AI/ML Researcher

NK Securities Research is a leading financial firm that leverages cutting-edge technology, data-driven research, and sophisticated algorithms to trade financial markets. Founded in 2011, we have built deep expertise in high-frequency trading across different asset classes. We are a fast-growing organization with a strong research and technology culture. The firm’s lean and meritocratic structure enables individuals to work closely with experienced researchers, traders, and engineers, while taking ownership of high-impact problems from an early stage. Role Overview We are looking for an AI/ML Researcher to join our central AI/ML research team in India. This is a research-intensive role suited for individuals who enjoy mathematical problem-solving, experimentation, and working with complex, noisy, high-dimensional datasets. The role will involve close collaboration with quantitative researchers, traders, engineers, and business stakeholders to identify areas where AI/ML can create meaningful value across the firm. The ideal candidate should be comfortable working on open-ended research problems, converting ideas into structured experiments, and building models that can be evaluated rigorously in real-world settings. Key Responsibilities As an AI/ML Researcher, you will: - Work on our GPU cluster to research and understand the fine-grained behavior of large neural networks and LLM training. - Fine-tune existing open-source models and build benchmarks to evaluate their performance. - Explore and analyze large-scale financial market datasets. - Build ML and statistical models for pattern discovery, prediction, and signal generation. - Work on short-horizon, noisy, and non-stationary market data. - Conduct feature engineering, model validation, and performance evaluation. - Study pricing, market microstructure, and execution-related research problems. - Convert research ideas into structured experiments with measurable outcomes. - Collaborate with quantitative researchers, traders, and engineers to translate research into practical use cases. - Present research findings clearly to technical and business stakeholders. - Contribute to building reusable research frameworks, tools, and best practices for the AI/ML research function. Ideal Candidate Profile We are looking for someone with: - Strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, probability, linear algebra, optimization, and machine learning. - Strong programming skills in Python. - Ability to work with large datasets, run experiments, and interpret results rigorously. - Strong analytical and problem-solving ability. - Comfort with ambiguity, open-ended problems, and iterative research. - Ability to independently structure research problems and drive them to conclusion. - Curiosity to learn new domains, ask thoughtful questions, and challenge assumptions. - Strong communication skills to explain research outcomes clearly. Preferred Skills - Python, NumPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn - Machine learning, deep learning, and time-series modelling - Probability, statistics, and optimization - LLMs, neural networks, model fine-tuning, and benchmarking - Research-oriented problem solving - Experience with Kaggle, research projects, trading datasets, ML competitions, or large-scale data problems - Prior exposure to financial markets, quantitative research, or market microstructure is a plus, but not mandatory Why Join Us - Opportunity to be part of a central AI/ML research team being built within a research-driven trading firm. - Work on real-world, high-impact problems involving complex and evolving datasets. - Collaborate closely with experienced quantitative researchers, traders, and engineers. - Strong ownership from an early stage. - Exposure to research problems across AI/ML, quantitative finance, market microstructure, pricing, and execution. - Fast-paced, meritocratic environment with significant learning and growth opportunities. What We Offer: - Competitive salary package. - A dynamic, high-performance, and collaborative work environment. - Strong focus on career growth and development. - Catered breakfast and lunch. - Monthly team dinners. - Annual international and domestic team trips.