Product AI Engineer

This job is with Morningstar, an inclusive employer and a member of my Gwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

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 we follow 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 P  roduct     M  anager  s, 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     valida  te     advisor wo  rkflows quickly and reliably
Downstream production engineers can operationalize prototypes with minimal friction
Team moves from idea → evidence → 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     val  idate       eas 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
3-5     years of AI engineering experience
Expert user of AI Coding tools like Claude Code and/or Cursor
Expertise     with Python, LLMs, prompt engineering, and AI framewor  ks
Ability to rapidly prototype with limited infrastructure
Strong problem-solving and communication skills
Total Cash Compensation Range
$ ,820  USD Annual
Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentive
Compensation and Benefits
At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That's why we champion your wellness through a wide range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:
Financial Health
100% 401k 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 - $1000 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

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. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.
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