Investment Grade Corporate Trader

Franklin Templeton; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Asset Management, part of Franklin Templeton, seeks an IG Trader in Pasadena, CA to shape global fixed-income portfolios. You will work with portfolio managers and analysts to influence positioning, generate ideas, and enhance outcomes within a highly collaborative platform.

The role emphasizes risk, liquidity, and macro insight across investment-grade credits, requiring multiple trading platforms and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years trading, investment team experience, or risk management in fixed income.
• Prior experience supporting an investment grade credit desk is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of macro research and portfolio management; strong growth mindset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication to justify trade ideas.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills; comfortable with trading analytics.
• Experience with multiple trading platforms (Tradeweb, MarketAxess, Bloomberg, Trumid) and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Execute alpha-generating trades across corporate subsectors for fixed income strategies and mandates.
• Partner with Portfolio Managers to contribute to portfolio outcomes.
• Generate market insights and ideas, including relative-value analysis across corporate bonds.
• Develop counterparty relationships and communicate market liquidity and pricing dynamics.
• Identify relative value opportunities across subsectors.
• Participate in global team and firm-wide investment strategy meetings.
• Engage with clients and stakeholders to represent Western Asset’s trading views.

Skills

Fixed income trading

Analytical skills

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Undergraduate degree required

CFA or MBA preferred

Tools

Tradeweb

MarketAxess

Bloomberg

Trumid

Excel

Job description

Western Asset Management (WAM) is part of Franklin Templeton, a forward-thinking asset manager that has built its success through powerful partnerships. We leverage cutting-edge strategies and deep insights to unlock opportunities for long-term wealth creation. Our talented, global teams bring expertise that is both broad and unique.

Western Asset Management focuses on supporting our clients’ financial goals and creating positive outcomes for all kinds of people. Primarily a globally integrated fixed-income manager, we source ideas and investment solutions worldwide, with an emphasis on long-term fundamental value investing, using multiple diversified strategies.

Western Asset is a global asset management firm renowned for its expertise in fixed-income investments. Operating as a cohesive team, we leverage an open, integrated investment platform to deliver superior results. Our collegial team culture is a significant asset, enabling us to harness the combined experience and fixed-income acumen of our investment professionals worldwide.

Western Asset is a global asset management firm renowned for its expertise in fixed-income investments. Operating as a cohesive team, we leverage an open, integrated investment platform to deliver superior results. Our collegial team culture is a significant asset, enabling us to harness the combined experience and fixed-income acumen of our investment professionals worldwide. With approximately $225 billion USD in fixed income strategies managed globally, we pride ourselves on our dedication to excellence and collaborative spirit.

Western Asset is owned by Franklin Templeton, a diversified firm that spans asset management, wealth management, and fintech, giving us many ways to help investors make progress toward their goals. With clients in over 150 countries and offices on six continents, you’ll get exposed to different cultures, people, and business development happening around the world.

As an IG Trader supporting Western Asset’s Investment Grade team in Pasadena, CA you will play a direct role in shaping global fixed‑income portfolios, contributing actively to investment decision‑making. Working at the intersection of risk, liquidity, and macro insight, you will partner closely with portfolio managers and research analysts to influence positioning, generate ideas, and optimize portfolio outcomes. This is a highly collaborative role within a globally integrated investment platform.

What you will do

• Execute alpha generating trades across various corporate subsectors for a variety of fixed income strategies and mandates.
• Operate as a trusted trading partner to Portfolio Managers and actively contribute to portfolio outcomes.
• Generate market insight and research ideas within assigned markets, including relative‑value analysis across all sectors of the corporate bond market.
• Develop and maintain strong counterparty relationships, gathering and communicating market intelligence on liquidity, flows, and pricing dynamic.
• Identify and recommend relative value opportunities within and across all corporate subsectors.
• Actively participate in global team and firm-wide investment strategy meetings.
• Engage with clients and external stakeholders where appropriate, representing Western Asset’s trading and investment viewpoint

What you bring

• A minimum of 3-5 years of experience trading, working on an investment team, or managing risk in fixed income markets.
• Previous experience supporting investment grade credit desk highly preferred.
• Knowledge of macro research and portfolio management with desire for personal and professional growth and the desire to take on fresh challenges.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to explain and justify trade recommendations.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills.
• Experience and comfort using trading analytics, a variety of trading platforms (Tradeweb, Market Axess, Bloomberg, Trumid, etc, data analysis, and advanced Excel.
• Intellectual curiosity and sound decision‑making under pressure.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment, with an ability to make decisions based on logic, reason and knowledge.
• A collaborative mindset and genuine interest in contributing to a global investment team.
• Undergraduate degree required; CFA or MBA is preferred

Expected base salary for the role will generally be between $135,000 - $165,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base salary if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include other forms of compensation such as, discretionary bonuses, short and long-term incentive packages, and Company-sponsored benefit programs.

Franklin Templeton is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees, and we evaluate qualified applicants without regard to ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, or gender expression, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation.