Senior Research Associate - Global Equity (Technology)

William Blair

Chicago (IL)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 130,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Employer paid disability and life保险

401(k) and profit sharing

Paid time off

Maven family & fertility benefit

Parental leave

Job summary

William Blair is seeking a Senior Research Associate to support senior analysts in covering the global technology sector, including hardware, software, semiconductors, and communications services.

The role offers cross-functional exposure across business models, geographies, and market caps, ideal for someone early in their investment career with curiosity about the sector and interest in AI-enabled research.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Engineering, or Computer Science; MBA/CFA preferred.
3+ years in sell-side equity research, investment banking, or buy-side roles.
Strong financial modeling and accounting/statement analysis skills.
Interest in complex tech business models and AI-enabled research workflows.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and industry data sources.
Global experience or interest — cross-cultural or international exposure valued.
Strong written and verbal communication; ability to work across teams and with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Support idea generation and company analysis across global technology names, building financial models including revenue forecasts, margin analysis, cash flow projections, and valuation work.
Conduct primary research: read filings, transcripts, and sell-side notes; track industry news, supply chain developments, and competitive dynamics, including AI infrastructure, semiconductor, and software trends.
Develop expertise in AI tools, workflows, and applications relevant to investment research and model maintenance.
Prepare research notes, earnings summaries, presentations, and other materials to communicate investment ideas and research findings to portfolio managers.
Participate in meetings, site visits, and conferences; document key takeaways for ongoing analysis.
Maintain organized, current research databases and gather market, company, and financial data.
Collaborate with senior analysts and portfolio managers to identify new investment ideas and securities across industry groups.
Ensure all work activities comply with applicable rules and procedures.

Skills

Financial modeling

AI tools

Investment concepts

Microsoft Office

Global exposure

Written & verbal communication

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Engineering, or Computer Science

MBA or CFA designation preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Industry data sources

Job description

Solutions for Today’s Challenges. Vision for Tomorrow’s Opportunities.

Join William Blair, the Premier Global Partnership.

The Senior Research Associate will support senior analysts in covering the global technology sector across hardware, software, semiconductors, and communication services. The role offers broad exposure: working across tech business models, portfolios, market capitalizations, and geographies. This role suits someone early in their investment career who has genuine intellectual curiosity about the global technology sector and a drive to build fluency in AI tools and workflows as part of the research process. Deep technical expertise isn't required, but genuine interest in global investing, the sector and enthusiasm for modern research methods are essential.

Responsibilities

Support idea generation and company analysis across global technology names, building and maintaining financial models including revenue forecasts, margin analysis, cash flow projections, and valuation work. Work across business models, geographies, and potentially across different parts of the market cap range, supporting multiple portfolios and strategies.
Conduct primary research: read filings, transcripts, and sell-side notes; track industry news, supply chain developments, and competitive dynamics, including AI infrastructure, semiconductor, and software trends. Develop detailed knowledge of assigned industries and companies and keep abreast of related market developments.
Develop and continually build expertise in AI tools, workflows, and applications relevant to investment research, including using AI to accelerate data gathering, synthesis, screening, and model maintenance, and help identify new ways AI can improve team research processes.
Prepare research notes, earnings summaries, presentations, and other materials to communicate investment ideas, research findings, and opinions to portfolio managers and the broader investment team.
Participate in company and management meetings, site visits, sell-side broker meetings, and industry conferences; help document key takeaways and maintain information for ongoing analysis.
Maintain organized, current research databases across coverage names. Gather, analyze, and organize market, company, and financial performance data.
Collaborate closely with senior analysts and portfolio managers across strategies, assisting in identifying and formulating new investment ideas and recommending securities across targeted industry groups.
Ensure all work activities are in compliance with applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required; Finance, Economics, Engineering, or Computer Science backgrounds all welcome. MBA or CFA designation preferred.
3+ years of relevant experience in sell-side equity research, investment banking, or buy-side investment roles preferred.
Strong financial modeling and accounting/statement analysis skills. Knowledge of data gathering and analysis best practices and methodologies. Solid grounding in investment concepts and products.
Either experience or demonstrated interest in complex tech business models: semiconductors, hardware supply chain, software, communication services. Genuine curiosity about the technology sector, and enthusiasm for building domain expertise and AI-enabled research workflows on the job; prior tech-specific coverage is a plus, not a requirement.
Comfortable working with, and eager to expand skills in, AI-assisted research tools and modern data platforms. Proficient in Microsoft Office and industry-standard data sources.
Demonstrated global experience or interest — cultural immersion, language skills, or international exposure valued.
Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to build relationships and work collaboratively across multiple teams, investment professionals, and stakeholders. Ability to work independently in support of team goals.

A reasonable estimate of the current base salary range at time of posting is below. Base salary does not include other forms of compensation or benefits. Actual base salary within the specified range is based on several factors, including but not limited to applicant's skills, prior relevant experience, specific degrees and certifications, job responsibilities, market considerations and, if applicable, the location of the position.

This role is eligible for either a discretionary annual bonus (based on company, business unit and individual performance) and/or commission-based incentives.

Our featured benefit offerings include medical, dental and vision coverage, employer paid short & long-term disability and life insurance, 401(k), profit sharing, paid time off, Maven family & fertility benefit, parental leave (including adoption, surrogacy, and foster placement), as well as other voluntary benefits.

Salary Range

$120,000—$130,000 USD

About Our Firm

William Blair strives to attract qualified candidates who specialize in investment banking, investment management, private wealth management, and other strategic resource groups. We are committed to empowering our colleagues to deliver client success and engage in our communities. Our firm has delivered trusted advice for nine decades, continuing to deepen our expertise and relationships across asset classes and markets throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet clients’ evolving needs amid dynamic market conditions and varying industries. What sets us apart is that we are an independent partnership, with colleagues who have unique experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. We empower our people to bring their best thinking so we can deliver the tailored, thoughtful work and problem-solving abilities that our clients expect. We invite you to learn more about us by visiting williamblair.com.

William Blair is an equal opportunity employer. It complies with all laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in employment practice because of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, marital status, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, unfavorable discharge from the military service or on the basis of a physical or mental disability that is unrelated to the employee's ability to perform the duties of the job applied for. EOE m/f/d/v

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