Lead AI Engineer

About the role

About The Company

Capital One is a leading financial services company renowned for its innovative approach to banking and commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology. With a focus on responsible and reliable AI systems, Capital One is transforming the banking experience by integrating advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence into its core operations. The company has established itself as an industry pioneer by delivering real-time, personalized customer interactions, and continuously investing in technology infrastructure and top-tier talent. Capital One’s dedication to innovation aims to enhance customer satisfaction, streamline operations, and promote financial inclusion. Its culture fosters collaboration, continuous learning, and a passion for creating impactful solutions that redefine the future of banking.

About The Role

The Lead AI Engineer role at Capital One is a strategic position within the Intelligent Foundations and Experiences (IFX) team, responsible for advancing the state of AI and machine learning technologies. This role involves designing, developing, and deploying scalable AI systems that underpin the company's innovative products and services. The ideal candidate will work closely with cross-functional teams including engineers, research scientists, product managers, and technical program managers to deliver AI-powered solutions that enhance both customer experience and operational efficiency. Key responsibilities include developing foundation models, optimizing large language model inference, implementing similarity search techniques, and ensuring the governance and observability of AI systems. This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead cutting-edge projects that have a profound impact on the future of banking and financial services.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical foundation with a passion for building innovative AI solutions. A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, AI, Electrical Engineering, or related fields, along with at least four years of experience in developing AI and ML algorithms, is required. Alternatively, a master’s degree with a minimum of two years of relevant experience is acceptable. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, Scala, or Go is essential. Preferred qualifications include six or more years of experience deploying scalable AI solutions on cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. Experience with AI service development, state-of-the-art optimization techniques, and familiarity with open-source AI tools such as Huggingface, PyTorch, and VectorDBs are highly valued. Candidates should demonstrate a deep understanding of hardware and software optimization, research application, and the ability to translate scientific advancements into production-ready systems.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to design and implement AI-powered products that transform customer interactions and internal workflows.

Develop, test, and support AI software components including foundation model training, large language model inference, similarity search, and model governance frameworks.

Leverage a broad stack of open-source and SaaS AI technologies such as AWS Ultraclusters, Huggingface, Nemo Guardrails, and VectorDBs to build scalable solutions.

Innovate by applying state-of-the-art LLM optimization techniques to improve system performance, scalability, cost efficiency, and latency.

Contribute to the technical vision, strategic roadmap, and long-term development of foundational AI systems at Capital One.

Ensure AI systems are reliable, responsible, and adhere to governance and ethical standards.

Stay current with emerging AI research, evaluate new techniques, and judiciously incorporate innovations into production systems.

Mentor junior team members and foster a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.

Benefits

Capital One offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being and professional growth of its employees. This includes competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and long-term incentives. Employees have access to health, dental, and vision insurance, along with wellness programs and financial planning resources. The company promotes work-life balance through flexible work arrangements and generous paid time off. Capital One also invests in learning and development opportunities, including training programs, conferences, and educational resources to help employees stay at the forefront of AI and technology trends. Additionally, the organization fosters an inclusive environment that values diversity and promotes employee engagement and community involvement.

Equal Opportunity

Capital One is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We promote a respectful environment where all employees have equal access to opportunities and resources. Capital One complies with all applicable laws and regulations regarding non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity. We are dedicated to creating a workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve and where every individual can thrive and contribute to our collective success.