Quantitative MBS Research Analyst

Vanguard; Malvern (Chester County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard’s Fixed Income team is seeking a Quantitative MBS Research Analyst to translate complex data into actionable insights that influence investment outcomes across multiple active funds.

You will partner with portfolio management and trading teams, exploring machine learning and alternative data to shape strategies for agency residential MBS and ACMBS with long‑term client success at the core.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduate degree preferred.
• Knowledge of capital markets and investment concepts. Knowledge of Agency MBS preferred.
• Minimum of three years of related work experience.
• Technical skillset (i.e. coding, analytics, finance, fixed income products).
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong conceptual thinking skills with the ability to connect quantitative analysis, market dynamics, and investment strategy into actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Provides thought leadership to identify and implement new initiatives that improve fixed income fund returns and lower costs.
• Works independently on projects under senior guidance to support fixed income investment decision processes and generate data‑driven insights for the Agency MBS desk.
• Explores machine learning techniques and alternative data sources to enhance fixed income investment decision‑making.
• Performs analysis to support fixed income strategies, develops new quantitative measures, and contributes to new investment strategies.
• Develops business acumen to bring informed perspectives to investment management teams.
• Communicates complex concepts clearly to portfolio management and trading teams, tailoring messages to the audience.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Coding

Machine learning

Fixed income knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or related field

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

Provides research and analysis to improve the understanding of the expected risk and return of fixed income assets under management, and supports quantitative research initiatives.

Join Vanguard’s Fixed Income team as a Quantitative MBS Research Analyst, where your quantitative expertise, market knowledge, and ability to translate complex data into actionable insights will directly influence investment outcomes across multiple active funds at Vanguard. In this role, you’ll partner closely with portfolio management and trading teams to enhance fixed income decision‑making, explore innovative techniques such as machine learning and alternative data, and help shape strategies that seek to generate excess returns across various agency residential (MBS) and commercial mortgage‑backed securities (ACMBS). This is an opportunity for a thoughtful, analytical professional to make a meaningful impact within a mission‑driven investment organization known for putting long‑term client success at the center of everything we do.

Responsibilities

• Provides thought leadership and advocacy to identify and implement new initiatives that improve fixed income fund returns and lower their costs.
• Works independently on projects under the guidance of senior specialists, to support the fixed income investment decision processes, utilizing specialized quantitative skills. Generates value‑add insights and provides data‑driven solutions to enhance fixed income investment outcomes for the active Agency MBS desk.
• Investigates machine learning techniques and alternative data sources to introduce innovative techniques and methods in support of fixed income investment decision‑making.
• Independently creates and performs analysis to support fixed income investment strategies, creates new quantitative measures, and contributes to new investment strategies. Enhances existing models, tests alternative data sources, and communicates results.
• Develops business acumen to bring an informed perspective to investment management teams.
• Uses communication and interpersonal skills to integrate with the portfolio management and trading teams, adding a quantitative perspective to their day‑to‑day interactions with and interpretations of market developments. Tailors communication of complex concepts to the audience.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduate degree preferred.
• Knowledge of capital markets and investment concepts. Knowledge of Agency MBS preferred.
• Minimum of three years of related work experience.
• Technical skillset (i.e. coding, analytics, finance, fixed income products).
• Highly self‑motivated, output‑oriented individual driven by intellectual curiosity.
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong conceptual thinking skills with the ability to connect quantitative analysis, market dynamics, and investment strategy into actionable insights.

Special Factors

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.