Lead AI Engineer

About the role

About The Company

Capital One is a leading financial services company committed to transforming banking through innovative technology and customer-centric solutions. Renowned for its pioneering use of machine learning and artificial intelligence, Capital One continually strives to enhance the banking experience by offering real-time, personalized services that meet the evolving needs of its customers. With a strong focus on responsible and scalable AI systems, the company invests heavily in cutting-edge infrastructure and top-tier talent to stay at the forefront of technological advancements. Capital One’s mission is to reimagine financial services, making banking more accessible, efficient, and secure for millions of customers worldwide.

About The Role

The Sr. Lead AI Engineer at Capital One plays a pivotal role in driving the development and deployment of advanced AI systems that revolutionize banking operations and customer interactions. This position is integral to the Intelligent Foundations and Experiences (IFX) team, which is responsible for translating the company's AI vision into innovative solutions. The successful candidate will collaborate with cross-functional teams including engineers, research scientists, product managers, and technical program managers to design, develop, and support scalable AI components. These components encompass foundation model training, large language model inference, similarity search, governance, and observability, among others. The role demands a deep technical expertise, a passion for innovation, and a commitment to responsible AI practices to deliver impactful products that enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess a strong educational background with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, AI, Electrical Engineering, or related fields, complemented by extensive experience in AI and ML development. They should have at least 6 years of experience (or 4 years with a Master’s degree) in programming with languages such as Python, Go, Scala, or Java. Experience deploying scalable AI solutions on cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure is highly preferred. Demonstrated leadership in designing, developing, and supporting complex AI systems, along with a solid understanding of state-of-the-art techniques for model optimization, will be advantageous. Excellent communication skills and the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders are essential. Candidates should also have a passion for staying current with AI research and applying innovative techniques responsibly in production environments.

Responsibilities

Partner with multidisciplinary teams to deliver AI-powered products that transform customer interactions and operational workflows within Capital One.

Design, develop, test, and deploy AI software components, including foundation models, large language models, similarity search algorithms, and governance frameworks.

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

Innovate and implement state-of-the-art optimization techniques to enhance the performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency of large-scale AI systems.

Contribute to the technical vision and long-term roadmap for foundational AI systems, ensuring alignment with business objectives and emerging industry trends.

Maintain a focus on responsible AI practices, including model governance, fairness, and observability, to ensure ethical and compliant deployment.

Mentor junior engineers and collaborate with stakeholders to translate complex AI concepts into actionable solutions.

Benefits

Capital One offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support the total well-being of its employees. This includes health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and wellness programs. The company also provides opportunities for professional development, continuous learning, and career advancement. Employees are encouraged to participate in innovative projects that make a meaningful impact on the banking industry. Additionally, Capital One fosters an inclusive and collaborative work environment, promoting diversity and work-life balance. Compensation packages may include performance-based incentives, bonuses, and long-term incentives, depending on the role and location.

Equal Opportunity

Capital One is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. The company does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class under applicable law. Capital One values and promotes a culture of fairness, respect, and opportunity for all employees. The company also complies with all legal requirements related to employment and is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. All employment decisions are made based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.