Founding Engineer – Tower Incubations

Trading Interview; New York (NY); On-site; USD 175,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Savings plans and financial wellness

Hybrid working opportunities

Free meals daily

Sports teams and fitness events

Volunteer opportunities and charitable

Social events and celebrations

Continuing learning opportunities

Job summary

Tower Research Capital is seeking a Founding Engineer to join TRV incubation efforts and build the core product from the ground up. You will drive ML engineering initiatives, establish the technical roadmap and shape the engineering culture.

The role requires 6+ years in engineering, strong Python and ML framework experience, and a proven ability to ship in a startup environment. Competitive salary and equity offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 6+ years of full-time engineering experience, backend or ML/AI focus preferred.
• Experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines and MLOps for automating model deployments.
• Strong Python and ML frameworks (PyTorch or TensorFlow); proficient in Linux, SQL, Git, Bash.
• General understanding of end-to-end ML processes.
• Expertise in at least one applied AI area (CV, NLP, RL, generative modeling).
• Preference for practical AI knowledge from on-the-job experience.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Act as a ‘zero to one’ engineer, building core features and infrastructure.
• Establish and maintain a technical roadmap for the company.
• Evaluate technical feasibility and scalability of product features.
• Lead and grow the engineering organization.
• Mentor and collaborate with new team members as the team expands.

Skills

Git

CI/CD

MLOps

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Linux

SQL

Bash scripting

End-to-end ML

Applied AI

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

Git

CI/CD pipelines

MLOps

Job description

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 Founding Engineer to join our incubation efforts for TRV and drive foundational engineering efforts. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for designing, building, and launching the core product from the ground up. This position is tailored for engineers with a passion for building, particularly those experienced in machine learning (ML) engineering and startup environments.

Responsibilities

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

Qualifications

• A 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 ML processes
• Expertise in at least one area of applied AI, such as: Computer Vision, Language Modeling, Reinforcement Learning, Generative Modeling (e.g. image, video, audio)
• Preference for practical AI knowledge through previous on-the-job experience, as opposed to purely academic or research-based knowledge
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

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 and entrepreneurs who are passionate about solving complex problems and building category-defining companies.
• Endless Growth Opportunities: Play a foundational role in shaping the technical direction and culture of a rapidly growing startup. As an early team member, you'll have a 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

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 givingSocial 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.

Tower Research Capital is a quantitative trading firm founded in 1998 by Mark Gorton. It builds technology and deploys automated trading strategies across a broad range of asset classes in…