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Santander AI Labs is looking for a SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE based out of MADRID .
Your goal will be to advance state-of-the-art AI research in fields such as machine learning, natural language processing, information retrieval, computer vision, reinforcement learning, and intelligent agents — and to apply these innovations to transform the future of banking.
We're shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting-edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas. To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:
Responsibilities Stay at the frontier of AI advances and disseminate knowledge across Santander's global technology and data community.
Conduct cutting-edge research in AI/ML with the freedom to publish in top-tier conferences and journals (NeurIPS, ICML, ACL, CVPR, KDD, etc.).
Design, prototype, and validate novel algorithms and models in areas including large language models, generative AI, multi-agent systems, and autonomous decision-making.
Ensure that AI solutions are ethical, sustainable, and aligned with responsible AI principles.
Collaborate with applied researchers, scientists, ML engineers, and product teams to scale research into production-ready solutions for financial services.
Develop novel algorithms, models, and prototypes in areas such as large language models, agentic AI, information retrieval, and computer vision.
Contribute to the lab's long-term moonshot projects, driving innovation in autonomous banking, financial knowledge systems, and AI governance.
Mentor PhD students, interns, and junior researchers in developing advanced AI methods.
What You'll Bring The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Professional Experience At least 5 years of research experience in AI, machine learning, deep learning, NLP, computer vision, information retrieval, reinforcement learning, or related areas (Required).
Experience publishing in top AI conferences or journals (Required).
Proven experience in developing prototypes and validating novel techniques on large-scale datasets (Required).
Experience working in research labs, advanced R&D teams, or innovation units with a strong techno-scientific focus (Required).
Research Background: Strong publication record in top-tier AI/ML/NLP/CV/IR venues (Required).
Experience collaborating with academic institutions, research consortia, or open-source AI communities. (Preferred).
Experience with high-risk data like financial data, risk modeling, or large-scale information retrieval (Preferred).
Prior work in agentic AI, autonomous systems, or human-in-the-loop ML (Preferred).
Education Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, or related fields (Required).
Postdoctoral research or equivalent industrial research experience in AI will be valued (Preferred).
Languages Fluent English, both written and spoken (Required).
Hard Skills Technical Expertise: Deep learning architectures (transformers, diffusion models, multi-agent RL). Large-scale training, optimization, and evaluation (Required).
Strong programming skills in Python and ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX) (Required).
Soft Skills Creativity. Research mindset. Passion for pushing the boundaries of AI technology will be highly valued.
WE VALUE YOUR IMPACT Your contribution matters, and it's recognized. You can expect a fair, competitive reward package that reflects the impact you create and the value you deliver. But rewards go beyond numbers.
We enable our teams to go beyond through global opportunities and broad career paths.
Flexibility that works. Hybrid working model—some days remote, some days onsite—with flexible hours.
Learning for life. Access hundreds of courses on our platforms, including exclusive access to Santander Open Academy (www.santanderopenacademy.com).
Competitive rewards. Highly competitive salary with performance-based bonuses.
Financial advantages. Preferential banking terms, special interest rates on loans, life insurance, and more.
Health and wellbeing. BeHealthy global wellness programme for holistic wellbeing.
Family support. Childcare assistance and family-friendly programmes.
Employee support. Santander Contigo program offering legal, emotional, and administrative advisory services.
Additional benefits. Gym/WellHub membership, medical centers in facilities, meal subsidy, parking, shuttle service in Madrid, exclusive employee discounts, and more.
LOCAL COMPLIANCE Santander is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We provide an inclusive and accessible application process for all candidates.
What To Do Next If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply.
Seniority level Mid-Senior level
Employment type Full-time
Job function Finance, Analyst, and Information Technology
Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain
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