Leadership hiring in US FinTech looks a little different this year. It’s no longer about finding someone with a generic “senior” title – it’s about securing highly specialized leaders who combine deep technical expertise with commercial acumen.
The market for top senior talent is fierce, and the companies that win are those able to bring in executives who can scale products, keep regulators happy, and stay ahead of technological shifts.
In this article, we will explore the top 10 FinTech careers to watch, providing insights into the future of the industry and the key roles that will drive innovation and growth. At Storm2, we are committed to helping businesses navigate the complex world of FinTech talent acquisition, this article aims to share our insights and offer our perspective on the year ahead.
Here are the top 10 FinTech careers to look out for:
1. Chief AI Officer / Lead AI Engineer
Artificial intelligence has moved past the pilot stage – now it’s core infrastructure for lending decisions, fraud detection, risk modelling, and personalising customer experiences. Senior AI leaders are being brought in to design and govern these systems, making sure products are both compliant and commercially successful. The ideal candidate blends expertise in machine learning and LLMs with an ability to build teams that deliver at scale.
2. Head of Data / VP Data Science & Analytics
FinTech strategies live and die by the quality of their data insights. Heads of Data direct how organizations handle huge datasets from transactions, customer behaviour, and market sources. They’re tasked with turning raw numbers into actions that improve product performance, reduce risk, and open up new revenue streams. Experience with cloud-native architectures, advanced analytics platforms, and applied AI is now a baseline expectation.
3. Chief Compliance & Risk Officer
With payment companies adopting new rails, crypto products maturing, and embedded finance spreading fast, the regulatory landscape is trickier than ever. Compliance and Risk leaders oversee AML/KYC frameworks, licensing strategies, and global regulatory relationships. Chief Risk Officers are invaluable in keeping growth on track while avoiding the missteps that slow down funding or product launches.
4. Chief Product Officer
Chief product officers are responsible for the direction and delivery of what customers actually interact with – from API-first payment platforms to consumer finance apps. They balance ambitious feature rollouts with usability, security, and compliance demands. In 2025, those with experience in embedded finance, real-time payments, and multi-segment product portfolios are top of the list.
5. Director of Engineering
The technical foundation of a FinTech product has to scale with customer demand, handle sensitive financial data, and integrate seamlessly with partners. Directors of Engineering are charged with ensuring all three. They oversee teams working on API stability, real-time payment processing, and secure architecture – while managing the shift to cloud-native, multi-region deployments.
6. Payments & Embedded Systems Engineers
As real-time settlement through FedNow and other instant rails becomes everyday reality, Payments System Engineers & Embedded Systems Engineers who can connect these systems into B2B and consumer platforms are in short supply. Payment integration leaders work with both internal teams and external partners to embed new payment methods without disrupting existing operations, creating smoother experiences and quicker cash flow.
7. SVP Cybersecurity & Information Security / CISO
Security concerns have stepped up alongside digital product adoption. Cybersecurity leaders are safeguarding open banking APIs, real-time transaction data, and consumer accounts from increasingly complex attacks. Today’s CISOs not only manage technical defences and incident response but also build a security culture across the organization.
8. Head of Blockchain / Head of Digital Assets
Digital currencies, tokenization, and on-chain settlement are no longer fringe ideas. Blockchain leaders in this space oversee both the technical side – blockchain infrastructure, smart contract deployment – and the commercial side, identifying new ways these tools can serve payments, lending, and investment products. Experience navigating crypto regulation is essential.
9. Chief Marketing Officer
As competition across the US FinTech sector intensifies, marketing leaders like CMOs play a crucial role in shaping brand identity, driving customer acquisition, and building trust in digital financial products. These leaders set the overall marketing vision -spanning growth strategy, digital campaigns, content, and community engagement – while ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations and evolving customer behaviors.
10. Director of Business Development
Complex sales cycles and ecosystem partnerships are key in areas like BaaS, embedded finance, and enterprise payment systems. Business Development Directors bring together sales, marketing, and partnership strategies to break into new markets and expand share in existing ones. Relationship-building with banks, tech providers, and distribution partners is a core part of the job.
What’s Driving the Hiring Rush?
- AI and data are now central to competitiveness, creating demand for leaders in those fields.
- Real-time payments and open banking APIs are accelerating the need for technical and integration experts.
- Regulatory requirements are increasing, especially around digital assets and embedded finance, heightening the focus on compliance roles.
- ESG commitments and sustainability are part of investor expectations, pushing companies to bring in leaders who can deliver on them.
- Commercial growth in complex markets depends on senior-level GTM and partnership direction.
Storm2 works with payments innovators, digital banks, and fintech scale-ups across the US to connect them with the senior talent that can deliver on these demands. Whether you need your first Chief AI Officer, a proven VP of Product, or a Head of Embedded Payments who can launch integrations at speed, our specialist teams can help you hire with confidence.
If building your leadership team is top of your list for 2025, get in touch.
