Senior Research Scientist

Company Description Join the team redefining how the world experiences design.Hey, g'day, mabuhay, kia ora,??, hallo, vítejte
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We know job hunting can be a little time consuming and you're probably keen to find out what's on offer, so we'll get straight to the point.Where and how you can workOur flagship campus is in Sydney, with a second campus in Melbourne and co-working spaces in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Auckland, NZ.
You have flexibility in how and where you work - whether that's from one of our spaces, from home, or a mix of both.
This role is remote-friendly within Australia or New Zealand, so you can choose the setup that empowers you and your team to do your best work.
Job Description About the RoleAt Canva, we're building a future powered by AI that's as magical as it is impactful.
As a Senior Research Scientist, you'll contribute to that future by advancing foundational models and conducting research that delivers practical, scalable impact.
This role combines hands-on model development with collaborative research - from exploring new architectures to supporting product direction through scientific insights.You'll work at the intersection of innovation and impact, contributing to our AI research agenda and helping ensure our work reaches millions of users around the world.What you'll doContribute to research projects that support the development of foundational models across Canva's AI domainsDesign and run experiments to test hypotheses, improve model behavior, and assess real-world performanceTranslate theoretical research and academic papers into robust, production-ready implementations with guidanceHelp develop and refine model architectures and training methodologies to improve outcomesCollaborate closely with ML Engineers to scale models and integrate them into Canva's product ecosystemStay up to date with emerging trends, technologies, and open challenges to inform our research directionShare your knowledge internally through documentation and cross-team collaborations, and externally through papers or talks where appropriateWho you areYou're someone who enjoys working in a dynamic environment, connecting research with product application, and has demonstrated scientific and technical skills.
You can balance long-term thinking with practical delivery, and you're eager to learn from and collaborate with others.We're looking for someone who brings:Solid expertise in machine learning, particularly in areas like LLMs, vision-language models, generative AI, or multi-modal systemsA publication record or evidence of research impact in academia or industryExperience contributing to research projects from problem formulation through to deployment, with support from more senior team membersAbility to turn complex theoretical ideas into tangible solutions, and evaluate them rigorouslyA collaborative mindset - you work well with engineers, product teams, and other researchersWhat you'll learn and how you'll growInvolvement in Canva's AI strategy and foundational model developmentOpportunities to learn from and collaborate with experienced researchersExposure to product impact at a global scale (hundreds of millions of users)Dedicated time for self-driven research exploration and experimentation Additional Information 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 tooInclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carersAn annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & moreFlexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personallyCheck out for more info.Other stuff to knowWe make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture.
We see AI as a powerful amplifier of creativity and technology at Canva.
We're evolving how we assess AI skills in our Technology hiring experience - you'll tackle interactive, real-time challenges that reflect the kind of work we do.
In some interviews, you may also be asked to solve a problem using an AI tool to show how you approach challenges with tech by your side.Please note that interviews are conducted virtually.