Lead AI Engineer

About the role

About The Company

Capital One is a leading financial services company dedicated to transforming banking through innovative technology and responsible AI solutions. With a strong focus on leveraging machine learning and data-driven insights, Capital One has established itself as an industry pioneer in delivering personalized, real-time customer experiences. Our commitment to technological excellence and customer-centricity drives us to create scalable, high-performance AI infrastructure that enhances our products and services. We believe in fostering a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion, enabling us to serve millions of customers with trusted financial solutions. As we continue to expand our AI capabilities, we remain committed to responsible AI practices and building a diverse workforce that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in banking and finance.

About The Role

The Lead AI Engineer (AI Foundations) at Capital One plays a pivotal role in developing and deploying cutting-edge AI systems that redefine how banking services are delivered. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of artificial intelligence, focusing on foundational AI models, large language models, and scalable AI infrastructure. As part of the Intelligent Foundations and Experiences (IFX) team, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams including engineers, research scientists, product managers, and technical program managers to build innovative AI-powered products. Your work will directly impact millions of customers by enabling smarter, faster, and more responsible banking solutions. The role requires a deep understanding of AI technologies, a passion for innovation, and a commitment to ethical AI practices. You will be responsible for designing, developing, testing, and supporting AI software components, ensuring they meet high standards of performance, scalability, and governance. This position offers a unique chance to contribute to long-term AI strategy and help shape the future of banking through responsible AI innovation.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical foundation combined with innovative thinking and a passion for AI. A minimum of 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 machine learning algorithms, is required. A master’s degree with at least two years of relevant experience is also acceptable. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Go, Scala, or Java is essential. Candidates with extensive experience deploying scalable AI solutions on cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure are preferred. Deep knowledge of AI model training, inference, optimization techniques, and responsible AI practices is highly desirable. The candidate should demonstrate a strong ability to stay current with AI research, translate scientific publications into production-ready solutions, and optimize AI systems for performance and cost-efficiency. Excellent problem-solving skills, the ability to work independently and collaboratively, and a resilient mindset are key qualities for success in this role.

Responsibilities

Partner with cross-disciplinary teams to deliver AI-powered products that enhance both customer experience and internal workflows.

Design, develop, test, and deploy AI software components, including foundation model training, large language model inference, similarity search, guardrails, and model governance.

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

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

Contribute to the technical vision and long-term roadmap of foundational AI systems at Capital One, ensuring alignment with business goals and responsible AI standards.

Conduct experimentation, evaluate models, and implement governance and observability frameworks to ensure AI system reliability and transparency.

Stay abreast of the latest AI research and incorporate innovative techniques into production environments judiciously.

Benefits

Capital One offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the overall well-being of our employees. This includes competitive salary packages, performance-based incentives, and long-term incentives. Our health plans encompass medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with mental health resources. We provide financial wellness programs, retirement savings plans, and paid time off to promote work-life balance. Additionally, employees have access to ongoing professional development opportunities, tuition reimbursement, and a collaborative work environment that fosters innovation and inclusion. We are committed to creating a workplace where diversity is celebrated, and every employee has the opportunity to grow and succeed. Capital One also promotes a flexible work environment, supporting remote work options where applicable, and encourages a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Equal Opportunity

Capital One is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees and applicants are treated with fairness and respect. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. We believe diversity enhances our innovation and performance, and we actively seek to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace and complies with all applicable laws regarding fair employment practices. We welcome qualified applicants from all backgrounds and experiences, and we are dedicated to providing accommodations for individuals with disabilities during the application process.