Back to jobs

Sr. Director of Data, Analytics and AI

Chicago

JOIN US ON OUR MISSION TO BECOME THE #1 RETAIL TRADING PLATFORM IN THE WORLD

Welcome to the dynamic world of NinjaTrader! As an industry-leading trading platform and futures broker, we're on a mission to empower traders to take control of their financial destiny. How do we do it? We provide cutting-edge products and services that enhance the trading journey. Whether a seasoned pro or just starting out, NinjaTrader equips traders with award-winning software and brokerage services to navigate the world's leading financial markets with confidence.  

Our growth story is nothing short of exhilarating. Over the last 20 years, NinjaTrader has been dedicated to understanding and supporting traders on their journey toward trading triumph. In the last 5 years alone, our user base has grown by 400% to over 2 million users and we have become the number one rated futures brokerage worldwide. 

But we're not stopping there. We're constantly evolving, pushing boundaries, and modernizing the futures industry. Our commitment to innovation means users will always have access to dynamic tools, real-time support, and a community of like-minded traders.  

So, why work at NinjaTrader? Here, you're not just part of a team; you're part of a movement. We empower employees to reach new heights in their careers by providing a dynamic culture focused on social connection, professional development, and employee recognition initiatives. Sounds too good to be true? Take it from our employees. 

Join us as we redefine what's possible in trading, advocate for our customers, and continue our journey toward becoming the world's top retail-focused trading platform in the world.  

What you’ll do:

NinjaTrader is seeking a seasoned Sr. Director of Data, Analytics, and AI to lead our data infrastructure, data science, business intelligence, machine learning, and AI efforts. As a key member of our senior leadership team, you will drive business insights, optimize operational efficiency, build data products, and support strategic decision-making. Your work will have a significant impact on our growing customer base and revolutionize the experience for our vast and passionate retail trading community.

For over 20 years, NinjaTrader has built one of the richest futures trading data sets in the industry. As a Director of Data, Analytics, and AI, you will be at the forefront of strategic initiatives and technological advancements, collaborating closely with our C-Suite and senior leaders. 

You can expect to:

  • Manage and grow a high-performing team of Data and ML Engineers, Data Scientists, and Data Analysts, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence
  • Attract, retain, and develop top talent, building a top-tier data team with a focus on Machine Learning and AI
  • Develop and execute the technical roadmap for NinjaTrader's data platform, ensuring scalability, reliability, and precision in data handling
  • Establish core principles for data governance, setting standards for data access, data accuracy, and timeliness across all data-centric teams
  • Partner with business functions such as Marketing, Sales, Strategy, Product, and Customer Success to drive data-centric decision-making
  • Train and empower internal customers to use developed interactive dashboards and skills needed to create self-service BI

 What we look for:

  • 10+ years relevant experience: building and managing high performing analytical teams, statistical techniques, advanced research design, and analytics/decision sciences with expertise in predictive modeling, time series forecasting, natural language processing (content and sentiment analysis), network analysis, machine learning, data mining, etc. 
  • 5+ years of experience managing and growing data teams
  • Demonstrated intellectual prowess, creativity, analytical thinking, curiosity, and technical expertise. Comfortable with ambiguity and navigating through it
  • Proficiency in a range of data technologies and tools (such as fivetran, dbt, airflow, BigQuery, Snowflake, SQL, Looker, PowerBI and Python) with a focus on developing the technical acumen of the team in these areas
  • Experience in applying a wide array of data science methodologies to address real-world business problems, from statistical analysis to machine learning, enhancing product value, customer experience and business impact
  • Experience in early product development and managing trade-offs. Proven ability to build relationships and drive data-centric decision-making across product and functional teams
  • Ability to clearly and effectively communicate the value of data to leadership and all levels of the organization
  • Excellent consultative and collaborative skills, with the ability to translate business problems into research/analytics studies and communicate results to impact strategy and action

Our Core Benefits Include:

  • Hybrid Schedule with Extra Remote Flexibility (Totalling over 55% remote time)
  • Generous PTO
  • 7 Paid Holidays Annually + 5 Conditional Holidays Annually
  • 1 Service Day Annually
  • 401k with 3.5% Company Match
  • Health, Vision, Dental Coverage
  • Life and Disability Insurance Covered 100% by NinjaTrader
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for Transit and Parking
  • Gym Membership

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...

We are only able to hire full-time employees in certain states within the US. Please share your state of residence so we can properly communicate expectations. 

Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in NinjaTrader’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.