Industries worldwide are increasingly competing for exceptional young talent, and few stories illustrate this better than that of Kairan Quazi. At just 16, the American-Bangladeshi prodigy has made the leap from aerospace engineering at Elon Musk’s SpaceX to the high-pressure world of Wall Street. He is now joining Citadel Securities in New York City as a quantitative developer, where he will work on building the firm’s global trading infrastructure.
In an interview with Business Insider, Quazi explained that while his work at SpaceX was groundbreaking, the rapid pace and intellectual complexity of quantitative finance drew him toward Citadel Securities. The firm, one of the world’s leading high-frequency trading companies, offered him the chance to apply his engineering expertise in a completely different domain.
In 2023, he graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, becoming the youngest graduate in the school’s 170-year history. During his time there, he also served as a student government senator, contributing to campus initiatives and student representation.
Breaking into the professional world at 14 was not without obstacles. In a 2023 interview with Vogue, he recalled encountering “cultural adultism,” where recruiters often overlooked his skills because of his age. Many companies initially struggled to see past his youth despite his advanced qualifications. SpaceX, however, recognized his talent and gave him a chance to prove himself.
At Citadel Securities, he will work closely with both engineers and traders, focusing on advancing the company’s global trading infrastructure. A spokesperson for the firm confirmed that his role would be at the intersection of engineering and quantitative problem-solving.
For Citadel Securities, bringing in a prodigy like Quazi highlights how the financial industry is securing talent that might otherwise have gone to Silicon Valley or AI labs. For Quazi, the move represents both a career shift and a chance to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at such a young age.
From SpaceX to Wall Street
Quazi first drew global attention in 2023 when he became an engineer at SpaceX’s Starlink division at only 14, making history as one of the youngest professionals to join the aerospace giant. After two years working on critical software systems that helped direct satellite beams to provide internet connectivity, he decided it was time for a new challenge.In an interview with Business Insider, Quazi explained that while his work at SpaceX was groundbreaking, the rapid pace and intellectual complexity of quantitative finance drew him toward Citadel Securities. The firm, one of the world’s leading high-frequency trading companies, offered him the chance to apply his engineering expertise in a completely different domain.
Education and Achievements
Kairan’s educational journey has been remarkable. He bypassed traditional schooling milestones, moving from third grade directly to college at the age of nine. By eleven, he had earned an Associate of Science degree in Mathematics from Las Positas College.In 2023, he graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, becoming the youngest graduate in the school’s 170-year history. During his time there, he also served as a student government senator, contributing to campus initiatives and student representation.
Early Career and Challenges
Even before college, Quazi was already making strides in technology. At ten, he interned at Intel Labs, working on predictive speech generation projects. Later, he gained experience in artificial intelligence during an internship at Blackbird.AI.Breaking into the professional world at 14 was not without obstacles. In a 2023 interview with Vogue, he recalled encountering “cultural adultism,” where recruiters often overlooked his skills because of his age. Many companies initially struggled to see past his youth despite his advanced qualifications. SpaceX, however, recognized his talent and gave him a chance to prove himself.
Choosing Finance Over Big Tech and AI
Although Quazi received offers from AI research labs and major technology companies, he ultimately selected finance for its unique blend of intellectual challenge and immediate impact. He explained to Business Insider that unlike AI research, which can take years to show results, the outcomes in quantitative trading are visible within days.At Citadel Securities, he will work closely with both engineers and traders, focusing on advancing the company’s global trading infrastructure. A spokesperson for the firm confirmed that his role would be at the intersection of engineering and quantitative problem-solving.
Life in New York City
Quazi has also embraced a new lifestyle in Manhattan, living independently for the first time. Unlike his days at SpaceX, when his mother drove him to work, he now enjoys the convenience of being just a short walk away from Citadel’s offices.For Citadel Securities, bringing in a prodigy like Quazi highlights how the financial industry is securing talent that might otherwise have gone to Silicon Valley or AI labs. For Quazi, the move represents both a career shift and a chance to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at such a young age.
