AI Research Lead - Video & Audio Generation

Summary

Join Canva's team and spearhead AI video generation initiatives as a Research Science Lead. Lead a team of research scientists, bridging groundbreaking research and practical application to create innovative, user-centric AI-driven video tools. Set strategic research direction, coach team members, and ensure research translates into meaningful product capabilities. Champion scientific excellence and scalable impact, integrating cutting-edge AI into user experiences. This hands-on leadership role requires passion for cultivating talent, shaping research vision, and cross-functional collaboration. The role focuses on team leadership, strategic direction, technical oversight, cross-functional collaboration, and thought leadership. Canva offers a remote-friendly work environment within Australia or New Zealand.

Requirements

• Have led research teams in the field of AI video an/or audio generation or related areas
• Possess deep expertise in machine learning techniques pertinent to video synthesis, such as diffusion models and GANs
• Demonstrate a strong track record of translating research into scalable, user-facing products
• Excel in setting strategic research directions and aligning them with business objectives
• Are an effective communicator, capable of articulating complex concepts to diverse stakeholders
• Stay abreast of the latest developments in AI and are passionate about applying them to enhance user experiences

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a team of high-performing research scientists who are advancing the future of AI at scale
• Set strategic research direction, coaching others to deliver impactful scientific contributions, and ensuring the translation of research into meaningful product capabilities
• Champion both scientific excellence and scalable impact, bridging foundational model innovation with real-world deployment across Canva’s platform
• Coaching and mentoring a team of research scientists specializing in video generation
• Defining research agendas aligned with Canva’s product goals, particularly in AI-driven video creation
• Guiding the development of models utilizing diffusion transformers, GANs, and autoregressive architectures for video and audio synthesis
• Partnering with engineering and product teams to integrate research outcomes into Canva’s platform
• Representing Canva in the AI research community through publications, conferences, and open-source contributions

Benefits

• Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
• Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
• An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, home office setup & more
• Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally