Associate AI Engineer

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 Product Managers, 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 validate advisor workflows 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 LeadCapture technical learnings and provide handoff documentation for production teams Rapidly validate ideas 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 feedbackTechnical documentation – Clearly communicate prototype behavior and limitations Qualifications 1-2 years of AI engineering experience Experience using AI Coding tools like Claude Code and/or CursorExperience with Python, LLMs, prompt engineering, and AI frameworksAbility to rapidly prototype with limited infrastructure Strong problem-solving and communication skills Total Cash Compensation Range $85,000–144-510 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 Health100% 401k match up to 6% of salaryStock Ownership PotentialCompany provided life insurance - 1x salary + commissionPhysical HealthComprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coveragesAdditional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annualCompany-provided long- and short-term disability insuranceEmotional HealthTrust-Based Time Off6-week Paid Sabbatical Program6-Week Paid Family Caregiving LeaveCompetitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental LeaveAdoption AssistanceLeadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship OpportunitiesAnnual Flex Stipend - $1000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses Tuition ReimbursementSocial HealthCharitable Matching Gifts programDollars for Doers volunteer programPaid volunteering days15+ 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.