Chief Scientist – Financial Systems Impact Xcelerator Lab (IX Lab)

Job Title:  Chief Scientist – Financial Systems Impact Xcelerator Lab (IX Lab)
Location: IE University
Department: School of Science and Technology
Start Date: 1 September 2025

Position Overview:

IE University’s School of Science and Technology is seeking a visionary and seasoned expert to serve as the Chief Scientist for the Financial Systems Impact Xcelerator Lab (IX Lab). This senior role is ideal for a candidate with deep expertise in both traditional financial systems and emerging innovations such as decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain, quantitative finance, and artificial intelligence (AI). The Chief Scientist will lead initiatives that bridge the gap between financial theory and technological disruption, driving impactful projects with partners in the financial sector and fintech industry.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in financial mathematics, quantitative modelling, and risk management, combined with an understanding of how blockchain technologies, AI-driven algorithms, and decentralized finance are transforming the global financial landscape. They will have the ability to develop and lead education programs, foster industry partnerships, and oversee knowledge transfer projects that address the current and future challenges of financial systems.

This role requires strategic leadership, a deep understanding of financial markets, and a clear vision for how emerging technologies can address systemic risks, improve financial efficiency, and unlock new opportunities for businesses, governments, and financial institutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the Financial Systems IX Lab, shaping the vision and strategic direction with a focus on financial innovation, quantitative finance, and the integration of emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and decentralized finance.
• Design and oversee education programs and executive training focused on the current and evolving needs of the financial sector, covering topics like quantitative finance, risk management, financial regulation, blockchain ecosystems, and smart contracts.
• Build partnerships with financial institutions, regulatory bodies, fintech companies, and technology providers to drive knowledge transfer projects that promote the adoption of new technologies and innovative solutions in finance.
• Direct research initiatives that explore the application of AI, machine learning, blockchain, and distributed ledger technologies (DLT) to improve financial efficiency, security, regulation, and risk management.
• Lead interdisciplinary teams of academic experts and industry professionals to deliver cutting-edge solutions in areas such as decentralized finance, algorithmic trading, automated risk management, and blockchain-driven financial systems.
• Engage with regulators and policy makers to ensure that technological innovations in the financial sector comply with global regulatory frameworks, while also helping to shape future financial regulations for new technologies like DeFi and cryptocurrencies.
• Act as a thought leader in the fintech and financial systems space, representing IE University at international conferences, industry forums, and in engagements with corporate partners.
• Stay ahead of trends in financial innovation, including digital currencies, tokenization of assets, data-driven financial systems, and AI applications for fraud detection, credit scoring, and automated trading.
• Manage the lab’s financials, securing funding from financial institutions, fintech companies, and regulatory agencies to support high-impact projects and partnerships.

We offer:

• A competitive salary in line with top-ranked European academic institutions.
• State-of-the-art campus facilities and support to build your lab infrastructure.
• A professional and stimulating international working environment with English as the de facto language.
• Full access to public health services through membership of the National Insurance Scheme plus a discount plan to acquire an additional private health insurance plan.
• Diversity in an open-minded, inclusive and family-friendly environment.
• Inspiring campus life on a conveniently located, state-of-the-art unique campus in the hearts of Madrid and Segovia.

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Finance, Financial Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, or a closely related field with significant expertise in quantitative finance and financial systems.
• Extensive experience in traditional financial systems, including quantitative modeling, risk management, financial markets, and derivative pricing, alongside experience with emerging technologies like blockchain and DeFi.
• Expertise in AI applications for financial systems, such as algorithmic trading, automated risk management, fraud detection, and predictive analytics for financial markets.
• Experience engaging with regulatory bodies, policy makers, and strategic thinkers in the financial sector, with a strong understanding of the evolving regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and DeFi.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing multi-disciplinary teams and overseeing projects that address the intersection of technology, business, and finance.
• Strong communication skills and experience building industry partnerships, securing sponsorship, and developing knowledge transfer programs.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in Spanish is desirable but not mandatory.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience designing and delivering executive education programs or corporate training initiatives in financial innovation, blockchain technologies, and quantitative finance.
• Familiarity with global regulatory frameworks for financial systems, digital assets, and cryptocurrencies, including regulations from bodies such as the European Central Bank, SEC, and BIS.
• Strong network within the global financial industry, including connections to fintech firms, investment banks, regulatory agencies, and blockchain innovators.
• Demonstrated ability to secure funding from financial institutions, fintech sponsors, and regulatory bodies for high-impact financial innovation projects.
• Visionary leadership with a focus on how emerging technologies like blockchain, AI, and DeFi can reshape the financial sector and unlock new business models.

Why Join IE University?

IE University’s Financial Systems Impact Xcelerator Lab sits at the crossroads of technology and finance. As Chief Scientist, you will have the opportunity to lead innovative projects that shape the future of financial systems, working closely with industry leaders, regulatory bodies, and fintech pioneers to address the challenges and opportunities of digital finance, AI-driven financial systems, and blockchain ecosystems. This role offers the chance to drive financial innovation, influence global financial policies, and lead the development of cutting-edge solutions for the future of finance.

IE University is an internationally recognized institution originally founded as a business school. We consider ourselves the most international institution of higher education with approximately 85% of our students coming from outside Spain and typically over 120 countries represented on campus. Our Madrid postgraduate campus is situated in the financial district of this vibrant, cosmopolitan capital city of over 5 million people. In 2021 we opened the IE Tower, standing as one of the 5 towers in the business district of Madrid with a 6000-student capacity.

The School of Science and Technology prepares students with industry relevant skills in the context of STEM and related educational programs. The school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Applied Mathematics and Data analytics.

Application Instructions:

Applicants should submit the following materials:

• A cover letter outlining their vision for the future of financial systems and how they would lead the Financial Systems IX Lab.
• A detailed CV, including a list of publications, research grants, industry collaborations, and professional accomplishments.
• A statement (maximum 2 pages) detailing leadership experience in financial innovation, quantitative finance, and blockchain technologies, including examples of successful projects.
• Contact information for three professional references, ideally from both academic and industry backgrounds.

Create your dossier at Interfolio and apply at:  http://apply.interfolio.com/157990

IE University is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.