Associate AI Engineer

About the role

Morningstar’s mission is to empower investor success. The Direct Platform team creates products that help financial professionals and their clients achieve financial goals. This role is based in Chicago and follows a hybrid policy of 4 days onsite.

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 Product Managers, UX designers, and Researchers
• Rapidly validate ideas before long-term engineering investment

Qualifications

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

Benefits

• 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 annually
• 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
• Social Health: Annual Flex Stipend - $1000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses, Tuition Reimbursement, Dollars for Doers volunteer program, Paid volunteering days, 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups

Pay

Total Cash Compensation Range: $85,000–$144,510 USD

Schedule

This role follows a hybrid policy of 4 days onsite.