Data Scientist

About The Company
We are TRADER, a leading Canadian organization specializing in digital automotive solutions. Our flagship brands include AutoTrader.ca, AutoSync, Dealertrack Canada, and CMS, all dedicated to helping Canadians buy, sell, and finance vehicles with confidence. AutoTrader.ca stands as Canada’s largest automotive marketplace, attracting over 25 million monthly visits. AutoSync provides innovative software solutions to more than 3,500 dealerships, streamlining their operations, marketing, and sales processes. Dealertrack Canada is the top automotive financing portal in the country, processing over 6.5 million credit applications annually. Collateral Management System (CMS) offers comprehensive lien, registration, recovery, and insolvency management solutions for Canadian lenders. As part of the AutoScout24 group, Europe’s largest online car marketplace, we are at the forefront of transforming automotive retail in Canada and beyond. Our mission is to leverage cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions to enhance the automotive buying and selling experience across the nation.
About The Role
We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Data Scientist to join our global Data Science team. In this strategic leadership role, you will drive the development and deployment of advanced AI and machine learning solutions that impact millions of users worldwide. You will be responsible for shaping the organization’s AI vision, identifying transformative opportunities, and leading high-impact projects that enhance our marketplace and fintech platforms. Your expertise will be pivotal in designing scalable ML infrastructure, deploying predictive and generative AI models, and ensuring their long-term performance and compliance. Collaborating closely with product, engineering, and business teams, you will translate complex data science concepts into actionable strategies that deliver measurable business value. This role also involves mentoring data scientists, influencing technical standards across the organization, and exploring innovative applications of GenAI and Large Language Models to stay ahead in the evolving AI landscape. Your leadership will be instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and technical excellence, positioning us as a leader in the automotive digital space.
Qualifications

• Advanced academic credentials in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field
• 10+ years of experience in data science, machine learning, or applied AI with a proven record of high-impact projects in production environments
• Expert-level programming skills in Python and SQL
• Proficiency with leading ML/AI frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn
• Hands-on experience with GenAI and Large Language Models, including tools like Hugging Face, LangChain, and OpenAI APIs
• Deep understanding of machine learning algorithms, model evaluation, explainability, and selection for business-critical applications
• Strong experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS), containerization (Docker), and orchestration tools (Kubernetes, Jenkins, Airflow)
• Proven expertise in MLOps, including CI/CD pipelines, model monitoring, versioning, and automated retraining
• Experience deploying models via APIs (Flask, FastAPI) in real-time and batch processing environments
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders
• Leadership experience in mentoring teams, guiding technical strategy, and advocating best practices in experimentation and ethical AI
• Experience working within agile development frameworks such as Scrum or Kanban

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the strategic vision for Data Science initiatives across the organization, focusing on AI/ML advancements
• Lead the design, development, and deployment of predictive and generative AI models to enhance personalization, pricing, search, and optimization features
• Collaborate with product teams to align AI projects with business objectives and drive product innovation through data-driven experimentation
• Architect and maintain scalable ML infrastructure, automating workflows using cloud-native tools for efficient model training and deployment
• Ensure the robustness, performance, and compliance of AI models through continuous monitoring and governance
• Mentor and develop a high-performing team of data scientists, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning
• Partner with engineering, product, and platform teams to influence architecture, standards, and technical strategies beyond data science
• Act as a technical advisor for complex modeling challenges and critical incident resolution
• Explore and identify high-impact use cases for GenAI, guiding their strategic integration into products and platforms

Benefits

• Employee and Family Assistance Program supporting mental health and well-being
• Participation in virtual wellness events and internal training programs
• Competitive pension plan with a 3% company match
• Income protection options including multiple forms of income protection
• Opportunities for professional growth and development within a dynamic, innovative environment
• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance

Equal Opportunity
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants regardless of race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We believe that diverse teams drive innovation and reflect the communities we serve. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on merit and experience.