Machine Learning Research Lead

Job Description

IMC Trading is seeking a Machine Learning Research Lead to drive the development of a centralized ML environment. The ideal candidate will have experience working with researchers, traders, and engineers to build and continuously improve a research platform. This role involves diving deep into feature engineering and applying a wide range of ML models, as well as performing research on building custom models.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models to enhance trading performance across various asset classes
• Research, test and prototype new algorithmic ideas; deploy advanced ML techniques applicable to market prediction, signal generation, and portfolio optimization
• Collaborate with quantitative traders, researchers and developers to translate market insights into data-driven features and models
• Oversee data acquisition, preprocessing, and feature engineering for structured and unstructured data sources
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to a culture of research excellence and experimentation
• Drive strategic decisions on model architecture, experimentation pipelines, and infrastructure for scalable research

Requirements:

• PhD or Master’s in Engineering, Math, Statistics, Computer Science, or related quantitative field
• 4+ years of experience building applied ML models; previous experience in trading environment preferred
• Proven expertise in developing and deploying predictive models in low-latency environments
• Strong programming skills in Python; proficiency in ML libraries such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, and/or high-performance libraries like Jax
• Strong understanding of theoretical foundations of state-of-the-art ML models
• Prior people management experience preferred
• Ability and desire to work in a collaborative team environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

IMC Trading offers:

• Discretionary bonus
• Benefits, including paid leave and insurance