Staff AI/ML Data Engineer
Staff AI/ML Data Engineer
Location: Ottawa, ON or Toronto | Hybrid
Department: Engineering
Reports To: Dan Murdock, Director of Engineering
Type: Full-Time
Vacancy Status: This is an active role and we are currently hiring for this position.
About Solink
At Solink, our mission is to safeguard what matters most. We provide businesses with the tools to know sooner and act faster by transforming video security into real-time operational insights.
Our cloud-based platform integrates seamlessly with your existing cameras and systems, turning them into intelligent sensors that detect and interpret key moments. This empowers teams to make data-driven decisions, enhance security, and improve operational efficiency.
Trusted by over 30,000 locations across 32+ countries - including brands like McDonald’s and JYSK - Solink delivers clarity when it counts. Our solutions help businesses reduce shrink, optimize performance, and respond proactively to potential threats.
We're growing rapidly, earning industry recognition, and scaling with purpose. We’ve been recognized by Deloitte’s Fast 50™ and Fast 500™, Business Intelligence Group, and as one of Ottawa’s Best Places to Work. And we’re just getting started!
The Role
On a small, high-velocity Agents team with outsized impact, this role is for a principal-caliber builder who wants to define how production AI systems are measured, improved, and scaled.
You will architect and operate the data and evaluation systems that determine how Solink’s AI Agents behave in the real world. This is not about maintaining pipelines — it’s about defining instrumentation, datasets, evaluation standards, and optimization loops that control model quality, safety, and performance in production.
You will own the full trace → dataset → evaluation → optimization lifecycle. If it affects how agents are measured or improved, it sits in your domain.
This is a high-autonomy, high-leverage role. You are expected to move decisively, make strong architectural calls, and raise the bar for production-grade AI systems across the company.
You will have direct access to the latest AI models and experimentation frameworks, with the mandate to apply them pragmatically in production.
Level III: Owns and scales critical pipelines and evaluation systems independently.
Level IV: Defines company-wide standards for AI data and evaluation, sets architectural direction, and mentors senior engineers across teams.
What You’ll Do
Architect and operate telemetry ingestion and trace systems at production scale
Define dataset versioning and data modeling standards for AI evaluation
Design and enforce evaluation gates that protect model quality in production
Own the reliability, observability, and performance of data and evaluation pipelines
Set platform standards and guide architectural direction across teams
What You Bring
Must-Haves
Significant production data engineering experience in AI or ML-driven systems (batch and streaming at scale)
Deep experience with AWS or GCP data infrastructure and distributed systems
Proven ownership of dataset versioning, schema evolution, and data modeling strategy for AI workloads
Experience building and operating evaluation pipelines for LLM/VLM or other AI systems (deterministic and model-graded)
Strong telemetry, tracing, and observability experience for production AI systems
Strong architectural judgment and end-to-end ownership of AI-facing production systems
Ability to move quickly under ambiguity and make principled trade-offs
Nice-to-Haves
Experience building ML training or feedback pipelines in production
Experience diagnosing and mitigating LLM failure modes (hallucination, drift, latency trade-offs, eval instability)
Experience working in a small, high-velocity startup or AI-first environment
Security Requirements
Candidates must undergo a criminal records check upon hire;
Be a Canadian Citizen (dual citizens included), or eligible to work in Canada;
Be willing to comply with Solink’s own security policies and standards.
Our Values
We do things the Solink way:
Act with URGENCY – Our customers move fast, so we do too.
Deliver with QUALITY – We sweat the details and hold a high bar.
Win with TEAM – No egos. Just outcomes, built together.
Lead with TRUST – We earn it through clarity, consistency, and care.
These aren’t just words—they shape how we hire, lead, and grow.
Why Solink?
We’re not just building tech - we’re building a place where great people do great work.
Clarity and trust: Where the role allows, we support flexibility in how and where work gets done - and we’re upfront about what’s required.
Meaningful equity: Every full-time, permanent employee has a stake in our growth.
Comprehensive benefits: Fully paid health & dental (no waiting period) + $500 health spending account for full-time, permanent Solink employees.
Wellness support: Monthly reimbursement for fitness, wellness, or mental health programs for all Solink employees.
Growth through merit: Advancement is based on contribution, initiative, and the ability to raise the bar - together.
Candid culture: Clear expectations, honest feedback, and no politics.
Social connection: From So-learns to Solink-o and So-lunches, we stay connected in ways that actually feel fun.
What to Expect from the Hiring Process
We respect your time and value transparency. Here’s what to expect:
Intro call with our Talent Team
Interview with the Hiring Manager
Role-relevant task or case (if applicable)
Final interviews with cross-functional team members
Offer & onboarding 🎉
How to Apply
Submit your resume and a short cover letter via our [Careers Page]. Let us know what excites you about this role, and how you’d help move Solink forward.
Solink is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you require accommodation during the selection process, please let us know.