Director, AI Technology

We are currently seeking a Director, AI Technology to join our team.

The Director, AI Technology provides technical leadership for the design, development, and delivery of advanced AI capabilities across the organization. This role leads the evolution of AI‑enabled systems—including intelligent automation, agentic AI experiences, retrieval‑based intelligence, and secure AI application components—ensuring solutions are scalable, safe, compliant, and aligned with business strategy.

Here's what would be included as a part of your typical day

1. AI Technology Strategy & Architecture: Define the reference architecture for the AI technology components, including development tools and best practices (multi‑agent orchestration, RAG pipelines, tool interfaces, policy enforcement layers). Makes recommendations on models, retrieval, observability, and rollout patterns to meet reliability, safety, and compliance requirements.
2. Technical Leadership & Mentoring: Provide day‑to‑day technical leadership to AI engineers; run design reviews, provide feedback and coaching. Establish reusable libraries, templates, and standards align to overall Enterprise Architecture and build a culture of engineering rigor and continuous learning.
3. Delivery & Roadmap Alignment: Translate ideas and opportunities into executable AI technology solutions. Prioritize work across team members and ensure dependencies across data, platform, and application teams are resolved. 
4. Hands-On Engineering: Contribute sleeves‑rolled‑up to complex components (e.g., multi‑agent planning, high‑risk RAG flows, performance tuning, observability). Troubleshoot production issues and participate in incident response and post‑mortems activities.
5. Enterprise AI Ecosystems: Leads the build, implementation, and optimization of AI technology components. Creates, delivers, and supports the handover of solutions, tools, and integrations with the appropriate IT support groups and resources. Develops processes around AI technology consumption, usage, and access.
6. Team Support and Collaboration: Work closely with internal IT groups, including Cyber Security, Data, Cloud Infrastructure, Architecture, Software Development, and IT Operations to ensure successful, secure, and scalable operationalization of AI technology solutions. Partner with business stakeholders, product teams, and subject-matter experts to ensure AI solutions are aligned with desired business outcomes and deliver measurable value.
7. Risk and Compliance: Maintains compliance with audit and risk management requirements. Stays familiar with guidelines from regulatory bodies such as OSFI and FCAC. Assists IT leaders in identifying risks and opportunities.
8. Research & Continuous Improvement: Monitor AI technology solutions, frameworks, and governance trends. Evaluate platform and vendor capabilities and recommend upgrades or deprecations as needed. Measure gains in performance, reliability, and cost.

Required Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, or related field (Master's an asset).
• 8 years of experience in software engineering, AI engineering, or advanced technical roles, with at least 3–5 years in technical leadership, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience designing and delivering production AI systems in enterprise environments (financial services experience preferred)
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong planning and project management skills.
• Experience with interpreting and authoring software architecture documents.
• Ability to think both strategically and tactically.
• High-energy, "can-do" attitude with strong relationship-building skills.
• Deep understanding of industry trends and client needs.
• Expertise in modern AI engineering patterns (e.g., retrieval‑augmented intelligence, agentic workflows, prompt and reasoning design, secure model integration).
• Strong grounding in cloud architecture, identity/security best practices, and application observability.
• Ability to mentor engineers and elevate the technical bar across the team.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and mentoring skills.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on implementation.
• Displays an understanding of risk and risk ownership by being able to demonstrate adherence to policies and procedures.

What's in it for you:

First, we strive to make our team members feel genuinely rewarded. You'll have: 

• Mental health coverage and resources 
• Customizable health benefits, as well as topped-up parental leave 
• Performance-based compensation, employee banking advantages and group RRSP matching 
• Vacation time and flexible work arrangements to support your lifestyle 

We are committed to providing a fair, equitable, and competitive rewards package that reflects the value an individual brings to our organization. The compensation mentioned in this job posting should serve as a guide. The total cash compensation earned may vary based on a variety of factors including bonuses and/or incentives, an individual's skills and experience, and may correlate with performance in the role.

We also provide and encourage opportunities for our employees to make a meaningful impact. After all, as a credit union we're powered by giving back—in big ways and through small gestures. That's why we offer employees paid time off to volunteer, partner with thousands of local charities, build long-lasting relationships that help our members get ahead and commit to environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. 

By joining our team, you'll be able to elevate your potential. Wherever your own purpose leads, we're here to support you with award-winning in-house training programs, access to LinkedIn Learning, and reimbursement for external courses to help you get ahead.

Take the next step in your career as part of our team. Apply for this opportunity 

 Candidates, please note: if you are being considered for this role, you will be required to complete a background check, such as employment verification, credit check and criminal record check. 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

At First West Credit Union, we embrace diversity regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnicity, age, diverse ability, and any aspect that makes someone unique. Inclusion is woven through our organization, from our employee-led network groups, hiring practices and education programs that address barriers and continually grow our equitable, diverse and inclusive culture.  

We encourage people who are from equity-deserving groups to apply for a career with us, including women or non-binary people, persons with diverse abilities, Black, Indigenous Peoples, People of Colour and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

 If an accommodation would help you during the process of applying or interviewing for a career with us, please let us know how we can assist you, whether it's preparing materials in an alternate format, booking an accessible meeting room or other arrangement. 

Your individuality is welcome here. 

About Us 

We're a financial cooperative that does things differently. We provide time-tested advice that helps our members feel optimistic about their future, and we offer comprehensive banking solutions that enable people to confidently reach their goals. With the financial strength and extended branch network of a large financial institution, we maintain local connections to our communities and take a unique grassroots approach to service. Our more than 250,000 members and approximately 1,250 employees operate from 45 branches throughout the province of BC, under the Envision Financial, Valley First, Island Savings and Enderby & District Financial brands. Visit for more information on First West Credit Union. 

Please know we appreciate your interest in us but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.