Lead AI Engineer – Boutique Hedge Fund (Front Office AI Tech Engineering role supporting Portfolio Managers & Investment Analysts)

Martis Search; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Martis Search Ltd partnered with a London hedge fund to appoint a Lead AI Engineer for front-office AI tech engineering. You will shape how AI is embedded into the investment process, working directly with Portfolio Managers and Investment Analysts to drive alpha and improved decision-making.

The role blends investment knowledge with technical leadership, delivering AI-driven tools, governance and scalable workflows in a fast-paced hedge fund environment.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of Fixed Income and/or Credit products and investment processes.
• Hands-on exposure to AI, machine learning, data engineering or workflow automation.
• Experience building or working with AI-enabled workflows and tools in investment environments.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Front Office teams to identify AI opportunities that improve productivity, research capability and investment decision-making.
• Run workshops and demonstrations to promote AI adoption and innovation across the business.
• Design and implement AI-enabled tools and workflows.
• Contribute to the firm’s AI governance and best-practice framework.
• Document, maintain and oversee AI tools and processes.
• Act as an internal advocate for practical and responsible use of AI technologies.

Skills

Fixed Income / Credit experience

AI & ML exposure

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher from leading university

Tools

OpenAI ChatGPT Enterprise

Anthropic Claude Enterprise

Python

VBA

Power BI

Excel

AI workflow automation tools

Data visualization tools

CFA and/or IMC

Job description

Lead AI Engineer – Boutique Hedge Fund (Front Office AI Tech Engineering role supporting Portfolio Managers & Investment Analysts)

Martis Search are delighted to be partnering with a successful and highly entrepreneurial Hedge Fund on what we believe is one of the most innovative and forward-looking opportunities currently available within the Hedge Fund market.

We are representing a boutique, London-based diversified Hedge Fund in the appointment of a permanent “Lead AI Engineer.”

This is a newly created, highly strategic hire and represents the firm’s first dedicated AI-focused appointment. The role offers exceptional visibility across the organisation and the opportunity to work directly alongside Portfolio Managers, Investment Analysts and senior leadership to help shape how AI is embedded into the investment process.

In summary, this is a predominantly Front Office-facing role focused on leveraging AI technologies to improve investment decision-making, optimise workflows, enhance research capability and ultimately contribute towards revenue generation and alpha creation across the business.

The successful candidate will report directly to the COO (with the potential for the role to evolve into a dedicated Front Office reporting line over time) and will act as the central point of expertise for AI implementation across the firm.

The position combines investment knowledge, technical capability and stakeholder engagement, requiring an individual who can bridge the gap between investment professionals and AI-enabled solutions.

The role will involve:

• Identifying and implementing practical AI use cases across investment and operational functions.
• Working closely with Portfolio Managers and Investment Analysts to enhance research, idea generation and decision-making processes.
• Helping shape the firm’s broader AI strategy and long-term roadmap.
• Promoting the responsible, secure and effective use of AI technologies across the organisation.
• Building, testing and deploying AI-driven tools and workflows.
• Acting as an internal advisor and educator to support adoption across the business.

Our client currently utilises the Enterprise versions of both Anthropic Claude and OpenAI ChatGPT. Therefore, demonstrable experience using AI tools within a Fixed Income and/ or Credit investment environment is considered essential.

The firm is open-minded regarding background and recognises that strong candidates may come from a variety of Front Office or technical investment disciplines. However, applicants should ideally possess a minimum of 5-years’ experience within Fixed Income and/or Credit markets.

Examples of relevant backgrounds may include:

• Fixed Income/ Credit Quantitative Analyst
• Fixed Income/ Credit Quantitative Developer
• Fixed Income/ Credit Data Engineer/ Machine Learning SME
• Fixed Income/ Credit Research Analyst
• Investment Technology, or Front Office Strategy Specialist within a Hedge Fund, or Asset Management environment

Candidates must possess outstanding academic credentials from a leading university, alongside exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills. The successful individual will regularly engage with senior investment professionals and will be expected to operate in both an advisory and hands-on delivery capacity.

The role is 4-days per week in the office and x 1 day working-from-home.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Front Office teams and senior management to identify opportunities where AI can improve productivity, research capability and investment decision-making.
• Run workshops, demonstrations and one-to-one sessions to encourage AI adoption and innovation across the business.
• Design and implement AI-enabled tools, workflows and solutions.
• Contribute towards the development of the firm’s AI governance and best-practice framework.
• Document, maintain and oversee AI tools and related processes.
• Act as a key internal advocate for the practical and responsible use of AI technologies.

Key Requirements

• Strong understanding of Fixed Income and/ or Credit products and investment processes.
• Hands-on exposure to AI, machine learning, data engineering or workflow automation.
• Strong analytical, numerical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience building or working with custom GPTs, AI assistants, connectors or AI-enabled workflows.
• Strong appreciation of both the opportunities and limitations associated with AI technologies.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Systems-oriented mindset with the ability to conceptualise processes, workflows and scalable solutions.

Preferred Technology Exposure

• OpenAI ChatGPT Enterprise
• Anthropic Claude Enterprise
• Python
• VBA
• Power BI
• Excel
• AI workflow automation and data visualisation tools
• CFA and/or IMC qualification advantageous.
• Experience within Hedge Funds, Asset Management, or institutional investment environments preferred.

The firm is highly flexible regarding background, seniority and overall profile, with the primary focus being on identifying an individual capable of driving meaningful change and innovation across the organisation.

This is a rare opportunity to join a growing Hedge Fund in a genuinely strategic capacity and play a defining role in how AI is integrated into the investment process from an early stage.