Quantitative Research Analyst

PIMCO; Newport Beach (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

PIMCO is seeking a Quantitative Research Analyst / Desk Quant to join the front-office Commodities Analytics team in Newport Beach. You will develop quantitative tools, risk analytics, and pre-trade analytics within a Python ecosystem to support Portfolio Managers and traders during US trading hours.

The role requires strong statistics, econometrics, and financial mathematics skills, plus experience modeling commodity processes and exposure to machine learning.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in a highly quantitative discipline; PhD preferred.
• 2–5 years of commodity quant experience; exceptional junior candidates will be considered.
• Strong grounding in probability, statistics, econometrics and financial mathematics.
• Experience modelling commodity-specific processes across power, weather, oil, natural gas, metals or agriculture.
• Advanced Python programming for analytical tools.
• Experience with risk-neutral derivatives modelling and option analytics is desirable.
• Ability to communicate quantitative concepts clearly to front office teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop quantitative tools and studies for relative-value analysis and portfolio decisions in commodity markets.
• Build and maintain models generating risk analytics for positions.
• Develop pre-trade analytics in the Python ecosystem with robust, scalable solutions.
• Provide day-to-day quantitative support during US trading hours for risk management and analysis.
• Research and back-test systematic investment strategies and option analytics.
• Contribute to expanding analytics coverage across energy, metals, agriculture and soft commodities.

Skills

Quantitative research

Statistics

Econometrics

Python programming

Machine learning

Education

Master’s or PhD in a quantitative field

Tools

Python ecosystem (Pandas, NumPy)

Job description

PIMCO is a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. We invest our clients’ capital across a range of fixed income and credit opportunities, leveraging our decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Our flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped us become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and nontraditional solutions for companies that need financing and investors who seek strong risk-adjusted returns.Since 1971, our people have shaped our organization through a high-performance inclusive culture, in which we celebrate diverse thinking. We invest in our people and strive to imprint our CORE values of Collaboration, Openness, Responsibility and Excellence. We believe each of us is here to help others succeed and this has led to PIMCO being recognized as an innovator, industry thought leader and trusted advisor to our clients.JOB DESCRIPTIONThe commodities business is an important part of PIMCO’s investment platform. We are seeking a Quantitative Research Analyst / Desk Quant to join our front-office Commodities Analytics team in Newport Beach. The role will provide direct quantitative support to specialist Portfolio Managers trading listed and OTC derivatives across energy, power, agricultural, metals and soft commodity markets.The successful candidate will combine rigorous statistical and econometric modelling skills with strong commodities knowledge and practical software-development capabilities. Working closely with Portfolio Managers, traders, quantitative researchers and technologists, the analyst will develop research, risk and pre-trade analytics used to identify relative-value opportunities, manage portfolios and support investment decisions. The role will also contribute to the expansion of analytics coverage across commodity markets and the continued development of the team’s technology and AI-enabled research capabilities.RESPONSIBILITIESDevelop quantitative tools and empirical studies to support relative-value analysis, trading-opportunity evaluation and portfolio-management decisions across commodity marketsBuild, enhance and maintain models that generate risk analytics for existing and prospective commodity positionsDevelop pre-trade analytics and research tools within the team’s Python ecosystem, with an emphasis on robust, scalable and reusable solutionsProvide timely quantitative support to Portfolio Managers and traders during US trading hours, including day-to-day risk management and operational analysisResearch, back-test and maintain systematic, option and quantitative investment strategiesApply statistical, econometric and machine-learning techniques to commodity-specific datasets and investment problemsContribute to the enhancement of PIMCO’s technology infrastructure supporting commodity and quantitative strategiesHelp broaden analytics coverage across energy, power, metals, agriculture and soft commoditiesREQUIREMENTSMaster’s degree or PhD in mathematics, statistics, econometrics, financial economics, physics, engineering, computer science or another highly quantitative discipline; PhD preferred2–5 years of relevant experience as a commodity quant supporting a sell-side trading desk or a quantitatively oriented asset manager; exceptional junior candidates with directly relevant doctoral research will also be consideredStrong grounding in probability, statistics, econometrics, financial mathematics and empirical researchDemonstrated experience modelling commodity-specific processes, ideally across one or more of power, weather, oil, natural gas, metals or agricultural marketsStrong statistical and econometric modelling skills; knowledge of risk-neutral derivatives modelling and option analytics is desirableAdvanced programming ability in Python with experience delivering reliable analytical or research toolsExperience developing risk analytics, systematic-strategy research, option-strategy back-tests or pre-trade analyticsExposure to machine learning, AI engineering or modern data-science techniques is desirableAbility to work closely with Portfolio Managers and traders, communicate complex quantitative concepts clearly and deliver accurate analysis in a time-sensitive front-office environmentCollaborative, intellectually curious and self-directed, with strong attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality research and implementationPIMCO follows a total compensation approach when rewarding employees which includes a base salary and a discretionary bonus. Base salary is the fixed component of compensation that is determined by core job responsibilities, relevant experience, internal level, and market factors. The discretionary bonus is used to award performance and therefore is determined by company, business, team, and individual performance.Salary Range: $ 165,000.00 - $ 240,000.00Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action StatementPIMCO recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, national origin, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), age, military or veteran status, disability (physical or mental), any factor prohibited by law, and as such affirms in policy and practice to support and promote the concept of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, provincial and municipal laws. The company also prohibits discrimination on other basis such as medical condition, or marital status under applicable laws.Applicants with DisabilitiesPIMCO is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities, including veterans, in job application procedures. If you have any difficulty using our online system due to a disability and you would like to request an accommodation, you may contact us at 949-720-7744 and leave a message. This is a dedicated line designed exclusively to assist job seekers with disabilities to apply online. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.