Quantitative Research Analyst

About the role

The 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.

Responsibilities

• Develop quantitative tools and empirical studies to support relative-value analysis, trading-opportunity evaluation and portfolio-management decisions across commodity markets
• Build, enhance and maintain models that generate risk analytics for existing and prospective commodity positions
• Develop pre-trade analytics and research tools within the team's Python ecosystem, with an emphasis on robust, scalable and reusable solutions
• Provide timely quantitative support to Portfolio Managers and traders during US trading hours, including day-to-day risk management and operational analysis
• Research, back-test and maintain systematic, option and quantitative investment strategies
• Apply statistical, econometric and machine-learning techniques to commodity-specific datasets and investment problems
• Contribute to the enhancement of PIMCO's technology infrastructure supporting commodity and quantitative strategies
• Help broaden analytics coverage across energy, power, metals, agriculture and soft commodities

Requirements

• Master's degree or PhD in mathematics, statistics, econometrics, financial economics, physics, engineering, computer science or another highly quantitative discipline; PhD preferred
• 2-5 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 considered
• Strong grounding in probability, statistics, econometrics, financial mathematics and empirical research
• Demonstrated experience modelling commodity-specific processes, ideally across one or more of power, weather, oil, natural gas, metals or agricultural markets
• Strong statistical and econometric modelling skills; knowledge of risk-neutral derivatives modelling and option analytics is desirable
• Advanced programming ability in Python with experience delivering reliable analytical or research tools
• Experience developing risk analytics, systematic-strategy research, option-strategy back-tests or pre-trade analytics
• Exposure to machine learning, AI engineering or modern data-science techniques is desirable
• Ability to work closely with Portfolio Managers and traders, communicate complex quantitative concepts clearly and deliver accurate analysis in a time-sensitive front-office environment
• Collaborative, intellectually curious and self-directed, with strong attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality research and implementation

Pay and benefits

PIMCO 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 - $ 240,000.00