XTX Markets · New York
AI Research Internship - XTY Labs
The Firm XTX Markets is a leading algorithmic trading firm which uses state-of-the-art machine learning technology to produce price forecasts for over 50,000 ...
The Firm
XTX Markets is a leading algorithmic trading firm which uses state-of-the-art machine learning technology to produce price
forecasts for over 50,000 financial instruments across equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities and crypto. It uses those
forecasts to trade on exchanges and alternative trading venues, and to offer differentiated liquidity directly to clients
worldwide. The firm trades over $250bn a day across 35 countries and has over 250 employees based in London, New York, Singapore,
Paris, Bristol, Mumbai, Yerevan and Kajaani.
We leverage the talent of the people who work here, modern computational techniques and state-of-the-art research infrastructure
to analyse large data sets across markets quickly and efficiently, to maximize the effectiveness of our proprietary trading
algorithms. We are actively seeking new methods and ideas. The models that drive our trading strategies have evolved considerably
over the last 10 years, from econometric methods that gave our company its name, to trees, to neural networks, to modern deep
learning architectures.
XTX Markets has an unrivalled level of computational resources in the trading industry, with a growing research cluster currently
containing over 25,000 GPUs with 650 petabytes of usable storage. Teams across the firm include world-class researchers,
developers and technologists with backgrounds in pure math, programming, physics, computer science and machine learning. The firm
is also constructing a large-scale data centre in Finland to future-proof its significant computational capabilities.
At XTX Markets technology is our business and we are a diverse organization which attracts outstanding talent from across all
industry backgrounds. We are focused on teamwork and our people collaborate on all aspects of the business, working openly and
with respect for each other, our clients and the market. Our culture is non-hierarchical and one where everyone is valued. We
strive for excellence in everything we do.
XTY Labs
XTY Labs, a division of XTX Markets established in 2024, stands at the intersection of finance and cutting-edge machine learning
research. The lab is designed to be a home for those eager to pioneer the future of algorithmic trading, with a strategic focus on
developing and applying novel machine learning techniques to financial data.
Situated in Hudson Yards, New York City, XTY Labs offers a state-of-the-art, “academia-like” workspace designed to inspire
creativity and innovation. Led by Research Director Dr. Atlas Wang [Link], researchers will have the opportunity to explore new
ideas and transform their advanced machine learning research into real-world financial solutions, backed by XTX Markets' expansive
research cluster, rich datasets, and advanced technological infrastructure.
Emphasizing practical application, XTY Labs’ mission is to swiftly integrate successful models into the market, directly enhancing
XTX's trading strategies and operations. This direct pipeline from research to implementation establishes XTY Labs as a premier
destination for those looking to make a significant impact in the financial sector through original machine learning research.
The XTY AI Research Internship
- *Please note that we are now only accepting applications from candidates who are available starting from January 2027 or later.**
This 12–14-week research-focused internship, is designed for highly motivated students in the middle years of their advanced
degrees, who are eager to push the boundaries of high-risk, high-reward AI research and rapidly integrate cutting-edge ideas into
our advanced strategies.
Top performing interns will be actively considered for full-time research roles in either our NYC or London teams.
Why Join?
- Work at the Frontier of Fundamental AI Research: Explore and innovate at the forefront of machine learning, optimization,
generative AI, foundation models, distributed training, and other cutting-edge areas, driving direct business impact.
- Fast-Paced Innovation: A unique opportunity to test, iterate, and refine cutting-edge concepts at industry speed, all taking
place in weeks if not days.
- Mentorship & Collaboration: Each intern will be paired with at least one full-time researcher as a mentor and will also work
closely with the research director for guidance and collaboration.
- Exposure to Real-World Quantitative AI: Experience firsthand how advanced AI techniques shape algorithmic trading in one of the
world’s most technologically sophisticated firms.
This is an exclusive opportunity for students who excel in research-driven environments and are eager to make a meaningful impact
in a field still rich with untapped potential in the GenAI era. Our environment is designed for innovation with a flat
organizational structure, a friendly and collaborative culture, and an absence of red tape, allowing you to focus on advancing the
field of machine learning in finance.
You will work from our NY office at least 4 days per week.
Responsibilities
- Engage in pioneering research to devise original machine learning algorithms, with the autonomy to investigate and apply novel
methods.
- Utilize a broad knowledge base across deep learning, natural language processing, time series analysis, control and
optimization, reinforcement learning, among others.
- Architect, build, and refine models, agents, and software prototypes with a focus on robustness and generality.
- Clearly communicate research progress and findings, ensuring efficient internal knowledge transfer both verbally and in
writing.
- Foster teamwork and collaborate with XTX Markets’ quantitative research team, contributing to a collective effort of fewer than
twenty experienced researchers.
The program offers an unparalleled opportunity to work within a rich computational environment, equipped with an impressive array
of resources. Interns will immerse themselves in a culture that promotes collaboration, innovation, and a flat hierarchy. The
program is designed to bring together a wide range of backgrounds and interests, not only those who are already set on a career in
finance.
Essential Attributes
- Pursuing an advanced degree. ideally Ph.D., in computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, or a related quantitative
field, with at least one year remaining before your expected graduation date.
- Strong evidence of ability to conduct original research. That shall include a proven publication record in leading machine
learning and AI venues (we do not count publication numbers)
- Demonstrated practical experience and deep understanding of modern deep learning architectures, in particular transformers and
its variants.
- Solid knowledge in fundamental data science, optimization, and statistics
- Solid programming skills (language does not matter; Python is fine)
- No prior experience in finance is needed.
Desirable Attributes
- Proven expertise in developing and working with foundational models, including but not limited to large language models and
multi-modal frameworks.
- A background in managing and analyzing large, unstructured, and noisy datasets.
- Hands-on knowledge of time series forecasting.
Compensation
The base salary for the AI Research Internship role will be $35,000 per month. You will enjoy similar benefits to those of our US
permanent employees as appropriate and receive a generous sign-on bonus to be used for covering accommodation costs.
Interview Format
We plan to keep our internship cohort small, with a highly selective application process. Our interview process seeks to gain
signal in the following topics:
- Your Research Experience
- Modern machine learning techniques, especially deep learning
- Classical machine learning techniques
- General mathematics (linear algebra, analysis, probability etc.)
- Hands-on programming and data engineering
We seek to get a broad signal in our process. Successful candidates are those who are strong in all areas and exceed expectations
in at least one.
Your interview process will follow a four-stage format:
- An introductory conversation with the recruitment team.
- A practical take-home exercise, where you are provided with a dataset to construct and develop an AI model comprehensively from
start to finish.
- A discussion with the Research Director to delve into your research history, knowledge in deep learning/machine learning,
compatibility with XTY's goals, and to gauge your innovative thought processes.
- A final 1-hour interview with either an XTX Quantitative Researcher or XTY full-time Researcher.
Role
AI Research Internship - XTY Labs
Category
Quantitative Research
Locations
Published
June 30
Deadline
August 16