Canva · 2 days ago
Staff Research Scientist - Video & Audio Generative AI
San Francisco, CA
Full-time
Hybrid
Lead/Staff
$280K/yr - $330K/yrCanva is a company focused on redefining design experiences through innovative AI solutions. As a Staff Research Scientist, you will lead high-impact research initiatives in foundational models, translating theoretical research into practical applications that impact millions of users globally.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Graphic DesignPhoto EditingPublishingSoftwareWeb Design
Responsibilities
Lead high-impact research initiatives that drive the development of foundational models across Canva’s AI domains
Design and execute experiments to validate hypotheses, optimize model behavior, and measure real-world performance
Translate theoretical research and papers into robust, production-ready implementations
Develop novel model architectures and training methodologies that advance state-of-the-art outcomes
Partner closely with ML Engineers to scale models and integrate them into Canva’s product ecosystem
Shape our research roadmap by identifying emerging trends, technologies, and open challenges
Share your knowledge internally through documentation and cross-team collaborations, and externally through papers or talks where appropriate
Qualification
Required
Deep & demonstrated expertise in machine learning and foundational model development -particularly in areas like LLMs, vision-language models, generative AI, or multi-modal systems
Experience in developing and deploying generative AI models for video synthesis and audio generation
A strong publication record or evidence of research impact in industry
Experience owning research strategy and execution end-to-end — from problem formulation through to real-world deployment
Proficiency in turning complex theoretical ideas into something tangible, and evaluating them with rigor
Collaborative mindset — you work exceptionally well with engineers, product teams, and other researchers
Benefits
Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
Health benefits plans to support you and your wellbeing
401(k) retirement plan with company contribution
Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally
Company
Canva
Canva is an online design and visual communication platform that provides design tools for non-designers.
Founded in 2013
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Canva has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (4)
2024 (4)
2023 (1)
2022 (3)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$2.51BKey Investors
FidelityQuadrant Private EquityStack Capital
2025-08-20Secondary Market
2024-10-31Secondary Market
2024-05-02Secondary Market· $328.51M
Leadership Team
Melanie Perkins
CEO & Co-founder
Cameron Adams
Co-founder & Chief Product Officer
Recent News
Crunchbase News
2026-01-06
felicis.com
2025-12-30
Company data provided by crunchbase