Associate - Data Scientist

About this role

This role sits within Preqin, a part of BlackRock. Preqin plays a key role in how we are revolutionizing private markets data and technology for clients globally, complementing our existing Aladdin technology platform to deliver investment solutions for the whole portfolio.

You will develop market-leading data products, methodologies, models and analytics in private markets data for Preqin’s client base of institutional investors, fund managers and service providers. You will deliver high quality solutions for our clients, working closely with them to not only understand but pre-empt their needs. Solutions could include analytics, statistical modelling, forecasting, predictive modelling, ML and AI. Your work will position BlackRock as the preeminent private markets’ technology and data provider, strengthening their ability to serve clients’ whole portfolios across public and private markets by combining investment, technology, and data solutions in one platform.

Key responsibilities:

• You will work as a “full stack” data scientist, taking projects from problem formulation to production, independently, as part of a team, or as the team lead.

• Understand and translate business problems into smart, pragmatic, high-quality Python solutions that leverage quantitative, data-driven techniques.

• Define and run targeted analysis and experiments to reduce uncertainty before initiating long-term projects and critically evaluating the available options.

• Exemplify and demonstrate best-practice data science and machine learning across the business and ensure models are re-usable and continuously improved.

• Design and implement scalable, reliable data pipelines that ingest, process, and deliver high-quality data to downstream applications.

• Enable in-production monitoring of data science and ML solutions.

• Design, guide and support data validation and quality assurance activities to assure and improve the robustness and quality of datasets.

• Author and maintain methodologies and client-facing documentation, and present results and recommendations clearly, succinctly, and honestly to a variety of audiences.

• Understand and maintain existing codebases and system architectures, as well as develop solutions from scratch.

• Collaborate with stakeholders, product owners, designers, analysts and other data scientists to design solutions which make sure our clients’ needs are met and the best technical solutions are adopted.

Skills and experience required:

• Strong background in data science, computer science, applied mathematics, statistics, or another quantitative field.

• Proficient / intermediate level programming skills in Python.

• Experience using foundational Python data science libraries (e.g. pandas, numpy, scikit-learn, …).

• Experience with SQL and working with databases like Postgres and Snowflake.

• Experience of working within cloud environments (Azure and AWS preferred).

• Comfortable with sourcing, cleaning, transforming, analysing and visualising data of wide range of types, volumes and quality.

• Confident with diverse techniques for testing your code.

• Track record of working as part of a data science or similar team and successfully delivering end-to-end analytics/ML/data science solutions in a commercial setting.

• A highly motivated, inquisitive, customer-centric collaborator, with a willingness to learn new technologies and ways of working, who demonstrates a “let’s do it” and “challenge accepted” attitude when faced with less well-known or challenging tasks.

• A data-driven approach to make development decisions based on robust analyses.

• Motivation to explore diverse and potentially unknown techniques. Ability to propose creative, efficient, and effective solutions to new types of problems.

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely at all seniority levels, with both technical and non-technical audience.

Desirable skills include:

Knowledge of Infra-as-code (Terraform), CI/CD pipelines, and Kubernetes, software collaboration experience using version control, preferably Git. Experience using software development / deployment tools, platforms, and best practices e.g., CI/CD pipelines, and containerization technology. Experience with AI-related technologies and products. Working knowledge of the financial services sector, private markets and alternative assets.

Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of employee benefits including: retirement investment and tools designed to help you in building a sound financial future; access to education reimbursement; comprehensive resources to support your physical health and emotional well-being; family support programs; and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected characteristics at law.