Senior AI/ML Scientist - Search, Faire, Kitchener-Waterloo

AI Summary

Faire is hiring a Senior Applied AI/ML Scientist for their Kitchener-Waterloo, ON team. This pivotal role focuses on shaping the technical vision and machine-learning algorithm strategy for advanced search and recommendation systems. Key duties involve integrating large language models and deep learning to deliver hyper-relevant product experiences for retailers around the globe. Successful applicants will possess 4+ years of experience building large-scale ML systems, with at least two years specifically in search or recommendation.

About the Role at Faire

Faire, a leading technology wholesale platform, is dedicated to empowering independent retailers around the globe by connecting them with exceptional products. The company leverages the power of tech, data, and machine learning to transform a historically fragmented market, helping local boutiques discover the best items to sell in their stores. As a Senior Applied AI/ML Scientist on the Search group, you will play a crucial role in advancing real-time Search and Recommendation systems, which are vital growth levers for Faire. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence end-to-end personalization in a high-scale, deeply multi-modal environment. You will work at the frontier of algorithms, combining large language models, natural-language processing, query understanding, deep learning, transformer-based sequential modeling, graph neural networks, and structured behavioral data to ensure hyper-relevant, personalized products and brands are returned for every user query. This is a chance to truly help shape the future of e-commerce discovery.

Key Responsibilities and Qualifications

In this dynamic role, you will contribute significantly to Faire's next-generation Search engine. This involves integrating advanced techniques such as LLMs, query understanding, dense-vector retrieval, deep personalization embeddings, multi-stage ranking, and reinforcement learning to serve personalized product feeds with sub-100 ms latency. You will design and productionize natural-language search and discovery systems, enabling intelligent agents to generate relevant collections, explain search results, and assist retailers with browsing and evaluation. Leading model development and GPU-based deployment efforts, leveraging frameworks like Triton to scale inference reliably and efficiently, will be a core part of your contribution. Furthermore, you will share best practices around model development, agent-workflow evaluation, and MLOps, helping teammates level up through code reviews and technical guidance.

To succeed, applicants should bring 4+ years of experience building large-scale ML systems, including at least two years of specific experience in search, recommendation, or ads ranking. Hands-on experience with deep-learning libraries like PyTorch and vector-search infrastructure such as Faiss, ScaNN, or Pinecone is essential. A strong record of productionizing models that blend LLMs with structured features to drive personalization is required. The ideal candidate will possess a product-focused mindset, a bias toward execution, strong Python skills, and deep respect for system reliability. Excellent communication and cross-functional influence are also key. The competitive pay for this role in Canada ranges from $168,000 to $231,000 per year, alongside equity and comprehensive benefits. Faire uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to screen and select applicants for this position, ensuring a streamlined process.

Working at Faire: Culture and Benefits

Faire fosters an environment where employees are equipped to scale and move fast, owning meaningful problems that serve customers around the globe. The company invests in the latest enterprise AI tools to help its team work smarter and achieve more every day. You will join a team of sharp, kind, and generous colleagues who are passionate about their craft and committed to helping each other grow. Faire offers real rewards, including competitive pay, equity, and comprehensive benefits designed to support your life both inside and outside of work. The company is intentional about building an environment of belonging, ensuring every Faire employee has equal access to opportunities, growth, and success. Faire operates a hybrid work model, with employees attending the Kitchener-Waterloo office three days per week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and a flexible third day), alongside the flexibility to work remotely for up to four weeks per year. This setup provides a balanced approach to collaboration and personal flexibility.