Quantitative Research Engineer

Zürich

Full time

The Financial Engineering team serves as the center of excellence for quantitative research and artificial intelligence within Swiss Life Asset Managers' portfolio management. We are responsible for designing and analyzing systematic investment strategies, security selection models, hedging approaches, and advanced portfolio construction and optimization techniques. Our work includes developing quantitative forecasting models to enhance the investment process and support strategic portfolio optimization. The team collaborates closely with portfolio managers throughout both the analytical and implementation phases of each strategy. In addition, we advise institutional clients on portfolio optimization within client-specific constraints as part of our asset-liability management services. Beyond research and advisory, we also develop AI-driven applications that are deployed across the organization to improve efficiency and decision-making. You will have the unique opportunity to grow professionally by developing new skills, learning about other fields, and collaborating with a new team. You will be at the forefront of building exciting solutions for our company and making an essential contribution in connecting the dots across our divisions. We welcome applications from recent graduates and early-career professionals eager to develop expertise across quantitative finance, AI, and engineering.
Location
: Zurich (limited remote). Team across two sites: Zurich and Paris. In this interdisciplinary and challenging environment, we are looking for a motivated
Quantitative Research Engineer (f/m/d)
, whose tasks will include:

Responsibilities

• Designing and developing advanced AI applications, including LLM-based agentic systems for process automation and decision-making.
• Analyzing and optimizing client portfolios under specific constraints and objectives as part of asset-liability management.
• Implementing portfolio construction and optimization techniques.
• Developing and deploying systematic investment and risk management strategies.
• Building quantitative models to support investment decision-making processes.
• Supporting the team in client presentations and meetings (with growing responsibility).
• Applying machine learning algorithms to solve challenges in asset management and finance.

Experience

• MSc or PhD in applied mathematics, natural sciences, computer science, or quantitative finance/economics.
• Strong background in AI and machine learning methodologies.
• Solid foundation in statistics, stochastic processes, numerical mathematics, and optimization techniques.
• Strong hands-on OOP in Python; comfortable across the Python data/ML stack (pandas, NumPy/SciPy, scikit-learn, Pydantic, FastAPI etc.).
• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure and CI/CD practices, including containerization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; results-oriented, self-motivated, eager to learn, and a collaborative team player.
• Ability to communicate and present complex topics clearly and concisely, adapting to different audiences.
• Fluency in English is required; good knowledge of German and/or French is a plus.

Strong Assets (Preferred but Not Required):

• Experience in the financial industry.
• Hands-on experience in AI development, including prompt/context engineering.
• Software engineering skills and ability to develop and deploy complex software projects
• Experience in developing modern JavaScript/TypeScript frontends with frameworks (e.g. React).
• Familiarity with Azure cloud services and infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform).
• Advanced DevOps capabilities, including Bash scripting, automation, and CI/CD practices (e.g., Jenkins, Docker, Bitbucket Pipelines, Azure DevOps, Python packaging systems).
• Experience in leveraging AI for coding.

Benefits

• discounts on SL investment products and mortgages
• Remote Work Abroad options
• Inhouse AM Academy with broad range of development opportunities
• contribution to 3rd pillar life insurance
• employer's contributions to the pension fund
• reka cheques and meal allowance
• discounts on public transportation (up to 35%)
• flexible working models
• various timeout models
• working time models from 58 years of age offerings

Swiss Life Asset Managers

We are a leading European asset manager and institutional real estate asset manager with locations in Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the UK and Norway. With a strong client focus, here at Swiss Life Asset Managers, success is driven by expecting the unexpected, prioritising sustainability and inclusion, fully investing in our jobs and people, and being on the lookout for new business opportunities – all since 1857.