Founding 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.

Tower is home to some of the world’s best systematic trading and engineering talent. We empower portfolio managers to build their teams and strategies independently while providing the economies of scale that come from a large, global organization. 

Engineers thrive at Tower while developing electronic trading infrastructure at a world class level. Our engineers solve challenging problems in the realms of low-latency programming, FPGA technology, hardware acceleration and machine learning. Our ongoing investment in top engineering talent and technology ensures our platform remains unmatched in terms of functionality, scalability and performance.

At Tower, every employee plays a role in our success. Our Business Support teams are essential to building and maintaining the platform that powers everything we do — combining market access, data, compute, and research infrastructure with risk management, compliance, and a full suite of business services. Our Business Support teams enable our trading and engineering teams to perform at their best.

At Tower, employees will find a stimulating, results-oriented environment where highly intelligent and motivated colleagues inspire each other to reach their greatest potential.

We are seeking a Founding AI Engineer to scale TRV’s incubation efforts. In this pivotal role, you'll support TRV incubations and portfolio companies by providing comprehensive engineering solutions essential for their success. This position is tailored for engineers with a passion for building from the ground up, particularly those experienced in machine learning (ML) engineering and startup environments.​

Responsibilities:

• Acting as a ‘zero to one’ engineer on a diverse array of startups
• Evaluating the technical viability of projects that TRV initiates or considers for investment.
• Leading the development of MVPs (Minimum Viable Product), laying the groundwork until dedicated teams are established.
• Driving recruitment and interview processes to assemble specialized engineering teams
• After onboarding dedicated teams, either embarking on new incubation projects or providing project-based support to existing portfolio companies​
• Assisting in evaluating startups, sourcing new opportunities, and contributing to thought leadership through blog content

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field
• Strong technical background of 6+ years of full-time engineering experience, with a preference for backend or ML/AI specialization
• Experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines and MLOps for automating model deployments.
• Strong knowledge of Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow​ and proficiency in Linux, SQL, Git and Bash scripting
• General understanding of end-to-end machine learning processes (such as data processing, model training, hyperparameter tuning, model evaluation, etc.) and  familiarity with at least one of the areas of deep learning such as computer vision, generative models, sequence models, reinforcement learning, transformers, LLMs is highly desirable
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and strong communication abilities

Why Join TRV?

• Diverse Portfolio: Rather than being tied to a single project, you'll have the unique opportunity to work on a diverse range of startups at different stages, gaining hands-on experience in various industries, technologies, and business models. Whether you're building an AI-powered financial automation tool or optimizing infrastructure for a next-gen data platform, no two projects will be the same. Every venture presents new technical challenges and opportunities to innovate.
• 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 and entrepreneurs who are passionate about solving complex problems and building category-defining companies.
• Endless Growth Opportunities: Contribute to ventures at various stages, from early incubation to scaling pre-seed startups, playing a foundational role in shaping their technical direction. Each new project presents a fresh challenge, expanding your skill set and industry knowledge faster than a traditional role.

If you're an engineer who loves building from scratch, working on high-impact projects and constantly learning, 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 
• In-office wellness experiences and reimbursement for select wellness expenses (e.g., gym, personal training and more) 
• 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.