Employee Spotlight: Garrett Zelin, Trading Operations Engineer
Garrett brings intellectual curiosity and a passion for technology-driven trading to Tower Research Capital. From an early fascination with markets in middle school to building low-latency systems at Deutsche Bank, Garrett has always sought out the intersection of finance, data, and engineering. After starting his Tower career on the risk team, he made the leap to trading – drawn by a desire to understand, improve, and ultimately help lead cutting-edge systems. Now focused on crypto markets, he thrives on the pace, complexity, and sense of discovery that define this emerging space.
Read on for Garrett’s perspective on career growth, the importance of risk-first thinking in trading, and what it’s like to build on the frontier of finance. To learn more about careers at Tower, explore here.
What first attracted you to Tower?
My career path started back in sixth grade, in Mr. Barrella’s “Investment Decision-Making” class. I threw myself into the online stock trading competition with probably more intensity than was necessary for any 12 year old – but something clicked. Ever since, I’ve been fascinated by the intersection of finance and technology.
That interest followed me to the University of Michigan, where I studied Computer Science and joined the Algorithmic Trading Team. After graduation, I worked at Deutsche Bank as a developer in their low-latency market data and algo execution group. That role really showed me how critical speed and precision are in modern markets. So, when I heard that Tower was using technology to shave nanoseconds off trades, I was immediately intrigued. It felt like the natural next step – a place where people weren’t just talking about the future of trading, they were building it.
How did you transition from risk to trading, and what drew you to that path?
In my view, every great trader is first and foremost a great risk manager, so moving from risk to trading felt like a natural evolution. During my time in risk, I learned to think critically about exposure, tail scenarios, and how even small tweaks can ripple through an entire strategy. I found myself increasingly drawn to the inner workings of trading systems: how they operate, how they succeed, and how I could help make them the best in the world. That curiosity ultimately pushed me to make the leap.
It’s a mindset that still shapes how I approach trading today. Risk management isn’t just a side component; it influences every single decision I make.
What excites you about working in crypto markets?
Crypto feels like the Wild West of finance – in the best way possible. The pace is fast, the rules are still being written, and there’s a constant sense of discovery. What excites me most is the sheer number of open questions. How do you build resilient infrastructure in a 24/7, globally fragmented market? How do you adapt to the constant emergence of new exchanges and coins? Every day presents a new challenge that forces you to think creatively and adapt on the fly.
There’s also a real sense of being early. It feels like we’re helping shape how crypto markets will operate in the future. That blend of technical problem-solving, strategic experimentation, and frontier-building makes it uniquely energizing.
How has the team or environment at Tower supported you through your career transitions?
One of the things I’ve appreciated most about Tower is that it’s a place where curiosity is taken seriously and supported. When I expressed interest in moving from risk to trading, the response was, “Okay, let’s figure out how to make it happen.”
There’s a strong culture here of enabling people to grow into new challenges. I’ve had mentors who took the time to explain the “why” behind decisions, teammates who were generous with their knowledge, and managers who trusted me with real responsibility – even when I was stepping into unfamiliar territory. Transitions are rarely frictionless, but Tower has built an environment where stretching outside your comfort zone is not just accepted, but encouraged. That kind of support has made all the difference in my career journey.
What advice would you give to someone looking to build a career in algorithmic trading?
My best advice: focus on being curious, adaptable, and action-oriented. Algo trading is a fast-paced world where things constantly break, evolve, and move quickly. That’s part of the excitement. You don’t need to know everything on day one, but you do need the mindset to learn fast, take initiative, and stay calm under pressure.
Some of the most valuable contributions come from people who notice what could be better and take the steps to fix it. No matter what you work on in this industry, the ability to think clearly, communicate well, and continuously improve is what really sets people apart. There’s no one perfect skill set or linear path into this field. But if you’re genuinely excited by the work and willing to dive in, you’ll find your place.