Senior Data Researcher

TRM Labs; Northern (KY); Remote; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

TRM Labs is seeking a Senior Data Researcher to lead original, data-driven investigations at the intersection of finance, crime, and policy. You will gather and pressure-test evidence, craft narratives, and publish findings that withstand editorial scrutiny.

You will use AI heavily to accelerate research, collaborate with TRM's investigations and product teams, and mentor junior researchers as you expand TRM's public-facing narrative.

Qualifications

• 5 to 8 years combining research or data analysis with published writing.
• Public portfolio of investigative or research-led work with measurable reach.
• Experience leading at least one high-impact investigation from evidence gathering to final piece.

Responsibilities

• Publish original investigative research on the threats that matter most: fraud, sanctions evasion, ransomware, cybercrime, and other financial crimes.
• Use AI heavily in research, analysis, drafting and packaging of findings.
• Lead research that informs TRM's public narrative and training content for investigators and compliance teams.

Job description

T R M L a b s i s t h e i n t e l l i g e n c e p l a t f o r m f o r p u b l i c s a f e t y a n d n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y , b u i l t t o d e t e c t a n d d i s r u p t t h e c r i m i n a l n e t w o r k s t h a t e x p l o i t f r o n t i e r t e c h n o l o g i e s f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f h a r m . O u r A I I n v e s t i g a t i o n s p l a t f o r m b r i n g s t o g e t h e r i n t e l l i g e n c e f r o m d o z e n s o f p r e v i o u s l y d i s p a r a t e s o u r c e s t o l i n k o n l i n e a c t i v i t y t o g l o b a l s e c u r i t y t h r e a t s , g i v i n g i n v e s t i g a t o r s a h o l i s t i c p i c t u r e o f c r i m i n a l a c t i v i t y s o t h e y c a n d i s r u p t i t a t m a c h i n e s p e e d .

O u r c u s t o m e r s u s e o u r t e c h n o l o g y t o c r e a t e a s a f e r w o r l d . O u r t e a m c o m b i n e s e x p e r t i s e f r o m l a w e n f o r c e m e n t , d a t a s c i e n c e , e n g i n e e r i n g , a n d f i n a n c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e t o c o m b a t t e r r o r i s t f i n a n g i n g , d r u g t r a f f i c k i n g , h u m a n t r a f f i c k i n g , a n d o t h e r s e r i o u s c r i m e s . H e r e , y o u ' l l j o i n a m i s s i o n - d r i v e n , f a s t - p a c e d e n v i r o n m e n t w h e r e i n n o v a t i o n d r i v e s r e a l i m p a c t . W h e t h e r y o u ' r e a n a l y z i n g b l o c k c h a i n d a t a , d e v e l o p i n g c u t t i n g - e d g e s o f t w a r e , o r p a r t n e r i n g w i t h g l o b a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , e a c h d a y b r i n g s f r e s h c h a l l e n g e s a n d o p p o r t u n i e s t o m a k e a m e a n i n g f u l d i f f e r e n c e i n s t o p p i n g c r i m i n a l a c t i v i t y .

Kyle Armstrong

Director of Law Enforcement Relations

"My career has been about expanding impact — from handling single cases at the FBI, to supporting investigations nationwide in the Virtual Assets Unit, and now at TRM, helping law enforcement globally. Through Beacon Network, we’ve built something neither the private nor public sector could do alone: a dynamic partnership driving real action against illicit crypto activity worldwide."

Chris Wong

“At TRM, data isn’t just part of the process—it’s the very core of our existence, making it incredibly exciting for a data engineer like me to contribute where everything begins with data.”

Staff Software Engineer (Data Platform)

“Every day, I get to work with experts across law enforcement, engineering and law who share a mission to create a safer world for people. We actually fight bad guys, and help the good guys win.”

Assistant General Counsel

“I've spent my entire career working to protect the financial system from illicit actors, and now I get to do it on a bigger scale, alongside those who are the very best in the world at what they do, building something really special together.“

Ari Redbord

Global Head of Policy

“By coming to TRM from the FBI, I’ve been able to scale my impact of combatting ransomware and nurturing collaboration between the public and private sectors.”

“I get to work with some of the smartest people I’ve ever met from 30+ countries, and we spend all day figuring out how to help combat drug trafficking/terrorist financing/elder scams/etc. I can’t imagine anything more fulfilling.”

Kevin Tran

Data Science Team Manager

“Some people in tech spend every weekday working on products that are not really making the world a better place. I get so much satisfaction spending my time looking for the smartest people I can find, and saying ‘Would you like work at a company that is making the world a safer place?”

Head of Talent

“In my previous life in the public sector, there was a lot of bureaucracy that slowed down my ability to make an impact. Thats not the case at TRM, people here have high ownership and see through their projects. It’s so rewarding.”

“The product we’re building is making a real impact on peoples lives; and I get to build this alongside smart, passionate humans who push me to get better at my craft.”

Jenny Gai

Senior Product Marketing Manager

“I can tell you the exact reason I decided to join TRM. When I was conducting my job search, I was evaluating 3 offers and all were in the start-up space. What stood out to me about TRM was very similar criteria to a previous start-up I joined that went public; it has bleeding edge technology, solid funding, very smart people and was experiencing hyper growth. That equation adds up to success.”

“I was most excited to join TRM because of our mission, but I didn’t realize how much I’d love working with this team. At TRM, we have a culture of supportive teamwork and close collaboration. My colleagues are some of the most interesting, high-integrity and high-achieving people I know. I’m inspired just by working alongside them.”

Kinsey Cronin

Terry Carson

Data Scientist

"TRM offers an unparalleled and remarkable experience. Working at a company with a strong mission in a fast-paced industry is incredibly motivating—especially when you can directly see the difference your efforts make in the real world."

Accounting Manager

“Moving to the private sector from law enforcement can be quite challenging. I think one of the things that I struggled with, and is quite common, is that the move to the private sector often comes with a change in identity and lost purpose. But then I found TRM, and thats one of the reasons I really love it here- we've still got that purpose. I still get to work alongside law enforcement every day, and I still get to help catch bad guys — but now I just do it on a more global scale.”

Head of Deployment Strategy, APAC

“TRM is a place where I, and others, experience a safe environment to openly challenge ideas, which ultimately helps me learn and grow in my career”

Staff Software Engineer

“At our last company All Hands, we covered two recent cases where law enforcement had leveraged TRM - one helping stop an ISIS terrorist attack, and another helping stop a child sexual abuse operation. I love TRM not just because the people are brilliant, but because we dedicate our time to impact like this.”

Our global team

TRM brings together experts in machine learning, data science, anti-fraud and compliance to crack complex problems and build future‑proofed solutions for pre‑eminent organizations and public agencies around the world.

Senior Data Researcher

Location

Employment Type

Full time

Location Type

Remote

Department

Build a Safer World.

TRM Labs provides AI‑powered intelligence solutions that help public and private sector agencies investigate and disrupt crime. TRM's platforms enable investigators to trace illicit activity, build cases, and construct operating pictures of threat networks. Leading agencies and businesses worldwide rely on TRM to make the world safer and more secure.

TRM's Insights team publishes the original research that shapes how journalists, policymakers and investigators understand illicit finance and the crime behind it. As Senior Data Researcher, you will take a topic from question to published piece: gather and pressure‑test the evidence, find the story and write it. Few roles anywhere combine intelligence across crime types with full ownership of the public narrative.

The impact you will have:

Publish original investigative research on the threats that matter most: fraud and scams, sanctions evasion, ransomware and cybercrime, terrorist financing, drug and human trafficking, and the financial networks behind them. Your work holds up under scrutiny from top‑tier press and policymakers.

Use AI heavily in everything you do. TRM is an AI‑native investigative company, so expect to use Claude, ChatGPT and agent‑based tools to research, analyze data, stress‑test methodology, draft and package each finding for every channel.

Lead original research that answers the biggest open questions about crime and the financial networks that power it. Combine TRM's blockchain intelligence with non‑crypto sources (sanctions lists, court filings, corporate records, open‑source and threat intelligence) to find patterns no one else has connected, then turn them into evidence that holds up.

Extend the research beyond the blog. Turn findings into training content for investigators and compliance teams, and pass emerging threat intelligence back to TRM's product and intelligence teams.

What we're looking for:

5 to 8 years combining research or data analysis with published writing, including at least one high‑impact investigation you led from evidence‑gathering to final piece.

Strong analytical skills across varied sources (financial, open‑source, court and regulatory records, structured datasets), using AI to speed up and check the work.

A public portfolio of investigative or research‑led work with measurable reach (major media pickup, citations, audience growth). Investigative journalists, financial crime and threat intelligence researchers, and research‑focused writers who do their own analysis have all done well in roles like this.

Deep AI fluency: you already rely heavily on AI across research, analysis, drafting and packaging, and you're comfortable running and quality‑checking an agent‑based production workflow. Experience in financial crime, sanctions, cybercrime, national security or crypto is a strong plus.

About the Team:

Insights is the public voice of TRM's research. It connects TRM's intelligence on illicit finance and crime with the press, policymakers and the wider industry.

The work is research‑led, focused on the story, fast‑moving and AI‑native.

You'll work closely with Marketing, Communications, TRM's intelligence and investigations teams, product teams, and TRM Academy.

The team is small and opinionated, and it owns some of the most visible work TRM produces. Distributed, not distant.

Team Operating Rhythms:

Weekly Insights research review to set priorities and look at work in progress.

A weekly working session with Marketing to plan distribution and timing.

Async by default for drafts and methodology review. Meetings are for editorial decisions and launch planning.

The research and content workflow runs continuously, and you manage it day to day and week to week.

Learn about TRM Speed in this position:

Measurable example #1: Within 30 days, you publish your first piece of original data‑backed research on TRM's blog, with a Marketing push behind it.

Measurable example #2: Within 60 days, you take a topic you picked through the full cycle (research, narrative, distribution) and show measurable gains in media coverage.

Measurable example #3: Within 90 days, you run the research and content workflow end to end, and your research feeds weekly training sessions for TRM Academy instructors.

The following represents the expected range of compensation for this role:

Individual pay is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. The compensation details listed in this posting reflect the US base salary only.

The estimated base salary range for this role is $160,000 - $180,000

Additionally, this role may be eligible to participate in TRM’s equity plan.

Please note – we factor in the different costs for geographies outside the United States.

Work Week Travel: This role requires participation in in‑person R&D work weeks, typically 1–2 times per quarter, at a TRM hub or other designated location. Work weeks may be scheduled with as little as 14 days’ notice, and some roles may require additional travel based on team and cross‑functional needs. TRM coordinates and covers approved travel, lodging, and workspace. Accommodations are available for legitimate caregiving, health, immigration, and similar constraints.

Interviewing with TRM

Our process is designed to understand how you think, solve problems, and deliver impact, while allowing you to evaluate TRM. Most interview processes include a case study, an AI skills assessment, and a Leadership Principles interview.

Recruiter Intro: Qualifications, motivations, and alignment with the role.

Hiring Manager: Deep dive into your relevant experience, skills, and impact.

First Round: 1–2 interviews focused on the skills most critical to the role.

Final Round: Hands‑on case study. This is usually a panel‑style session where we go deeper into your craft, problem‑solving, and alignment with TRM.

References: Former colleagues who can provide insight into your work and impact.

Offer: Congrats! Your recruiter will present the offer and compensation details.

Welcome to TRM: We’re excited to build a safer world with you!

Your recruiter will share your specific interview plan and preparation guidance along the way.

AI Fluency at TRM

AI fluency is a baseline expectation at TRM.

We believe AI meaningfully changes how top performers operate. We expect every team member to use AI to accelerate and reimagine their craft, not just automate surface tasks.

At TRM, AI fluency means you are among the top 10 percent of operators in your function in how you apply AI to:

Accelerate repeatable workflows

Structure and solve problems

Increase speed and leverage

You will be evaluated on applied AI fluency during the interview process.

Life at TRM

We are building a safer world. That promise shows up in how we work every day.

TRM moves FAST. We are a high‑velocity, high‑ownership team that expects clarity, follow‑through, and impact. People who thrive here are energized by hard problems, experimentation, and continuous feedback. If something takes months elsewhere, it will ship here in days.

Our work sits at the intersection of AI, national security, and fighting crime. The problems are complex, the stakes are real, and the environment evolves quickly. The pace and intensity of the work reflect the importance of the mission. As a result, the way we operate requires a high level of ownership, adaptability, collaboration, and creative problem‑solving.

At TRM, you should expect:

Priorities and targets to change quickly

Operating with a high degree of ambiguity

A high level of personal ownership and accountability

Close collaboration across teams and functions

Frequent, high‑touch communication

Creative problem‑solving and out‑of‑the‑box thinking

A pace that rewards urgency, adaptability, and outcomes

This environment is energizing for people who enjoy building, solving hard problems, and making progress in situations that are not always fully defined. It also requires thriving in ambiguity, adjusting course as new information emerges, and maintaining focus and positivity in a fast‑moving and intense environment.

We also recognize that this style of operating is not for everyone. If you are primarily optimizing for predictability or a consistently balanced workload, we encourage you to use the interview process to pressure‑test whether this environment is truly the right fit. We want teammates who thrive here, not just survive here.

If you are excited by meaningful problems, motivated by ambitious goals, and energized by working alongside mission‑driven colleagues, there is a good chance you will find TRM to be an exceptional place to grow and contribute.

We hire and grow against three leadership principles. They’re the standards for how we operate, treat each other, and make decisions.

Impact‑Oriented Trailblazer: We put customers first and move with speed, focus, and adaptability. We treat every plan like an experiment – test, ship, measure, and iterate quickly.

Master Craftsperson: We care deeply about our craft. We balance speed with high standards, own outcomes end‑to‑end, and invest in getting better everyday.

Inspiring Colleague: We add clarity and energy, not noise. We bring humility, candor, and a one‑team mindset — giving and receiving feedback to make the team stronger.

Join our Mission

At TRM, we care deeply about our craft. We are looking for individuals who want their work to matter, who experiment with speed and rigor, and who take pride in building a safer world for billions of people. If you’re excited by TRM’s mission but don’t check every box, we encourage you to apply — we hire for slope, judgment, and the will to learn fast.

TRM is a Series C company with $220M in total funding, backed by Goldman Sachs, Bessemer, Y Co., Thoma Bravo, and others. Headquartered in San Francisco, TRM operates as a distributed‑first company with hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., London, and Singapore.

Privacy Policy and Additional Information

By submitting your application, you agree to allow TRM Labs to process your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

We collect the information you provide (such as your resume, work history, and contact detail) solely for the purpose of evaluating your candidacy for current and future roles at TRM.

Because our hiring cycles for certain positions may span 24 to 36 months, we retain your personal information for up to 36 months from the date of your application. After that period, your data is deleted unless a different retention period is required or permitted by law.

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or another jurisdiction with applicable data protection laws, you have the right to access, correct, and request deletion of your personal data at any time before that period ends. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [e-mail].

To notify TRM Labs that you believe this job posting is non‑compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.

The use of AI tools of any kind (including but not limited to notetakers, interview assistants, and real‑time coaching tools such as Otter.ai, Fireflies, Fathom, Cluey, or similar) during TRM interviews is not permitted without prior approval from TRM. TRM uses its own internal tools for note‑taking to ensure a consistent and confidential experience for all candidates.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this form.

Recruitment agencies

TRM Labs does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to TRM employees. TRM Labs is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes and will not pay fees to any third‑party agency or company without a signed agreement.