AI Research Scientist

Thurn Partners Ltd; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Thurn Partners Ltd, a global trading firm, is launching a dedicated AI group and seeks researchers to design and build experimental AI systems across deep learning, foundation models, and RL. The role offers room to explore and contribute to long-term strategic AI initiatives.

You’ll collaborate with trading and technology experts to identify high-impact AI opportunities, run end-to-end experiments, and help shape the Lab as a founding researcher with scope to scale impactful research.

Qualifications

• Proven research background in deep learning, foundation models, generative AI or RL.
• Hands-on experience training and building models, not only applying existing ones.
• PhD or Master’s in a quantitative discipline is required.
• Experience with large-scale or distributed GPU training is expected.
• Record of cross-field idea transfer and impactful research.

Responsibilities

• Design and build experimental AI systems from prototypes to long‑term tools.
• Advance research across deep learning, foundation models, generative AI, RL, and novel architectures.
• Partner with trading and tech experts to identify AI impact opportunities.
• Run end-to-end experiments from hypothesis to tested, working systems.
• Help shape the Lab’s direction as a founding researcher.

Skills

Deep learning

Foundation models

Generative AI

Reinforcement learning

Python

Distributed GPU training

Cross-domain idea transfer

Education

PhD or Master's in CS/ML/Statistics/Physics or related

Tools

PyTorch

JAX

Job description

An established global trading firm is opening a new chapter in AI. Having built one of the most respected proprietary trading businesses in the world, it is now creating a dedicated AI group and expanding the central team behind it. The group’s research covers deep learning, foundation models, generative AI, reinforcement learning and new model architectures, and its work ranges from fast proofs of concept to systems built for long-term strategic use.

The firm processes petabytes of market data every day across derivatives, equities, ETFs, bonds and currencies, giving researchers a uniquely demanding environment to test what modern AI can do. Senior AI leadership has been brought in from frontier labs, and the group is still small enough that early hires will help decide what it builds. For a researcher who wants room to explore, the resources to go deep, and a seat at the start of something new, this is a rare opening.

What you’ll do:

• Design and build experimental AI systems, from early prototypes through to tools with long-term strategic value.
• Push forward research across deep learning, foundation models, generative AI, reinforcement learning and novel architectures.
• Partner with trading and technology experts across the firm to identify where AI can make the biggest difference.
• Run experiments end to end, from first hypothesis to a tested, working system.
• Contribute directly to the direction of the Lab as one of its founding researchers.

Your profile:

• A proven research background in deep learning, foundation models, generative AI or reinforcement learning, from any field.
• Practical experience training and building models yourself, rather than only applying existing ones.
• Strong skills in Python and PyTorch or JAX.
• A PhD or Master’s degree in computer science, machine learning, statistics, physics or another quantitative discipline.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.
• Research published at leading conferences or journals, or significant open-source work.
• Hands‑on experience with large‑scale or distributed GPU training.
• A record of carrying ideas successfully from one field into another.

Pre-Application:

• You must be eligible to live and work in the US, without requiring sponsorship.
• Allow 1-5 working days for a response to any job enquiry.
• Your application is subject to our privacy policy (thurnpartners.com/privacy-policy)

Why this role:

A founding position in a newly formed AI group backed by a highly profitable firm that is investing seriously in AI, data and compute. You’ll have the freedom to choose what to work on, the data to make it meaningful, and the chance to shape a research group from its earliest days.