Data Platform Lead

The Opportunity

Are you looking for a caring, collaborative, values-driven workplace with inspiring teammates and leaders? Do you have the ambition and desire to be the best and thrive at the most impactful global insurance provider in the world? Look no further than Zurich Canada.  

If you have experience with data engineering, data science, ML engineering, and data platforms, working in a Python, SQL, and Databricks–first environment, we would love to hear from you!

Zurich Canada is currently looking for a Data Platform Lead to join our Data team and help scale machine learning and generative AI capabilities across Zurich Canada. 

Reporting to the Data Platform Leader, you will collaborate closely with US and European Zurich AI teams adapting and operationalizing models developed within the larger organization to meet Canadian business needs while building out local capabilities. This role requires strong ownership, technical depth, and business partnership.

This is a unique opportunity to build your knowledge and experience for the future in a supportive environment where your voice matters. This posting is for a new vacancy. 

Zurich Canada uses artificial intelligence–enabled tools to support certain aspects of the recruitment process, including the initial review and screening of applications. Artificial intelligence is not the sole basis for candidate shortlisting or selection. All hiring decisions are reviewed and made by qualified hiring professionals.

Zurich follows a hybrid work model requiring three days per week of in-person presence, which may include time in the office or market-facing engagements.

What you will do

• Machine Learning & GenAI
  o    Design, build, evaluate, and deploy machine learning models (e.g., forecasting, optimization, classification, personalization) and generative AI solutions.
  o    Leverage foundation models and GenAI platforms (e.g., OpenAI, Amazon Bedrock, Azure equivalents) where appropriate, alongside traditional ML approaches.
  o    Adapt, extend, and productionize models developed by Zurich Group AI teams for local Canadian use cases.
  o    Support the full ML lifecycle: data preparation, feature engineering, training, validation, deployment, and monitoring.
  o    Ensure models meet performance, scalability, and reliability expectations in production.

• Data Platform & Engineering Collaboration
  o    Work closely with Data Engineering to design and optimize ML-ready datasets and feature pipelines on Databricks.
  o    Contribute to the ingestion and processing of large-scale structured and unstructured data using Python and SQL.
  o    Support data architecture evolution to enable efficient ML and GenAI workloads.
  o    Apply strong data modeling and analytics engineering practices to support downstream ML use cases.

• Business Partnership & Ownership
  o    Proactively identify and propose high-value ML and GenAI use cases relevant to Zurich Canada.
  o    Partner with business, product, and engineering stakeholders to translate problems into effective technical solutions.
  o    Take end-to-end ownership of initiatives—from discovery and experimentation through production deployment.
  o    Serve as a trusted thought partner to stakeholders on how ML and GenAI can drive business outcomes.

•  Experimentation & Continuous Improvement
  o    Design and analyze experiments (e.g., A/B testing) to validate models and inform decisions.
  o    Drive continuous improvement of ML workflows through automation, standardization, and innovation.
  o    Champion best practices in applied ML, GenAI, and responsible AI within the data engineering organization.

Job Qualifications - What you bring to the table

Required:
•    6+ years of experience in data science, applied machine learning, or AI product development.
•    Proven track record of shipping ML models into production.
•    Strong proficiency in Python and SQL.
•    Hands-on experience working in Databricks for data processing and ML workloads.
•    Experience across traditional ML and generative AI use cases.
•    Strong understanding of feature engineering, model evaluation, and ML lifecycle management.
•    Ability to work effectively in a platform-centric, engineering-led environment.
•    Excellent communication skills and strong stakeholder partnership abilities.
•    Self-starter mindset with comfort operating in a hybrid, fast-moving, AI-first environment.
 
Preferred:
•    Experience operationalizing shared or centrally developed ML models in a local business context.
•    Familiarity with model monitoring, performance tracking, and retraining strategies.
•    Experience working in regulated industries or enterprise environments.
•    Exposure to responsible AI and model risk considerations.

At Zurich Canada, we are committed to pay equity. We determine compensation based on objective criteria such as skills, experience, and internal equity. The salary range for this position is 95,000 – 145,000. This range reflects the expected pay for the role across Canada and may vary depending on factors like office location, specific responsibilities, and individual qualifications. As required by local law, Zurich provides in good faith a reasonable compensation range, but starting salaries may exceed this range based on a candidate’s skills and experience.

Our Culture

•    At Zurich, we are proud of our culture. We are passionate about Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DIEB). We want you to bring your whole self to work, and we want our employees to be reflective of the communities in which we live and work. Our DIEB initiatives are creating an environment where everyone feels welcome. 
 
•    We have a collaborative culture where diversity of thought is valued. We value your input and strive to give our employees the tools they need to make an impact.  
 
•    We care about our employees’ well-being and offer a comprehensive health/benefits plan with varying levels of coverage to suit your specific needs and a competitive total compensation package. 
 
•    We understand how important it is to rest, recharge and do the things you love. At Zurich, all employees receive a minimum of four weeks of vacation per year to do just that. 
 
•    We also understand that employees require time off for personal reasons. Maybe you have an appointment during a workday, a cultural or religious holiday you would like to observe, or you need time off to focus on your mental health. Zurich employees receive four personal days per year to be used at their discretion.  
 
•    We are committed to continuous improvement and offer access to a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities.  
 
•    We care about our communities. Our communities are where our customers, people, and shareholders live and work. While we can be proud of the contribution Zurich makes through our core business of insurance, we must also give back to our communities through our talent, time and resources. 
 
•    We have won numerous awards for our workplace culture. We are proud to be one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers and to have received Insurance Business Canada’s 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.    

 
Make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us.  

About Us

Zurich Canada is part of the Zurich Insurance Group, a multi-line insurer with approximately 55,000 employees worldwide serving customers in global and local markets. Zurich Canada has been a leading insurance provider serving mid-sized and large companies, including multinational corporations, in the Canadian commercial market for 100 years. With over 650 employees in offices across the country, Zurich offers the global strength of a top insurance provider combined with in-depth knowledge of industries and local markets. Zurich Canada aspires to be risk management professionals’ first choice as their premier partner to help meet the risk challenges of today and tomorrow. Read more at www.zurichcanada.com.