F

Fanatics

China-based licensed sports merchandise retailer

Senior AI Engineer - Finance Systems

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/2/2026
$150k - $200k/yr
Senior
New York, NY, USA
In Person
Company Historically Provides H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • Demonstrated experience building and shipping software, automations, internal tools, or AI-enabled solutions, with emphasis on the work built and its impact rather than years of experience.
  • Strong hands-on experience with modern artificial intelligence tools, large language models, agentic workflows, and practical artificial intelligence application development.
  • Experience rapidly prototyping and deploying business-facing technical solutions in fast-paced or ambiguous environments.
  • Strong proficiency in modern programming languages and development frameworks such as Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, or similar technologies.
  • Experience integrating application programming interfaces, operational platforms, databases, and third-party business systems.
  • Ability to independently identify problems, architect solutions, and drive implementation with minimal oversight.
  • Experience building dashboards, workflow automations, reporting tools, or operational systems that improve business processes and decision-making.
  • Strong understanding of artificial-intelligence-assisted development workflows and modern productivity tooling.
  • Ability to balance quick experimentation with thoughtful technical judgment and scalability considerations.
  • Ability to quickly internalize financial processes, business metrics, and operational context, translating business problems into technical solutions without hand-holding.
  • Ability to simplify complex operational challenges into intuitive technical solutions.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills when working directly with business stakeholders and leadership teams.
  • High ownership mindset and ability to independently drive projects from concept through implementation.
  • Practical systems-thinking ability to balance speed, flexibility, and long-term value.
Responsibilities
  • Partner directly with Strategic Finance and operational business teams to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and high-impact opportunities for artificial-intelligence-enabled solutions.
  • Rapidly prototype and implement internal tools, workflows, automations, dashboards, and operational systems that drive measurable business impact.
  • Build artificial-intelligence-native solutions using large language models, intelligent automation, workflow orchestration, and modern artificial intelligence tooling to improve operational speed, visibility, and decision-making.
  • Build integrations and connectors across the tools and platforms used by each function, including Slack, Microsoft 365, Oracle, Snowflake, Sigma, Airtable, and Notion, to streamline workflows, automate handoffs, and centralize information.
  • Translate ambiguous business problems into practical technical solutions focused on speed, usability, and value creation.
  • Develop fluency in the business context, financial processes, and operational priorities of supported functions to independently identify problems.
  • Collaborate with finance, operations, and technology stakeholders to iterate quickly and refine solutions based on real-world feedback and evolving business needs.
  • Work with broader engineering and technology teams to transition high-value solutions into scalable, production-ready systems when appropriate.
  • Evaluate and experiment with emerging artificial intelligence technologies, tools, and frameworks to improve internal capabilities and operational leverage.
  • Serve as a trusted technical partner to business leaders, helping shape solution strategy and implementation priorities.
Desired Qualifications
  • Prior exposure to finance or enterprise environments is a plus.
  • Curiosity about emerging technologies and practical artificial intelligence applications.
  • Builder mentality with a bias toward execution, iteration, and business impact.
  • Comfort operating in ambiguous, evolving, and fast-moving environments.
  • Entrepreneurial and resourceful approach, motivated by creating operational leverage through technology.

About the company

Fanatics China is a joint venture between Fanatics Inc. and Hillhouse Capital that localizes and scales licensed sports merchandise for China. It designs, manufactures, and markets fan gear for Chinese consumers, operating a multi-channel model that includes building and running e-commerce sites for global leagues and teams, exploring online marketplaces, and developing physical retail concepts. Its product workflow combines technology, data, and on-demand manufacturing to manage the entire supply chain, enabling fast response to demand. The company differentiates itself through a China-focused approach backed by Hillhouse’s network and investments, its end-to-end vertical commerce model, and partnerships with hundreds of sports organizations, which together help it navigate China’s complex retail landscape. The goal is to satisfy a previously underserved Chinese market for licensed sports merchandise by creating localized products and channels that connect fans with official gear.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

Growth Equity (Venture Capital)

Total Funding

$5.2B

Headquarters

Huangpu, China

Founded

1995

Get referred to Fanatics

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Fanatics signed exclusive 2026 NFL event-retail rights across Super Bowl and Draft.
  • Fanatics and FIFA expanded into trading cards, stickers, and trading-card games on May 7, 2026.
  • Hong Kong's Hysan Place concept store opened April 6, 2026, proving Asia expansion.

What critics are saying

  • Fanatics is closing Riverview, Florida, distribution center, cutting 286 jobs by July 31, 2026.
  • Fanatics still depends on league licenses; Panini remains entrenched until FIFA transitions in 2031.
  • Losing NFL, MLB, or FIFA renewals would cripple Fanatics' vertically integrated model.

What makes Fanatics unique

  • Fanatics controls design, manufacturing, e-commerce, and on-site retail across major leagues.
  • Topps and Fanatics won FIFA collectibles rights beginning 2031.
  • Hillhouse-backed Fanatics China localizes merchandise for Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Work Life Balance - At Fanatics we place our focus on results and empowerment and encourage you to enjoy your time on and OFF the field with our competitive time off policies.

Recognition and Rewards Program - Fanatics values our internal fans too! Our programs are designed to thank and reward Fanatics athletes for their hard work and commitment to winning as a team.

Company Sponsored Events - From breakfast to happy hour and every hour in between – Fanatics employees can enjoy time together at one of our many company events.

Fanatics.com Employee Discount - As an employee you will receive a special discount on all of your favorite sports merchandise and memorabilia.

Give Back - Fanatics cares about the fans around us. We encourage you to partner up with your teammates in giving back and serving the communities where we work and play.

Meet & Greets - You never know who will show up to the office. You might just meet one of your all-time favorite athletes.

Invest in You - Here at Fanatics we want you to accomplish your goals. We offer tuition reimbursement.

Healthy Lifestyle - Fanatics cares about helping and supporting our teams in their busy lifestyles. Through wellness relationships with fitness and weight management partners we are here to support you in whatever your lifestyle goals.

Wellness Coverage - Your health is important to you – and it’s important to us too! We offer a number of benefit plan options for convenience and flexibility.

Financial Security - Through our plans, Fanatics offers you a way to budget for health care expenses that you’d typically pay for out of pocket.

Retirement - The sooner you begin planning for your retirement, the better. Fanatics offers generous plans to help you prepare for the future.

Network of Support - Fanatics understands that sometimes you may need someone in your corner. Through the Life Assistance Program, you and your family have access to support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Fanatics Family First - Afterall we are #OneFanatics. Put your family first with our paid maternity and paternity leave program, or take advantage of our infertility treatment reimbursement program to get the support you need while you try to grow your family.

IDEA - We invite you to join one of our Employee Resource groups, or celebrate and honor what’s most important to you through our IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equality & Advocacy) floating holiday. We recognize diversity helps foster innovation, and people perform better when they can be themselves. Gender Affirmation Treatment reimbursement is available to employees.

Company News

CNBC
Sep 30th, 2025
Scorability raises $40M to transform recruiting

Scorability, a sports tech platform, raised $40 million in funding led by Bluestone Equity Partners, with participation from Fanatics and others. The startup, founded in 2023 by Brian Cruver, aims to modernize college sports recruiting. It has 1.2 million athletes and 3,000 college sports program users. Scorability is free for athletes, while colleges pay $10k-$40k annually. The platform simplifies recruitment by providing comprehensive data and AI-driven tools for coaches.

Instagram
Aug 25th, 2025
Black Sports Business Symposium on Instagram: "Day one of #BlackSportsBiz launched the inaugural @BlackSportsWallStreet + @Pitch.Black.Sports, presented by @Fanatics, while also featuring @CariChampion, Eli Kumekpor, @RyanHoward_006 and @1JeremiahBrown! 🎤🛍️ Congrats to @Reel_Analytics for winning Pitch Black Sports! We can’t wait to see what’s next for Cory and his team. 📈 🎥: @travisellisonproductions @aumemedia"

417 likes, 21 comments - blacksportsbiz on May 30, 2024: "Day one of #BlackSportsBiz launched the inaugural @BlackSportsWallStreet + @Pitch.Black.Sports, presented by @Fanatics, while also featuring @CariChampion, Eli Kumekpor, @RyanHoward_006 and @1JeremiahBrown! 🎤🛍️ Congrats to @Reel_Analytics for winning Pitch Black Sports! We can’t wait to see what’s next for Cory and his team. 📈 🎥: @travisellisonproductions @aumemedia".

Wall Street Journal
Dec 8th, 2024
WSJ News Exclusive | Fanatics Valuation Rises to $18 Billion as It Plans to Expand Sports Offerings

Fanatics raised a new round of funding valuing the online sports-merchandise retailer at $18 billion, people familiar with the matter said, roughly tripling its valuation from a year ago.

Sports Yahoo
Sep 12th, 2024
Fanatics Launching Events Division With Investment From IMG

Fanatics is launching a new events vertical, in partnership with IMG, to capitalize on the company’s growing suite of business ventures, including merchandise, memorabilia, fashion, music, trading cards and sports betting. Starting next year, Fanatics Events will create fan festivals that feature athletes and brands from across the industry, including those in the Fanatics orbit. […]

Fanatics, Inc.
Sep 12th, 2024
History — Fanatics Inc

What began as a single e-commerce deal in 2002 has grown into a mobile-first, tech and data-fueled consumer brand, built to satisfy global fans who purchase gear in-the-moment when passion is burning highest. Fanatics provides the ultimate shopping experience to sports fans whether buying gear onlin