Senior Research Engineer - Video

About the role

In your role as Senior Research (Machine Learning) Engineer, you’ll be at the heart of our mission to make advanced machine learning design tools easy for everyone to use. Your work will help create new features that make it simpler and more fun for Canva users to bring their ideas to life. By developing and integrating cutting‑edge technologies, you’ll enhance user experiences, drive Canva’s growth, and keep us at the forefront of the design industry. Together, we’ll make a real impact and shape the future of design.

Key responsibilities

• Partner with research scientists on multimodal generative AI, translating theory into practical applications.
• Port experimental Python code to scalable, testable, production‑grade solutions, including performance benchmarks and robust testing.
• Design, develop, and implement innovative model architectures and algorithms for multimodal design generation.
• Build sustainable ML pipelines that support CI/CD, deployment, and monitoring of generative models in production environments.
• Optimize and scale models for efficiency, latency, and throughput across large distributed systems.
• Enhance and maintain high‑quality datasets and annotations to fuel multimodal learning.
• Investigate and address production incidents through root‑cause analysis and sustainable fixes.
• Collaborate closely with cross‑functional stakeholders across Canva to build aligned, technically feasible, high‑impact solutions.

Qualifications & skills

• Deep experience developing generative AI models (Diffusion, GANs, Transformers) and real‑world application knowledge.
• Proven track record managing and optimizing large‑scale distributed training (e.g., hundreds of GPUs) and understanding infrastructure trade‑offs.
• Strong grasp of ML principles and proficiency with PyTorch for developing and optimizing performant models.
• Solid engineering practices – clean code, rigorous testing, CI/CD workflows, and robust observability in production.
• Thrives in ambiguity, demonstrates end‑to‑end ownership of complex initiatives, and consistently drives pragmatic solutions.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and a commitment to knowledge sharing and co‑creation across teams.

Benefits & compensation

• Equity packages that align your success with Canva’s.
• Inclusive parental leave policy supporting all parents and carers.
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support well‑being, social connection, and home‑office setup.
• Flexible leave options that empower you to recharge and support you personally.

We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills, and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture. When you apply, please tell us the pronouns you use and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process. Please note that interviews are predominantly conducted virtually. Check out lifeatcanva.com for more information.