AI Trading Systems
Designing AI/ML-powered, production-ready strategies — from signal research to live execution on QuantConnect and AWS.
Strategist · Architect · Author
Jiri Pik
AI Strategist & Cloud Architect · Quant Trader · Author · Founder & CEO, RocketEdge
“Most quant desks are still optimizing yesterday’s edge. The real alpha now lives where AI, cloud, and conviction collide — and almost no one is building there yet.”
I build production-grade AI and quantitative trading systems that move fast and don’t break. Over two decades I’ve architected ultra-low-latency trading, risk, and market-data platforms for many of the world’s leading financial institutions — including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Citi, Bank of America, UBS, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank / DWS, MUFG, and Julius Baer — and then brought that institutional discipline to fast-moving entrepreneurial firms. That blend of bank-grade rigor and startup agility is what I bring to every problem.
Today I’m Founder & CEO of RocketEdge, where my team designs AI-driven trading and cloud-infrastructure solutions for funds, fintechs, and financial institutions.
What I’m known for
Quant & Market Data
Ultra-low-latency market-data engines, portfolio analytics, and fixed-income tooling for global banks and asset managers.
Cloud Architecture
Chief Architect on multi-cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP) builds — scalable, resilient, cost-efficient systems for data-intensive workloads.
Author & Educator
Two trading books with Python — Hands-On AI Trading (Wiley) and Hands-On Financial Trading (Packt) — plus talks and interviews on the future of quant finance.
Books
I’m the author of Hands-On AI Trading with Python, QuantConnect, and AWS (Wiley, 2025) and Hands-On Financial Trading with Python (Packt, 2021) — practical guides to building AI-powered, production-ready trading systems.
See both books →Background & credentials
Formally trained in quantitative finance and computer science, with deep grounding in mathematics and statistics. CFA, CAIA, and FRM charterholder, with 20+ AWS and Microsoft Azure certifications. Based in Singapore, working with global teams across markets, technology, and capital flows.
CFA
CAIA
FRM
20+ AWS & Azure
See all certifications →
Jiri’s Chinese name, 平陵智异
This name combines two distinct elements:
- 平陵 (Píng líng) – Mount Pingling — could be interpreted as a peaceful or stable elevation, suggesting a solid foundation or high standing achieved through calmness and balance. It refers to a specific location in ancient China — the burial site of Emperor Zhao of Han, northwest of present-day Xi’an in Shaanxi province. The name literally means “Flat Mound” or “Level Tomb,” describing the topography of the imperial burial site.
- 智异 (Zhì Yì) – wisdom with uniqueness — implying extraordinary intelligence or an uncommon level of insight. 智 (Zhì) is associated with knowledge, enlightenment, sharp perception, and deep understanding; 异 (Yì) indicates something out of the ordinary — distinctiveness, uniqueness, or innovation. Together these characters suggest “unusual wisdom,” “extraordinary insight,” or “distinctive intelligence.”
Together, the name can be understood as “One who possesses extraordinary wisdom and stands elevated with peaceful stability.” It suggests a person who is intelligent and unique in their thinking while maintaining a calm and balanced approach to life — combining traditional virtues like wisdom and peace with the more modern value of individuality.
Recharging
In his free time, Jiri loves collecting frequent miles, hiking, biking, and downhill skiing. Skiing is a way of life — mastery of fear and perfect body coordination.