Overview
Join to apply for the
Applied Researcher in Artificial Intelligence
role at
Santander. Santander (www.santander.com) is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organization, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference. Our mission is to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management. Our Chief Data & Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAIO) division is building a world-class AI & Data team to make a difference in the lives of over 170 million people worldwide, through one of the largest banks in the world. We are undergoing one of the biggest transformations in our history and technology is at the heart of our strategy. Join our team to play a part in one of the most important technological projects for the financial sector in the world. THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE Santander AI Labs is looking for an
APPLIED RESEARCHER IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
based out of
MADRID. At Santander AI Lab, we are building the world’s leading financial AI research hub — a place where science, technology, and impact converge. Our mission is to redefine the future of banking through frontier AI research. We bring together researchers, engineers, and innovators from across the globe to pioneer breakthroughs in large language models, agentic AI, reinforcement learning, autonomous systems, and responsible AI governance. We create not just incremental improvements, but moonshot innovations that transform how millions of people interact with their money, businesses, and society. You will join a world-class team with access to proprietary financial datasets, high-performance computing infrastructure, and partnerships with top universities and research institutes worldwide. We actively support publishing in top-tier venues (NeurIPS, ICML, ACL, CVPR, KDD, etc.), collaborations with academia, and global conference participation. 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
Adapt and fine-tune cutting-edge AI models (LLMs, NLP, IR, CV, multi-agent RL) to Santander’s real-world use cases. Build end-to-end prototypes that demonstrate the feasibility of frontier AI methods in banking applications (fraud detection, credit risk, digital onboarding, autonomous finance). Collaborate with Research Scientists to operationalize novel algorithms into production-ready pipelines. Work closely with ML engineers, product managers, and business stakeholders to ensure research transitions into products and services at global scale. Evaluate trade-offs between accuracy, efficiency, interpretability, and compliance, ensuring alignment with Responsible AI principles. Stay updated on recent AI advances and rapidly integrate breakthroughs into experimental prototypes. Contribute to open-source initiatives and represent Santander AI Lab in industry and academic forums. What You’ll Bring
Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organization. We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they 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 3–5 years of experience applying AI/ML in real-world systems, preferably in research-to-production pipelines (Required). Strong track record of building prototypes and models that made it into production or influenced product decisions (Required). Familiarity with large-scale datasets, cloud platforms, and MLOps practices (Required). Experience working in AI labs, R&D teams, or advanced analytics units (Required). Background in financial data, risk modeling, fraud detection, or recommendation systems (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
Strong applied knowledge of deep learning architectures (transformers, CNNs, GNNs, RL) (Required). Hands-on experience with large language models (LLMs), fine-tuning, and prompt engineering (Required). Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX) (Required). Experience with cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP) and MLOps pipelines (Docker, Kubernetes, MLflow) (Required). Ability to adapt and scale research models into enterprise systems (Required). Understanding of Responsible AI and compliance requirements in applied AI (Required). Soft Skills
Creativity. Research mindset. Passion for pushing the boundaries of AI technology will be highly valued. Excellent problem-solving and communication skills, able to work across research and product teams. Benefits
We value your impact and offer a fair, competitive reward package that reflects the impact you create and the value you deliver, plus rewards go beyond numbers. Global opportunities and broad career paths. Hybrid working model with some days remote and some onsite, plus flexible hours. Learning opportunities with access to Santander Open Academy. Competitive rewards with performance-based bonuses. Financial advantages including preferential banking terms and life insurance. Healthcare and wellness programs through BeHealthy and related initiatives. Family support such as childcare resources and family-friendly programs. Employee and family support services through Santander Contigo (legal, emotional, and administrative advisory). Additional benefits including gym/membership, meal subsidies, parking, shuttle service in Madrid, and exclusive employee discounts. Local Compliance
Santander is proud to be an equal-opportunity organization. We provide an inclusive and accessible application process for all candidates regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion, or sexual orientation. What To Do Next
If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply. READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR JOURNEY? Seniority level
Mid-Senior level Employment type
Full-time Job function
Finance, Analyst, and Information Technology We’re here to keep you motivated, help you reach your goals, and celebrate your progress every step of the way.
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