Staff AI Engineer

Tower Research Capital is a leading quantitative trading firm founded in 1998. Tower has built its business on a high-performance platform and independent trading teams. We have a 25+ year track record of innovation and a reputation for discovering unique market opportunities.

Tower Research Ventures (TRV), the venture arm of Tower Research Capital, is dedicated to building and investing in category-defining companies with the same enthusiasm and discipline that Tower applies to public markets. We closely partner with our portfolio companies, offering a diverse set of business, technical, and financial expertise to help them reach their goals, from product development to business growth and beyond.

We are seeking a
Staff AI Engineer
to join our internal team, driving foundational engineering efforts with a focus on vertical AI applications. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for designing, building, and launching core products from the ground up within a fast-paced environment. This position is tailored for engineers with a passion for building, particularly those experienced in machine learning (ML) engineering and early-stage startup environments.

Responsibilities:

• Acting as a 'zero to one' engineer, building out core features and infrastructure for new products
• Establishing and maintaining a technical roadmap for projects
• Evaluating the technical feasibility and scalability of product features
• Leading and building out the engineering side of the organization as needed
• Mentoring and collaborating with new team members as the engineering team grows

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field
• Strong technical background with 6+ years of engineering experience
• Eagerness to work across diverse tech stacks and influence the trajectory of early-stage ventures
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with investors, founders and product managers to initiate and drive projects
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Preferred Qualifications (not required)::

• Prior experience as an early employee for a tech startup.

• Expertise in at least one area of applied AI, such as:

• Computer Vision

• Language Modeling
• Reinforcement Learning

• Generative Modeling (e.g. image, video, audio)

• Experience building user-facing applications, which may include:

• Back-end API development

• Front-end or full-stack web development
• Mobile app development

Why Join?

• High-Impact, Fast-Paced Environment: This is the ideal role for engineers who thrive on variety, problem-solving and rapid execution. You'll get to prototype, iterate and deploy real-world solutions quickly, ensuring constant learning and engagement
• Resource-Rich with Startup Agility: Benefit from the backing of Tower Research Capital, gaining access to deep technical expertise, financial support and a network of top-tier engineers and founders—all while working in an agile, fast-moving startup-style environment
• Collaborative Culture: Work alongside curious, driven and highly collaborative engineers, researchers, product managers and entrepreneurs who are passionate about solving complex problems and building category-defining companies
• Growth Opportunity: Play a foundational role in shaping the technical direction and culture of a rapidly growing team. As an early team member, you'll have significant impact on the product, technology and team.

If you're an engineer who loves building from scratch and working on high-impact projects, TRV offers an unparalleled opportunity to do just that.

Anticipated annual base salary range $175,000 - $250,000, plus eligible for discretionary bonus.

Benefits
Tower's headquarters are in the historic Equitable Building, right in the heart of NYC's Financial District and our impact is global, with over a dozen offices around the world.

At Tower, we believe work should be both challenging and enjoyable. That is why we foster a culture where smart, driven people thrive – without the egos. Our open concept workplace, casual dress code, and well-stocked kitchens reflect the value we place on a friendly, collaborative environment where everyone is respected, and great ideas win.

Our benefits include:

• Generous paid time off policies
• Savings plans and other financial wellness tools available in each region
• Hybrid working opportunities
• Free breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily
• Company-sponsored sports teams and fitness events (JPM Corporate Challenge, Cycle for Survival, Wall Street Rides FAR and more)
• Volunteer opportunities and charitable giving
• Social events, happy hours, treats, and celebrations throughout the year
• Workshops and continuous learning opportunities

At Tower, you'll find a collaborative and welcoming culture, a diverse team and a workplace that values both performance and enjoyment. No unnecessary hierarchy. No ego. Just great people doing great work – together.

Tower Research Capital is an equal opportunity employer.