Key skills
AI engineeringMachine learning engineeringEnterprise AI solution designLarge language models (LLMs)Generative AI architecturesRetrieval augmented generation (RAG) pipelinesAgent-based AI systemsAI/ML frameworks - PyTorchAI/ML frameworks - TensorFlowAI/ML frameworks - JAXCloud AI platforms - AWS SageMakerCloud AI platforms - Vertex AICloud AI platforms - Azure MLPython programmingJava programmingGo programmingSystem designData engineeringMentorshipPythonJavaGoAIMLGenAIRAGAgenticPyTorchTensorFlowMLOpsJAXData EngineeringAWSAzureVercelSageMakerVertex AILeadershipCommunicationCollaboration
About this role
Dayforce is a global human capital management company headquartered in Toronto and Minneapolis, seeking a Principal AI Engineer to lead the architecture and development of AI solutions. The role involves designing scalable AI systems and collaborating across departments to drive business impact through innovative AI technologies.
Responsibilities:
- Architect and Build AI Solutions
- Design and implement end-to-end AI applications tailored to complex enterprise challenges
- Break down ambiguous use cases into well-defined, actionable solution designs using the latest AI technologies
- Hands-On Development
- Lead the engineering and deployment of AI assistants, agents, and applications using both code-first and low/no-code approaches
- Build scalable, real-time AI systems with optimized performance and low latency
- AI Platform Ownership
- Own and evolve the underlying enterprise AI infrastructure and toolchain
- Evaluate and integrate new AI frameworks, SDKs, and cloud services into the platform
- Experimentation and Innovation
- Rapidly prototype new AI features and solutions; conduct proofs of concept and guide production rollout
- Research and apply cutting-edge techniques in GenAI, LLMs, RAG, agentic workflows, and multi-modal AI
- MLOps & Automation
- Implement robust MLOps pipelines, including model training, deployment, testing, monitoring, and drift detection
- Automate lifecycle workflows to ensure reliability, scalability, and speed
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with product, engineering, data science, and business stakeholders to align AI capabilities with enterprise priorities
- Translate strategic goals into scalable AI solutions that deliver measurable business value
- Governance & Responsible AI
- Champion responsible AI principles, including model interpretability, data privacy, and compliance with security policies
- Mentorship & Leadership
- Serve as a technical mentor and thought leader across AI teams
- Foster a culture of experimentation, excellence, and continuous learning
Requirements:
- 10+ years in software engineering, distributed systems, or enterprise architecture
- 5+ years of experience focused on AI/ML engineering, platforms, or applications
- Experience in a lead role, directing and coaching teams of engineers and analysts
- Strong background in enterprise-grade AI solution design and delivery across multiple domains
- Deep understanding of LLMs, GenAI architectures, RAG pipelines, and agent-based systems
- Hands-on expertise with AI/ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX) and cloud AI platforms (e.g., AWS SageMaker, Vertex AI, Azure ML)
- Proficiency in Python, Java, or Go; strong system design and data engineering skills
- Clear, effective communication skills; ability to influence across technical and executive teams
- Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field
- A systems thinker who can architect, scale, and operationalize AI across a large enterprise
- A hands-on AI engineer who loves building impactful systems
- Experience with developer tools and deployment environments like Replit, Vercel, or custom cloud setups
- A strategic thinker who sees patterns across business and technology
- A collaborative leader who thrives in ambiguity and drives alignment
- A lifelong learner passionate about keeping up with the rapidly evolving AI landscape