Junior Research

About ION and Our Research Mission

At ION, research is not separate from product — it is the engine of innovation.

Our mission is to transform the world of financial and economic intelligence through rigorous, data-driven research embedded directly in product development.

ION's Core Banking and Analytics platforms provide access to one of the most comprehensive data ecosystems in the financial sector — spanning transactional, accounting, behavioral, textual, and unstructured data from across multiple banking institutions.

Our team drives the scientific and technological development of ION's core financial products — including credit risk scoring, early warning systems, portfolio monitoring, and digital finance analytics — while advancing the global state of knowledge through collaborations and participation in top-tier conferences.

About the Role

We are seeking a Junior Research & Data/AI Engineer to join our multidisciplinary research and engineering team.

This hybrid role combines quantitative research and data engineering skills to design, implement, and deploy innovative models and data-driven solutions that power ION's financial products.

You will work in an environment where academic rigor meets applied innovation, contributing to model development, data pipelines, and machine learning workflows.

This position offers opportunities to collaborate with ION Labs hosted at Bocconi University, HEC Paris, and leading U.S. institutions, and to learn from senior experts through joint projects and internal training.

• • Research & Modeling
• Support applied research initiatives in economics, finance, and data science.
• Implement and validate models using econometrics, machine learning, and forecasting techniques.
• Explore innovative methodologies and integrate diverse data sources (transactional, textual, behavioral).
• Data & AI Engineering
• Design and maintain scalable data pipelines using PySpark and Databricks.
• Implement and optimize ML workflows for production environments.
• Collaborate with researchers and product teams to ensure reproducibility and scalability.
• Collaboration & Learning
• Participate in internal seminars and training sessions on econometrics, data modeling, and AI.
• Contribute to documentation and explainability for internal stakeholders and regulatory compliance.

• • Master's degree in Economics, Finance, Data Science, Computer Science, AI, or related quantitative field.
• Solid foundation in econometrics, machine learning, and data analysis.
• Proficiency in Python and familiarity with big data frameworks (PySpark, Databricks).Understanding of ML pipelines, cloud-based architectures, and data governance.
• Strong analytical mindset, problem-solving skills, and ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Good communication skills and willingness to learn advanced modeling and engineering techniques.

Why Join ION

Work at the intersection of finance, data science, and AI.

Access one of the richest financial datasets in Europe.

Collaborate with top universities and global research networks.

Contribute to real-world solutions with impact on financial products.

Be part of a team that values rigor, innovation, and intellectual curiosity.

Important notes

According to the Italian Law (L.68/99) please note that candidates from the disability list will be given priority.

Due to the high volume of applications, only those candidates that meet the required criteria for selection will be contacted.

Please do not apply if you don't currently have the legal right to work in Italy, or if that right is just about to expire, or if that right has restrictions imposed which would prevent you from undertaking a full-time employment contract.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.