Private Markets Quant Strategist: Portfolio Optimization

First Recruiting, LLC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

First Recruiting, LLC is seeking a Private Markets Quant Analyst in New York to design and maintain advanced investment strategies across real estate, infrastructure, and private equity. You will build optimization models, assess risk, and support capital formation.

The role requires 4+ years in private markets, strong Python/SQL skills, and experience with factor models and data visualization tools. You’ll collaborate with PMs, analysts, and risk managers to deliver rigorous portfolio solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, or another highly quantitative field.
• 4+ years of experience within a leading private markets investment manager, pension fund, sovereign wealth fund, endowment, OCIO, or asset manager.
• Strong understanding of private market cash flow dynamics including capital calls, distributions, NAV evolution, commitment pacing, liquidity forecasting.
• Strong programming skills within SQL, Python and experience with portfolio optimization software preferred.
• Experience working with factor models used in portfolio construction and risk management (Bloomberg, Barra, Axioma, etc.).
• Knowledge of portfolio optimization techniques used to target different outcomes (yield, volatility, MOIC maximation, downside protection) with complex constraints.
• Effective communicator, both oral and written, with ability to present with clarity, precision and conviction.
• Experience working with large datasets and data visualization tools (Tableau, Python, R).

Responsibilities

• Design and implement portfolio optimization frameworks for private market portfolios across multiple asset classes.
• Develop optimization models that incorporate illiquidity, capital calls, distributions, pacing, vintage diversification, sector/geographic constraints, and leverage.
• Develop quantitative models for expected returns, risk, cash flow forecasting, and correlations across private market investments.
• Build simulation engines using Monte Carlo and scenario analysis to evaluate portfolio outcomes under different economic environments.
• Work with private market data providers (Cambridge, MSCI/Burgiss/Preqin)
• Contribute to the build out of private market risk measurements (factor models, de-smoothing volatility, manager/investment level dispersion, stress testing)
• Work closely with Portfolio Managers, fundamental investment analysts, and risk management
• Thought leadership pieces and whitepapers on private portfolio construction, design, and risk assessment

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Portfolio optimization

Python programming

SQL programming

Data visualization

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in a highly quantitative field

Tools

Bloomberg

Barra

Axioma

Job description

First Recruiting, LLC is seeking a Private Markets Quant Analyst in New York to design and maintain advanced investment strategies across real estate, infrastructure, and private equity. You will build optimization models, assess risk, and support capital formation.

The role requires 4+ years in private markets, strong Python/SQL skills, and experience with factor models and data visualization tools. You’ll collaborate with PMs, analysts, and risk managers to deliver rigorous portfolio solutions.