Edge AI Intern, Summer 2026

About the Opportunity

RBC is leveraging Artificial Intelligence to transform the future of banking. As an Edge AI Intern, you will join a specialized team within RBC SA&I (Solution Acceleration & Innovation) focused on moving high-performance AI models from the cloud to the edge.

This position is ideal for an "Edge AI Expert" in the making-someone deeply interested in model compression, low-latency inference, and privacy-preserving AI architectures. You will help solve critical challenges in running Large Language Models (LLMs) and computer vision models on resource-constrained devices to ensure client data remains secure and local.

What will you do?

• Model Optimization: Research and implement techniques to compress state-of-the-art models (LLMs, CNNs) for edge deployment, utilizing methods such as quantization (INT8, INT4), pruning, and knowledge distillation.
• On-Device Deployment: Prototype and deploy inference engines on local hardware (e.g., mobile CPUs/NPUs, edge servers, or embedded systems) using frameworks like ONNX Runtime, TensorFlow Lite, or ExecuTorch.
• Latency Reduction: Analyze and profile model performance to identify bottlenecks; optimize inference pipelines for real-time financial applications (e.g., fraud detection, biometric authentication).
• Model Partitioning: Experiment with split computing strategies to intelligently divide workload between the edge device and the cloud, balancing bandwidth constraints with computational power.
• Benchmarking: Develop rigorous testing suites to measure power consumption, memory footprint, and inference speed across different hardware targets.

What do you need to succeed?

Must-have:

• Currently enrolled in a Master's program or advanced Undergraduate in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong proficiency in Python and C++ (specifically for high-performance inference).
• Deep understanding of deep learning frameworks (PyTorch or TensorFlow) and their internal mechanics.
• Experience with model compression techniques (Quantization, LoRA, etc.).
• Familiarity with edge inference runtimes (e.g., ONNX, TensorRT, CoreML, or TFLite).

Nice-to-have:

• Research experience or publications in efficient deep learning or systems for ML.
• Experience with LLM inference optimization (e.g., vLLM, llama.cpp).
• Knowledge of hardware-software co-design (understanding how memory hierarchy affects AI performance).
• Previous exposure to the financial industry or privacy-preserving technologies (e.g., Federated Learning).

What's in it for you?

• Impact: Work on "0-to-1" projects where your code could eventually run on the devices of millions of RBC clients.
• Mentorship: Direct access to RBC SA&I researchers and engineers who are deep experts in Edge AI architectures and modelling.
• Community: Participation in the RBC Student Program, including hackathons, executive networking, and technical "lunch and learns."

The expected salary range for this position is ($30 per hour), depending on your experience, skills, and registration status, market conditions and business needs.

RBC's compensation philosophy and principles recognize the importance of a highly qualified global workforce and plays a critical role in attracting, engaging and retaining talent that:

• Drives RBC's high-performance culture

• Enables collective achievement of our strategic goals

• Generates sustainable shareholder returns and above market shareholder value

Job Skills

Additional Job Details

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above

Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment

At RBC, we believe an inclusive workplace that has diverse perspectives is core to our continued growth as one of the largest and most successful banks in the world. Maintaining a workplace where our employees feel supported to perform at their best, effectively collaborate, drive innovation, and grow professionally helps to bring our Purpose to life and create value for our clients and communities. RBC strives to deliver this through policies and programs intended to foster a workplace based on respect, belonging and opportunity for all.

RBC is presently inviting candidates to apply for this existing vacancy. Applying to this posting allows you to express your interest in this current career opportunity at RBC. Qualified applicants may be contacted to review their resume in more detail.