Staff AI Engineer, Agent Orchestration

Cookunity5 days ago

Toronto, Ontario

CA$200,000 - CA$220,000/annual

Staff

full_time

Health insurance coverage

Stock options granted Day 1

Bi-annual performance bonus

About CookUnity Food has lost its soul to modern convenience. And with it, it has lost the power to nourish, inspire, and connect us. So in 2018, CookUnity was founded as the first-of-its-kind platform that connects the world with the source of truly great food: chefs. Today, CookUnity delivers 50 million meals a year from the industry's best chefs to homes all over the country. Fresh. Ready-to-eat. And crafted with the passion that nourishes body and soul.

Unwilling to stop there, CookUnity is expanding beyond delivery to become an ever-innovating marketplace focused on our singular mission: empower Chefs to nourish the world. If that mission has you hungry in more ways than one, you've found the right job posting.

The Role As the Head of AI/ML/GenAI, you will lead a high-performing team of AI/ML engineers, and embedded data engineers. You will be responsible for driving the vision and strategy for CookUnity's AI/ML/ GenAI initiatives, data infrastructure, and community-driven engineering efforts. This is a unique opportunity to build and scale state-of-the-art AI/ML solutions that fuel growth and innovation within the company, while fostering a collaborative environment that leverages the expertise of engineers across various domains.

This role reports directly to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), working closely with senior leadership to align AI/ML strategy with the overall business vision.

A key focus of this role will be accelerating the adoption and integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI (GenAI) technologies across CookUnity, enabling innovative product features and internal efficiencies.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management:
• Lead, mentor, and develop a cross-functional AI/ML team, including data engineers and embedded data engineers.
• Foster a community-driven culture that encourages knowledge sharing, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Align team objectives with broader company goals, ensuring that projects are executed effectively and efficiently.
• AI/ML Strategy & Implementation:
• Drive the development of scalable AI/ML solutions that support both operational and strategic goals at CookUnity.
• Develop and implement machine learning models that improve customer personalization, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.
• Lead the integration and adoption of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI (GenAI) to enhance product features, improve customer experience, and accelerate business growth.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging AI/ML technologies, including LLMs and GenAI, and apply relevant innovations to solve complex problems.
• Data Infrastructure & Architecture:
• Oversee the architecture of CookUnity's data pipelines, ensuring they are robust, scalable, and efficient to support machine learning, analytics, and GenAI model deployments.
• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of data processing, including ingestion, storage, transformation, and analytics.
• Collaborate with the infrastructure team to ensure data platforms are optimized for performance, reliability, and security.
• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Partnerships:
• Work closely with product, engineering, and business teams to understand their data needs and deliver impactful solutions.
• Drive the integration of embedded data engineering into core product development cycles.
• Engage with senior leadership to align AI/ML strategies with broader company initiatives and business outcomes.
• Community & Knowledge Sharing:
• Establish and nurture a community of AI/ML experts across CookUnity to share best practices, solve challenges, and promote innovation.
• Spearhead internal forums, workshops, and seminars to accelerate the adoption of LLMs and GenAI, ensuring that team members are up to speed with new technologies and trends.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and ensure the team is equipped to leverage the latest advancements in AI/ML.
• Reporting & Analytics:
• Define and implement key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the success of AI/ML and GenAI solutions.
• Present regular updates to the executive team, including the CTO, on project progress, challenges, and opportunities related to AI/ML and GenAI adoption.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in AI/ML, data engineering, or related fields, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional teams in an agile environment, with a strong ability to balance technical execution and strategic vision.
• Expertise in machine learning algorithms, data pipelines, and AI/ML model deployment at scale.
• Solid understanding of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI (GenAI), and how to integrate these technologies into business operations.
• Strong understanding of cloud technologies (AWS, GCP, Azure) and modern data stack solutions (e.g., Apache Kafka, Snowflake, Redshift).
• Deep knowledge of data engineering best practices, including ETL processes, data warehousing, and data governance.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to drive change, inspire innovation, and foster a collaborative and results-driven team environment.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience with embedded data engineering, working closely with product development teams.
• Familiarity with data privacy and security regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
• Background in food-tech, consumer goods, or related industries.

Learn More About CookUnity We believe great leadership starts with alignment on vision, values, and ways of working. To give you deeper insight into who we are and what we're looking for, we invite you to explore: CookUnity's Leadership Principles – The values and behaviors that guide how we operate, collaborate, and scale.

We hope this provides valuable insight into our culture and product vision. If this excites you, we'd love to connect

Benefits Health Insurance coverage

We grow, you grow: Stock Options Plan granted on Day 1

Eligible for a bi-annual performance bonus

• Unlimited PTO

5- year Sabbatical: After 5 years with CookUnity, you get a 4-week paid sabbatical

Paid Family leave

Compassionate Leave: 3-5 days each time the need arises

A generous amount of CookUnity credits to enjoy our amazing meals, added to your account, monthly

• Wellness perks: access to a nutritional coach and fitness subsidies to build a healthy lifestyle

‍ Personalized Spanish coach

Awesome opportunity to join a company that is looking to change how we eat and how chefs work

Compensation All final pay rates will be determined by candidates experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Pay Range for this position

$200,000—$220,000 CAD

If you're interested in this role, please submit your application and if we think you might be a fit, we'll get in touch with you. Thank you for your time

CookUnity is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are dedicated to creating a community of inclusion and an environment free from discrimination or harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or physical or mental disability.

Restaurants

CookUnity is a chef-to-you marketplace connecting talented chefs with consumers, revolutionizing meal delivery. We bring small-batch, restaurant-quality meals to eaters nationwide, crafted by a diverse collective of all-star chefs. With over 100 inspired chefs from cities like NYC, LA, Austin, and more, our weekly subscription offers a wide range of hand-crafted meals to cater to various palates and dietary preferences.

By delivering over 1 million meals per month, we're also empowering working chefs, tripling their income, and supporting their growth. CookUnity believes in fueling stronger communities, partnering with Food Bank For New York City to combat food insecurity across all five boroughs.