Data Scientist, Sr

About The Company

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization dedicated to helping individuals, families, and communities achieve lifetime financial security. With a rich history of innovation and a commitment to client-centric solutions, Sun Life offers a comprehensive range of insurance, wealth management, and asset management services. Our global presence spans multiple countries, and we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace that encourages continuous learning, collaboration, and excellence. At Sun Life, we believe in leveraging the latest technology and data-driven insights to deliver personalized and impactful financial solutions, making a meaningful difference in the lives of our clients worldwide.

About The Role

Within Sun Life's Corporate IT team, we are seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist with strong expertise in Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) to join our innovative data science division. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in transforming how we utilize data, analytics, and AI to enhance our client‑centric approach. As a key member of the team, you will be responsible for accelerating the development and deployment of advanced analytics and generative AI systems that drive tangible business value across the organization. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of AI technology, designing solutions that create human-like content, automate complex tasks, and improve decision-making processes. You will collaborate closely with business stakeholders to translate strategic goals into technical solutions, contribute to our growing AI community, and help shape the future of AI-driven financial services at Sun Life.

Qualifications

• BSc or M.S. in a statistical, mathematical, computer science, or related technical field, or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 3+ years experience in developing and implementing data science techniques
• Proven expertise of 3+ years in developing generative AI systems, working with large language models (LLMs), and optimizing AI performance
• Proficiency in SQL and programming languages such as Python or R
• Experience with cloud platforms, particularly AWS services including SageMaker
• Strong knowledge of machine learning methodologies, including supervised and unsupervised models
• Hands-on experience with data transformation, manipulation, and working with both structured and unstructured data
• Familiarity with big data technologies like Hadoop, HDFS, Hive, HBase, and Spark
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present insights effectively to stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and mentor junior team members

Responsibilities

• Engage with business stakeholders to understand strategic goals and translate them into analytical problems and AI solutions
• Develop and deploy AI/ML data science products, with a specific focus on generative AI systems and large language models
• Apply advanced data science techniques, including descriptive analytics, predictive modeling, and machine learning algorithms
• Design, implement, and optimize generative AI solutions capable of producing human-like content and solving complex problems autonomously
• Ensure AI models are performant, scalable, and ethically responsible by addressing bias and fairness considerations
• Guide feature engineering, model training, evaluation, and deployment processes to maximize model effectiveness
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to various business units and present findings clearly and effectively
• Contribute to the growth and development of the data science and AI community within Sun Life through knowledge sharing and collaboration

Benefits

• Competitive salary within the range of 90,000 to 140,000 CAD, commensurate with experience and location
• Participation in incentive plans based on individual and company performance
• Flexible hybrid work arrangements combining office and remote work options
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning
• Supportive and inclusive workplace culture that values diversity and innovation
• Access to cutting-edge AI tools and technologies to advance your expertise

Equal Opportunity

Sun Life is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that diversity drives innovation and reflects the communities we serve. We provide accommodations for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.