Platinum & Partners — Quant & Systematic Recruitment
Specialist ML/AI Quant Researcher & Machine Learning Engineer Recruitment
Machine Learning and AI are reshaping quantitative finance. Funds are deploying deep learning, reinforcement learning, NLP and transformer architectures to extract alpha from alternative data, market microstructure and cross-asset signals. Demand for ML Quant Researchers and AI Engineers has outstripped supply — and the best roles are never advertised. Platinum & Partners is the specialist recruiter placing ML Quant Researchers, Deep Learning Researchers, NLP Quant Specialists and ML Infrastructure Engineers at the world's leading AI-driven investment firms, systematic hedge funds and quant asset managers. Founded by Tabby Kaan — 100% quant and systematic focus, every mandate led personally.
An ML Quant Researcher applies machine learning and deep learning techniques to generate alpha in systematic trading. This spans: designing and training neural networks (CNNs, RNNs, LSTMs, Transformers) for signal generation, using NLP to extract signals from text data (news, filings, social media), reinforcement learning for execution optimisation, alternative data research (satellite, web, transaction data), and feature engineering at scale. The role requires deep ML expertise combined with rigorous statistical discipline to avoid overfitting — a critical challenge in financial ML. Senior ML researchers often lead research agendas and build the ML infrastructure that enables entire teams to iterate faster.
Live market data from Platinum & Partners mandates. London unless stated. Contact Tabby Kaan for role-specific benchmarks.
| Level | Base Salary | Total Comp (incl. bonus) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior ML Quant Researcher (0–2 years, PhD) | £90,000 – £150,000 | £130,000 – £300,000 | Year-1 guarantee common for PhDs from top ML labs |
| Mid-Level ML Quant Researcher (2–5 years) | £150,000 – £300,000 | £300,000 – £700,000+ | P&L attribution on ML-generated signals; strong bonus |
| Senior ML Quant Researcher (5–10 years) | £250,000 – £500,000 | £600,000 – £2,000,000+ | Research lead; carry and co-investment at tier-1 funds |
| Head of ML Research / AI Lead (10+ years) | £400,000 – £800,000+ | £1,500,000 – £5,000,000+ | Platform-level economics; co-founding arrangements possible |
New York typically runs 15–25% above London. Singapore is narrowing the gap rapidly. Figures based on Platinum & Partners placement data 2025–2026.
An ML Quant Researcher applies machine learning and deep learning to generate alpha in systematic trading. This includes designing neural networks for signal generation, using NLP to extract signals from text data, reinforcement learning for execution optimisation, and alternative data research. The key challenge in financial ML is avoiding overfitting — the researcher must apply rigorous statistical discipline, walk-forward validation and proper out-of-sample testing. Senior ML researchers often lead research agendas and build ML infrastructure for entire teams.
In 2026, mid-level ML Quant Researchers in London with 2–5 years of experience earn £150,000–£300,000 base with total compensation of £300,000–£700,000+. Senior ML researchers (5–10 years) earn £250,000–£500,000 base with total packages of £600,000–£2,000,000+. PhDs from top ML labs (DeepMind, OpenAI, FAIR, Google Research) command significant premiums and year-one guarantees. New York and San Francisco run 15–30% above London. For current benchmarks, contact Tabby Kaan at tabby@platinumandpartners.com.
Top systematic hedge funds seek deep expertise in: PyTorch or TensorFlow, Transformer architectures, NLP/LLMs, reinforcement learning, and statistical learning theory. Crucially, they look for researchers who understand the financial domain — avoiding overfitting, understanding transaction costs, and designing signals that survive in live trading. PhDs from top ML labs are highly valued, but a demonstrable track record of generating alpha with ML methods can substitute for academic credentials. Feature engineering and alternative data experience are increasingly important differentiators.
The majority of senior ML quant roles at top systematic hedge funds are never advertised publicly. Funds protect their research IP and do not want competitors to know they are building new ML capabilities or replacing researchers. Access comes through specialist networks. Platinum & Partners maintains direct relationships with Heads of Research and CIOs at the world's leading AI-driven investment firms, giving candidates access to roles invisible to the public market. Contact tabby@platinumandpartners.com.
Speak to Tabby Kaan directly. Retained, exclusive and contingency mandates — 48–72 hours to initial longlist. London, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and global systematic investment centres.
Register confidentially with Platinum & Partners. We never circulate your CV without permission. Direct access to the off-market roles at the world's best systematic funds.
Tabby Kaan — Founder & Managing Partner | tabby@platinumandpartners.com | +44 (0)203 941 9113