Associate, Quantitative Investment Professional

About the Team

BlackRock SMA Solutions helps clients customize portfolios for unique tax, values-alignment, or investment exposures across direct indexing, fixed income, active equity, and multi-asset. We deliver world-class service to all of our clients, from wealth advisors to family offices to endowments and foundations.

About the Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic quantitative analyst to join the Investment Policy and Process team. The team is a key contributor to scale across SMA Solutions investment ecosystem; continuously seeking ways to enhance our investment process and discipline across our platforms. The ideal candidate will help expand the utilization of optimization in the fixed income and multi-asset portfolio management process. This position is situated in a fast-paced environment and will provide significant contribution in enhancing the productivity and scalability of the SMA Solutions’ business.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform quantitative analyses utilizing backtesting and large-scale sample testing.
• Serve as a key contributor for scaling our current investment process and for creating new investment solutions.
• Work in a collaborative environment to develop portfolio optimization solutions utilizing BlackRock’s Aladdin APIs /platform.
• Develop software solutions primarily in Python and SQL.
• Interact with portfolio managers to understand investment processes.
• Test and validate optimization solutions along with portfolio managers to ensure solutions are consistent with the strategy objectives and investment guidelines.
• Interact with SMA Solutions technology teams to ensure proper rollout of new functionality.
• Identify areas of improvement within workflow management.
• Provide and maintain a clear and accurate documentation on optimization solutions and services.
• Provide ongoing support on solutions and services as the project matter expert.

Required Knowledge/Experience

• Experience in Python Programming with a deep understanding of core libraries and concepts.
• At least 3 years of experience in optimization and/or data engineering.
• Knowledge and experience addressing data quality, scalability and reliability.
• Undergraduate degree is required, and an advanced degree (Masters) is a plus within a technical field (Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics).
• Ability to work and deliver under minimal direction/independently.
• Ability to work efficiently and multi-task in a fast-paced and collaborative environment.
• Strong attention to detail. Strong interpersonal skills (both written and verbal) to work with, train, and support users of platform tools and processes.
• Proven problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot software issues.

Helpful Knowledge/Experience

• Experience working with relational/non-relational and cloud databases and understanding of storage technologies.
• An interest in and general understanding of financial markets especially the fixed income markets, including drivers of return and risk.
• Familiarity with BlackRock Aladdin toolset is helpful.
• Work experience with financial and markets preferred.

Our Benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our Hybrid Work Model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being. Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

Key skills/competency

• Quantitative Analysis
• Portfolio Optimization
• Python Programming
• SQL
• Data Engineering
• Financial Markets
• Fixed Income
• Aladdin Platform
• Backtesting
• Workflow Management