ML Researchers with Niche Expertise: Where We Searched and How We Found 3 Experts for Certeq
Maria
Head of IT recruitment in Lucky Hunter
Karina
IT recruiter in Lucky Hunter
Valeriya
Lead IT recruiter in Lucky Hunter
Veronika
Sourcing IT Specialist in Lucky Hunter
About the company
Certeq is a young research startup developing fundamental ML models for analysing financial markets. The company benefits from the scientific leadership of a Professor from the Université de Montréal and Mila – Quebec AI Institute, with its engineering and research teams driving ambitious R&D projects.
< 20
Employees
Canada
Headquarters
Building ML models for financial analysis
Key Feature
Main Task
Certeq came to us with a request to fill several research positions (from Senior ML Researcher to ML Engineer). The requirements were complex: they needed deep expertise in research, experience with foundation models, and practical experience in finance. The main challenge was the need to hire several specialists simultaneously within tight deadlines while maintaining a high bar for candidate quality.
By the way, as part of this same partnership, we successfully closed other, equally challenging positions, such as Low-level Engineers. You can read more about that task in this case study.
Who We Were Looking For
- Senior ML Researcher / ML Researcher
- Experience with foundation models (LLM, time series, multimodal models).
- Solid skills in PyTorch and C++.
Expertise
- Deep knowledge of Machine Learning/Deep Learning and mathematics.
- Publications, participation in research projects, English level B2+.
- Experience in HPC and/or the financial sector is a plus.
Challenges
We were operating in the most competitive market, ML Researchers, where salaries and offers are always at the level of top Big Tech companies. The main challenge was the high bar for requirements: Certeq sought researchers with experience in modern technologies (particularly LLM), who had scientific publications or experience from top Big Tech firms. There are very few candidates of this caliber globally.
Our solution
The project was managed by a team of four recruiters. This format allowed us to quickly exchange feedback, divide search directions, and maintain high speed. We built our strategy around community-focused sourcing: we looked for specialists not only on LinkedIn but also on Kaggle, among participants in ML competitions, and among authors of publications at specialised conferences, where strong mathematicians congregate.
3
Time to Close
270+
Resumes Screened
3
Vacancies Closed
We also maintained continuous communication with the client, regularly aligning expectations, discussing compensation, and coordinating the relocation process. The key factor in our success was the flexibility of Certeq, which helped widen the talent funnel and attract rare specialists.
ML Combo in 2 Months: 4 DS Engineers + Team Lead DS for the Biggest Classifieds Platform
Results
Certeq demonstrated incredible flexibility. They were ready to consider different profiles, offered options for both relocation and remote work, as well as various contract types: official employment or a B2B contract. But most importantly, the company truly knows the market price for top specialists. They are willing to offer a competitive salary and are quick to revise the offer.
Recruiter’s Feedback
Valeriya
Lead IT recruiter in Lucky Hunter
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