Staff Machine Learning Engineer

Overview

Staff Machine Learning Engineer - Dataset & Training Platform role at Canva. Canva's GenAI Platform Group is responsible for the delivery of Capabilities and Solutions which support ML and AI initiatives, from early ideation and prototyping, through to scaling to meet the needs of millions of Canva users in production. We empower thousands of engineers and product managers to deliver amazing product features which harness the power of cutting-edge technologies.

The Dataset & Training Platform team specifically focuses on the foundational Capabilities that power model training, dataset management, and AI/ML workflows. We're building the infrastructure that enables Canva's AI-first future, supporting everything from generative design models to intelligent automation systems that serve millions of users worldwide.

Where You Can Work

Our flagship campus is in Sydney. We also have a campus in Melbourne and co-working spaces in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. But you have choice in where and how you work — we trust our Canvanauts to choose the balance that empowers them and their team to achieve their goals.

Responsibilities

• Architecting foundational AI Platform capabilities, making key technical decisions that impact how models are trained and deployed across Canva.
• Leading cross-team initiatives to consolidate and improve dataset and training capabilities, working with stakeholders across multiple engineering and research teams.
• Building and maintaining paved roads for high-performance distributed data processing and training systems, optimising for cost efficiency and developer experience.
• Driving technical strategy discussions, weighing platform stability needs against product velocity requirements.
• Mentoring other engineers and contribute to growing Canva's AI platform engineering capabilities.
• Solving complex technical challenges spanning multiple parts of the ML stack.

You're Probably a Match If

• You have over 5 years of experience building and scaling ML training systems, with hands-on experience in distributed training, model lifecycle management, and large-scale data processing.
• You have a proven track record of designing and implementing foundational AI/ML infrastructure that supports multiple teams and use cases.
• You have experience setting technical direction, making architectural decisions, and influencing engineering practices across organisations.
• You possess a strong understanding of distributed computing, container orchestration (Kubernetes), and cloud infrastructure (preferably AWS).
• You are fluent in Python with deep knowledge of ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) and modern tools (W&B, Ray, Anyscale).
• You have a strong understanding of generative AI systems, including LLMs, multimodal models, and foundation model fine-tuning.
• You have the ability to balance long-term platform investments with immediate business needs, making pragmatic technical decisions.
• You have experience working with product teams, research, and other engineering specialties to understand and address diverse technical requirements.
• You have a track record of growing other engineers and contributing to technical culture and standards.
• You have experience with infrastructure-as-code and an understanding of performance optimisation.
• You consider GitOps principles for automation and deployment a plus.

About The Team

Canva's GenAI Platform Group is responsible for the delivery of Capabilities and Solutions which support ML and AI initiatives, from early ideation and prototyping, through to scaling to meet the needs of millions of Canva users in production. We empower thousands of engineers and product managers to deliver amazing product features which harness the power of cutting-edge technologies. Dataset & Training Platform team specifically focuses on the foundational Capabilities that power model training, dataset management, and AI/ML workflows. We're building the infrastructure that enables Canva's AI-first future, supporting everything from generative design models to intelligent automation systems that serve millions of users worldwide.

What's in it for you?

Achieving our crazy big goals motivates us to work hard — and we do — but you'll experience lots of moments of magic, connectivity and fun woven throughout life at Canva, too. We also offer a range of benefits to set you up for every success in and outside of work.

Here's a Taste Of What's On Offer

• Equity packages — we want our success to be yours too
• Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
• An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
• Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and support you personally

Life at Canva: lifeatcanva.com for more info.

What else you should know

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. We celebrate all types of skills and backgrounds at Canva — so even if you don't feel like your skills quite match what's listed above — we still want to hear from you

Please note that interviews are conducted virtually.

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Software Development

Industries: Software Development

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