Associate AI Engineer

Morningstar; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 144,510; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match up to 6%

Stock ownership potential

Company-provided life insurance

Comprehensive health benefits

HSA contributions

6-week sabbatical program

Parental leave and education stipend

Job summary

Morningstar, based in Chicago, is seeking Forward‑Deployed AI Engineers to rapidly prototype AI solutions within real‑world advisor workflows. This hybrid role collaborates with product managers, UX designers, and researchers to turn ideas into functioning prototypes with swift feasibility validation.

Success is measured by fast, evidence‑based prototypes that can move downstream, with downstream production engineers able to operationalize them with minimal friction.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of AI engineering experience.
• Experience using AI coding tools like Claude Code and/or Cursor.
• Experience with Python, LLMs, prompt engineering, and AI frameworks.
• Ability to rapidly prototype with limited infrastructure.
• Strong problem‑solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Build and iterate AI prototypes for advisor workflows.
• Integrate signals, models, and UX designs into working experiments.
• Test feasibility and performance of AI behaviors in real workflows.
• Collaborate with PMs, UX designers, and Research & Signals Lead.
• Capture technical learnings and provide handoff documentation for production teams.
• Rapidly validate ideas before long‑term engineering investment.

Skills

AI prototyping

Data integration

Cross-functional collaboration

Experimentation

Technical documentation

Tools

Claude Code

Cursor

Job description

About Morningstar

Morningstar’s mission is to empower investor success. The Direct Platform team does this by creating products that help financial professionals, and the investors they serve, achieve their financial goals. The Morningstar Direct Platform team is one of the largest business units that strive to give clients access to the data, analytics, and tools that help financial professionals be more efficient, innovative, and connect with their clients in a more meaningful way.

This role is based in our Chicago office and follows a hybrid policy of 4 days onsite. Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis.

Role Overview

We are seeking Forward-Deployed AI Engineers to rapidly prototype AI solutions in real-world advisor workflows. This role is embedded in our discovery team, working alongside Product Managers, UX designers, and researchers to translate ideas into functioning prototypes. Success is measured by speed, feasibility validation, and actionable prototypes that can move downstream.

What Success Looks Like

• Prototypes validate advisor workflows quickly and reliably.
• Downstream production engineers can operationalize prototypes with minimal friction.
• Team moves from idea to evidence to validated workflow efficiently.
• Experiments reduce risk and uncertainty for AI product decisions.

Why This Role Matters

Product-minded forward-deployed engineers collapse the gap between concept and reality, enabling the team to make fast, evidence-based product decisions while reducing wasted effort downstream.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and iterate AI prototypes for advisor workflows.
• Integrate signals, models, and UX designs into working experiments.
• Test feasibility and performance of AI behaviors in real workflow scenarios.
• Collaborate closely with PMs, UX designers, and Research & Signals Lead.
• Capture technical learnings and provide handoff documentation for production teams.
• Rapidly validate ideas before long-term engineering investment.

Required Skills

• AI prototyping – Ability to build working AI systems quickly.
• Data integration – Connect signals, APIs, and datasets for prototypes.
• Collaboration in cross-functional teams – Work side-by-side with PMs, UX, and researchers.
• Experimentation and iteration – Rapidly test and refine ideas with user feedback.
• Technical documentation – Clearly communicate prototype behavior and limitations.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of AI engineering experience.
• Experience using AI coding tools like Claude Code and/or Cursor.
• Experience with Python, LLMs, prompt engineering, and AI frameworks.
• Ability to rapidly prototype with limited infrastructure.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.

Total Cash Compensation Range

$85,000-144,510 USD annual. Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentive.

Compensation And Benefits

• Financial Health
  • 100% 401(k) match up to 6% of salary
  • Stock ownership potential
  • Company provided life insurance – 1x salary + commission
• Physical Health
  • Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coverages
  • Additional medical wellness incentives – up to $300-$600 annual
  • Company-provided long and short-term disability insurance
• Emotional Health
  • Trust-Based Time Off
  • 6-week paid sabbatical program
  • 6-week paid family caregiving leave
  • Competitive 8-24 week paid parental leave
  • Adoption assistance
  • Leadership coaching & formal mentorship opportunities
  • Annual flex stipend – $1,000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses
  • Tuition reimbursement
• Social Health
  • Charitable matching gifts program
  • Dollars for Doers volunteer program
  • Paid volunteering days
  • 15+ employee resource & affinity groups