Applied Researcher in Artificial Intelligence Santander ( 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. This is more than a strategic shift. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels 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. 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. collaborations with academia, and global conference participation. 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. Contribute to open-source initiatives and represent Santander AI Lab in industry and academic forums. At least 3–5 years of experience applying AI/ML in real-world systems, preferably in research-to-production pipelines (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). Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, or related fields. (Postdoctoral research or equivalent industrial research experience in AI will be valued (Preferred). Fluent English, both written and spoken (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). Research mindset. Excellent problem-solving and communication skills, able to work across research and product teams. Global opportunities and broad career paths. Flexible working models—some days remote, some days onsite with your team—along with flexible hours. Access to hundreds of courses on our platforms, including exclusive access to our global learning space: Competitive rewards, including performance-based bonuses. Financial advantages, such as preferential banking terms and special interest rates on loans. Wellbeing programs, including our global wellness programme, BeHealthy. Access to Santander Contigo, our program for employees and their families offering legal, emotional, and administrative advisory services. Extra benefits, such as gym membership, medical centers, meal subsidy, parking, and shuttle service. LOCAL COMPLIANCE: