Associate AI Engineer

About Morningstar Morningstar’s mission is to empower investor success. The Direct Platform team creates products that help financial professionals, and the investors they serve, achieve their financial goals. The team is one of the largest business units that strives 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 follows a hybrid policy of 4 days onsite per week.

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 and works closely with Product Managers, UX designers, and researchers to translate ideas into functioning prototypes. Success is measured by rapid prototyping, feasibility validation, and action ably moving prototypes downstream.

• Prototypes validate advisor workflows quickly and reliably.
• Downstream production engineers can operationalize prototypes with minimal friction.
• The team moves from idea → evidence → validated workflow efficiently.
• Experiments reduce risk and uncertainty for AI product decisions.

Product‑minded forward‑deployed engineers collapse the gap between concept and reality, enabling fast, evidence‑based product decisions while reducing wasted effort downstream.

• 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.
• Capture technical learnings and provide handoff documentation for production teams.
• Rapidly validate ideas before long‑term engineering investment.

• 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.

• 1–2 years of AI engineering experience.
• Experience using AI coding tools such as Claude, Code, or Cursor.
• Experience with Python, LLMs, prompt engineering, and AI frameworks.
• Ability to rapidly prototype with limited infrastructure.
• Strong problem‑solving and communication skills.

$85,000–$144,510 USD annual, inclusive of base salary and target incentive.

• Financial Health: 100% 401(k) match up to 6% of salary, potential company stock ownership.
• Life Insurance: company provided life insurance, 1× salary + commission.
• Physical Health: comprehensive medical/dental/vision benefits, potential premium discounts and company‑provided HSA contributions.
• Wellness
  
  Incentives:
  
  up to $300–$600 annual company‑provided wellness incentives.
• Long‑term & short‑term disability insurance.
• Time Off: 6‑week paid sabbatical, 6‑week paid family caregiving leave, 8‑24 week paid parental leave, adoption assistance.
• Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities.
• Annual Flex Stipend: $1,000 for personal education & well‑being expenses.
• Tuition Reimbursement & Social Health Charitable Matching Gifts program.
• Dollars for Doers volunteer program, 15+ paid volunteering days.
• Employee Resource & Affinity Groups.

Morningstar is strongly committed to creating and preserving equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. We make all employment decisions—without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship, gender identity and expression, parental status, or other legally protected characteristics or conduct.