Associate Software Engineer

About the Team  

The AI Accelerator team sits at the center of Morningstar’s Generative AI strategy for the Direct Platform. We build and scale core systems such as the Morningstar MCP Server, MCP Gateway, and Morningstar Agent.  

Our team is responsible not only for delivering GenAI capabilities, but also for solving the underlying challenges that make them production-ready—document vectorization, caching strategies, system scalability, security, and reliability. We work closely with the Morningstar Responsible AI Council to ensure our systems meet strict standards around guardrails, PII filtering, moderation, and anonymized evaluation pipelines.  

We operate with a strong engineering culture: we question assumptions, prioritize impact over process, and focus on solving meaningful problems rather than executing predefined tasks. Collaboration, shared ownership, and continuous learning are central to how we work.  

About the Role 

As an Associate Software Engineer on the AI Accelerator team, you will help design, build, and scale the core services powering Morningstar Directs’ GenAI capabilities. You will work across the full development lifecycle—from ideation and design to implementation, deployment, and iteration.  

You’ll leverage modern AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Claude Code) to accelerate delivery while maintaining high standards for code quality, testing, and documentation. You will collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and engineers to build systems that are both technically robust and highly valuable to users.  

This role is ideal for someone who is naturally curious, enjoys exploring new technologies, and takes initiative in learning beyond immediate requirements.  

Location: Chicago, Illinois (Hybrid policy, 4 days onsite required) 

Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and enhance scalable services powering the MCP Server, MCP Gateway, and AI Agent. 

• Own features end-to-end, from concept through production deployment and monitoring. 

• Collaborate with product and design partners to deeply understand user needs and deliver meaningful solutions. 

• Contribute to architectural decisions and continuously improve system design and engineering practices. 

• Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code with a focus on performance and scalability. 

• Use logging, monitoring, and debugging tools to maintain high system reliability. 

• Evaluate new tools and technologies pragmatically, balancing innovation with real product value. 

• Create and maintain clear technical documentation and user-facing guides. 

• Contribute to a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous improvement. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience. 

• Experience with at least one modern object-oriented programming language. 

• Strong collaboration and communication skills; direct, thoughtful, and transparent in discussions. 

• Solid understanding of computer science fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, REST APIs, design patterns). 

• Interest in building production grade services using GenAI/agent frameworks (e.g., LangChain, AWS Bedrock, Copilot Studio). 

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Python and the PostgreSQL ecosystem. 

• Familiarity with vector databases and MCP-based architectures. 

• Basic knowledge of cloud infrastructure like AWS/Azure 

• Interest in financial markets, investing, or fund research. 

Compensation and Benefits

At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That’s why we champion your wellness through a wide range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:

• 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 annual

  • 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

  • Annual Flex Stipend - $1000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses

  • Tuition Reimbursement

• Social Health 

  • Charitable Matching Gifts program

  • Dollars for Doers volunteer program

  • Paid volunteering days

  • 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups

Total Cash Compensation Range

Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentive

Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.