving AI landscape
• Preferred
  • Publications or research contributions in AI/ML conferences or journals
  • Experience in financial services or regulated industries
  • Experience with document processing, PDF parsing, and text extraction
  • Familiarity with prompt engineering and large language model optimization