Aladdin Financial Engineering Data Scientist Associate

About this role

BlackRock Overview:

BlackRock is one of the world’s preeminent asset management firms and a premier provider of global investment management, risk management and advisory services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors around the world. BlackRock offers a range of solutions — from rigorous fundamental and quantitative active management approaches aimed at maximizing outperformance to highly efficient indexing strategies designed to gain broad exposure to the world’s capital markets. Our clients can access our investment solutions through a variety of product structures, including individual and institutional separate accounts, mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles, and the industry-leading iShares® ETFs.

Aladdin Financial Engineering Group (AFE)

AFE is a diverse and global team with a keen interest and expertise in all things related to technology and financial analytics.  The group is responsible for the research and development of quantitative financial and behavioral models and tools across many different areas – single-security pricing, prepayment models, risk, return attribution, liquidity, optimization and portfolio construction, scenario analysis and simulations, etc. – and covering all asset classes. The group is also responsible for the technology platform that delivers those models to our internal partners and external clients, and their integration with Aladdin.

AFE conducts leading research on the areas above, delivering state-of-the-art models. AFE publishes applied scientific research frequently, and our members present regularly at leading industry conferences. AFE engages constantly with the sales team in client visits and meetings.

Job Description

You can help conduct research to build quantitative financial models and portfolio analytics that help managing most of the money of the world’s largest asset manager. You can bring all yourself to the job. From the top of the firm down we embrace the values, identities and ideas brought by our employees.

We are looking for curious people with a strong background in data science, quantitative research and machine learning, have awesome problem-solving skills, insatiable appetite for learning and innovating, adding to BlackRock’s vibrant research culture.

If any of this excites you, we are looking to expand our team. We currently have Data Scientist role with the AFE Investment AI (IAI) Team, India (Mumbai or Gurugram location). The securities market is undergoing a massive transformation as the industry is embracing machine learning and, more broadly, AI, to help evolve the investment process. Pioneering this journey at BlackRock, the team has better deliver applied AI investment analytics to help both BlackRock and Aladdin clients achieve scale through automation while safeguarding alpha generation.  The IAI team combines AI / ML methodology and technology skills with deep subject matter expertise in fixed income, equity, and multi-asset markets, and the buyside investment process.

We are building next generation liquidity, security similarity and pricing models leveraging our expertise in quantitative research, data science and machine learning. The models we build use innovative machine learning approaches, have real practical value and are used by traders and portfolio managers alike. Our models use cutting edge econometric/statistical methods and tools. The models themselves have real practical value and are used by traders, portfolio managers and risk managers representing different investment styles (fundamental vs. quantitative) and across different investment horizons.  Research is conducted predominantly in Python and Scala, and implemented into production by a separate, dedicated team of developers.  These models have a huge footprint of usage across the entire Aladdin client base, and so we place special emphasis on scalability and ensuring adherence to BlackRock’s rigorous standards of model governance and control.

Background and Responsibilities

We are looking to hire a Data Scientist with 4+ years’ experience to join AFE Investment AI India team focusing on Trading and Liquidity to work closely with other data scientists/researchers to support Risk Mangers, Portfolio Managers and Traders. We build cutting edge liquidity analytics using a wide range of ML algos and a broad array of technologies (Python, Scala, Spark/Hadoop, GCP, Azure). This role is a great opportunity to work closely with the Portfolio Managers, Risk Managers and Trading team, spanning areas such as:

• Design, develop, and maintain data pipelines to extract, transform, and load data from various sources into our data warehouse/lake.
• Work with data scientists and analysts to understand data needs and design appropriate data models.
• Implement data quality checks and ensure the accuracy and consistency of data throughout the processing pipeline.
• Perform analysis of large data sets comprising of market data, trading data and derived analytics.
• Design and develop model surveillance framework.
• Automate data processing tasks using scripting languages (e.g., Python, Scala) and orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow, Luigi).
• Utilize cloud-based data platforms (e.g., GCP, Azure, etc.) to manage and process large datasets efficiently.
• Implement the ML models/analytics for Trading/Liquidity and integrate into Aladdin analytical system in accordance with BlackRock’s model governance policy.

Qualifications:

• B.Tech / B.E. / M.Sc. degree in a quantitative discipline (Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Finance or similar area). MS/M.Tech. / PhD is a plus.
• Strong background in Mathematics, Statistics, Probability, Linear Algebra
• Knowledgeable about data mining, data analytics, data modeling
• Experience with data engineering tools and technologies (e.g., Apache Spark, Hadoop).
• Strong understanding of relational and non-relational databases (e.g., SQL, NoSQL).
• Proficiency in scripting languages for data manipulation and automation (e.g., Python, Scala).
• Experience working with cloud platforms for data storage and processing (e.g., Azure, GCP).
• Ability to work independently and efficiently in a fast-paced and team-oriented environment.
• Previous experience or knowledge in fixed income market and market liquidity is not required but a big plus.

For professionals with no prior financial industry experience, this position is a unique opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the asset management process in a world-class organization.

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

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected attributes at law.