Elon Musk ’s teen prodigy Kairan Quazi is trading rockets for trading algorithms, leaving SpaceX after two years to join quantitative trading giant Citadel Securities as a developer in New York City. "I felt ready to take on new challenges and expand my skill set into a different high-performance environment," the 16-year-old told Business Insider in an exclusive interview.
Quazi , who became the youngest graduate of Santa Clara University before joining SpaceX's Starlink division at age 14, will start this week at Citadel Securities, one of the world's premier high-frequency trading firms. The move represents a significant coup for the financial industry as it competes with AI labs and big tech companies for top engineering talent.
From satellite beams to trading algorithms: Why Quazi chose finance over AI
Despite receiving offers from leading AI laboratories and major technology companies, Quazi selected Citadel Securities for its unique combination of intellectual challenge and rapid feedback loops. At SpaceX, he worked on production-critical systems, designing software that determines where Starlink satellites target their beams to ensure reliable internet connections for millions of customers.
"Quant finance offers a pretty rare combination: the complexity and intellectual challenge that AI research also provides, but with a much faster pace," Quazi explained to Business Insider. "At Citadel Securities, I'll be able to see measurable impact in days, not months or years."
Teen prodigy embraces Wall Street's meritocratic culture
Quazi praised Citadel Securities' meritocratic approach, noting the firm didn't use his age as a barrier to opportunities. The Bangladeshi-American prodigy, who jumped from third grade to college at age 9 and interned at Intel Labs at 10, will work on global trading infrastructure at the intersection of engineering and quantitative problem-solving.
Living independently in Manhattan, Quazi will enjoy a 10-minute walk to work, a significant upgrade from requiring his mother to drive him to SpaceX's Redmond office, as he still doesn't have a driver's license.
Quazi , who became the youngest graduate of Santa Clara University before joining SpaceX's Starlink division at age 14, will start this week at Citadel Securities, one of the world's premier high-frequency trading firms. The move represents a significant coup for the financial industry as it competes with AI labs and big tech companies for top engineering talent.
From satellite beams to trading algorithms: Why Quazi chose finance over AI
Despite receiving offers from leading AI laboratories and major technology companies, Quazi selected Citadel Securities for its unique combination of intellectual challenge and rapid feedback loops. At SpaceX, he worked on production-critical systems, designing software that determines where Starlink satellites target their beams to ensure reliable internet connections for millions of customers.
"Quant finance offers a pretty rare combination: the complexity and intellectual challenge that AI research also provides, but with a much faster pace," Quazi explained to Business Insider. "At Citadel Securities, I'll be able to see measurable impact in days, not months or years."
Teen prodigy embraces Wall Street's meritocratic culture
Quazi praised Citadel Securities' meritocratic approach, noting the firm didn't use his age as a barrier to opportunities. The Bangladeshi-American prodigy, who jumped from third grade to college at age 9 and interned at Intel Labs at 10, will work on global trading infrastructure at the intersection of engineering and quantitative problem-solving.
Living independently in Manhattan, Quazi will enjoy a 10-minute walk to work, a significant upgrade from requiring his mother to drive him to SpaceX's Redmond office, as he still doesn't have a driver's license.
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