Quant Research Development Associate

About AQR Capital Management

AQR is a global investment management firm built at the intersection of financial theory and practical application. We strive to deliver superior, long-term results for our clients by seeking to filter out market noise to identify and isolate what matters most, and by developing ideas that stand up to rigorous testing. Underpinning this philosophy is an unrelenting commitment to excellence in technology — powering our insights and analysis. This unique combination has made us leaders in alternative and traditional strategies since 1998.

AQR takes a systematic, research-driven approach, applying quantitative tools to process fundamental information and manage risk. Our clients include institutional investors, such as pension funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations and sovereign wealth funds, as well as financial advisors.

The Team

Technology has long been an essential ingredient to our success, and as a Quant Research Development Associate, you will be deeply involved in mission-critical challenges that transform our investment ideas into reality. Collaborating side by side with specialized investment groups and researchers, you will be responsible for designing and implementing proprietary systems and tools that drive the quantitative strategy research and systematic investing that powers AQR.

Your Role as Quant Research Development Associate

As part of the Quant Research Specialized Investment Group (SIG), you will build or extend our:

• SIG Tools, data, and API infrastructure, incorporating millions of data points.
• Intuitive research APIs leveraging cloud computing and cutting-edge visualizations.
• High-performance historical simulation/backtesting engine for vetting new product launches.
• Bespoke technology solutions that satisfy the needs of specific asset classes and research requirements.
• Partnership with not only local but also global teams within the Specialized Investment Group for successful product delivery.

What You’ll Bring

Essential Skills:

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Computational Finance, Data Science, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience as a programmer with expertise in Python, NumPy, and Pandas or a similar quantitative stack.
• Experience with SQL (SQL Server & PostgreSQL preferred) is required.
• Ability to design elegant solutions and translate designs into high-quality code.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good communication skills.

Desired Skills:

• An interest in quantitative finance (no finance / trading experience required).
• Knowledge / Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS) is a plus.
• Demonstrated contributions to open-source software is also a plus.
• An aptitude for mathematics, finance, and econometrics is desired.

Key skills/competency

• Quantitative Finance
• Python
• Numpy
• Pandas
• SQL
• Cloud Computing
• API Development
• Backtesting
• Data Infrastructure
• Problem Solving