Protogon Research · 3 weeks ago
Head of AI
Redwood City, California, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
7+ years expProtogon Research is a company focused on building AI models with a deep understanding of the world and monetizing them through proprietary trading. They are seeking a Head of AI to set the long-term AI research vision, lead the AI team, and ensure the alignment of AI strategy with trading objectives.
Computer Software
Responsibilities
Set the long-term AI research vision in partnership with the CEO and Head of Trading, defining the modeling approaches and architectural directions that will drive AI advances
Lead development of next-generation production-ready models that improve predictive capability, robustness, and adaptivity across diverse market conditions, with a focus on practical implementation and measurable real-world impact
Build and lead a world-class AI team across research, engineering, and infrastructure
Foster a culture focused on applied research, rapid iteration, and operational excellence
Ensure tight collaboration with trading and operations teams to enable rapid hypothesis evaluation, integration of trading insights into modeling, and efficient experimentation across multiple research tracks
Own the end-to-end AI platform, including data pipelines, training systems, and evaluation frameworks, ensuring models operate reliably and efficiently within both training and trading workflows
Translate trading objectives and market hypotheses into a cohesive AI roadmap
Partner closely with the Head of Trading to prioritize high-impact research, validate modeling approaches, and ensure predictable execution across research, engineering, and trading
Qualification
Required
7–10+ years of applied machine learning and AI systems experience
3–6 years leading multi-disciplinary teams across research, engineering, and infrastructure
Proven ability to set technical direction, build high-performing teams, and guide research from concept to production in environments where model performance has direct business impact
Ability to translate trading objectives and market hypotheses into a cohesive AI research agenda
Clear communication across trading, operations, and executive teams, aligning research direction with firm-wide goals
Strong command of modern ML architectures, sequence models, and RL
Fluent in deep learning libraries including PyTorch
Experienced in building large-scale training pipelines, evaluation systems, and robust production AI platforms
Track record of partnering closely with trading or domain-expert teams, integrating their insights into modeling efforts
Ensuring AI systems operate effectively within high-stakes, real-time environments
Drive predictable execution across research, engineering, and trading, ensuring initiatives land with high quality and measurable impact
Preferred
Experience leading AI research or ML-driven strategy development in quantitative finance, trading systems, or other real-time decision environments
Background designing large-scale AI platforms, distributed training infrastructure, or research frameworks that support multiple concurrent modeling efforts
Strong collaboration experience with traders, Portfolio Managers, or domain experts to translate market insights into long-term AI research direction
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision coverage designed to support you and your family's well-being.
401(k), Commuter, FSA, and HSA programs, and additional benefits to support long-term stability.
Generous vacation, sick leave, and company holidays, with flexibility to recharge when needed.
Company
Protogon Research
Protogon Research builds AI models with a deep understanding of the world, and monetizes them through proprietary trading.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase