Vice President or Associate, Algo Engineer - Portfolio Management Architecture team, Indexed Fixed Income (IFI) business

About this role

Job Purpose/Background:

The Index Fixed Income (IFI) team has responsibility for managing Blackrock’s Index Fixed Income portfolios, including Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), mutual funds, & segregated mandates. The IFI team liaises closely with many areas of Fixed Income and is responsible for ensuring that Fixed Income portfolios are managed efficiently and in a consistent and risk-controlled manner.

BlackRock’s IFI business is the leading index investment group in the world. We help investors build better portfolios with the industry’s leading suite of index investment tools. We manage over $1.5 trillion in global index fixed income assets across Developed and Emerging Markets. Our clients include corporate and public pension plans, central banks, sovereign wealth funds and retail investors.

The PM Architecture team are designing and developing portfolio construction algorithms to significantly increase automation and productivity across IFI globally.  They are also partnering with Technology teams to develop the core platform with which to deploy algorithms robustly at scale.  Algorithms have already been successfully deployed which are event-based and automatically propose order lists that rebalance funds back to target.  A key focus is developing algorithms and analytics to support the rapid growth of Fixed Income ETFs.

A successful candidate will be familiar with management of a wide range of Fixed Income funds and have strong technology skills, allowing them to develop both prototypes which make immediate improvements to the PM process and then refine them into production solutions that can operate at scale.  They will also have the communication skills to partner with PM, Trading, and Technology teams to guide the integration of these algorithms into the investment process and leverage core BlackRock technology.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design efficient algorithms and optimizers to automate key portfolio construction processes
• Develop both prototypes and production tools
• Partner with PMs to integrate these tools into daily processes and continually refine them
• On occasion, undertake portfolio management activities to develop a deeper understanding of specific investment processes
• Partner with BlackRock Technology teams to design and develop the core “Algo Platform”
• Develop other desk tools to support the Core PM investment process.
• Partner with BlackRock Technology teams to ensure existing applications continue to evolve to support Core PM needs
• Develop reporting methods & analytics on new tools to ensure improvements can be measured

Knowledge/Experience/Qualifications:

• Strong quantitative background (at least BA/BS in Maths/Science/Engineering/related discipline).
• Strong programming skills in at least two of the following: Python, Visual Basic, R, MATLAB, Java, C++
• Experience of working as Portfolio Manager, either directly or alongside
• Working knowledge of Fixed Income markets
• Familiarity across a range of funds and investment styles (index/active, fundamental/quantitative)
• Excellent problem-solving skills and process-oriented approach
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills
• Knowledge of BlackRock Aladdin tools beneficial

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.