The Area: Morningstar Indexes is building the next generation of index products at the intersection of markets, quant research, data science, and AI. This is a hands-on builder role for someone who wants to move fast, experiment with new tools, turn bold ideas into scalable index solutions, and help redefine how investment products are researched, tested, and launched. The role is based in our Chicago office and requires at least four days a week in office.
The Responsibilities:
- Build and launch new benchmark, thematic, factor, strategic beta, and multi-asset indexes from concept to market in partnership with research, product, technology, operations, and commercial teams.
- Drive the full product innovation cycle—spot opportunities, explore data, test signals, run back-tests, shape methodology, solve implementation challenges, and get products launch-ready.
- Use quant techniques, machine learning, portfolio construction, risk analytics, and statistical testing to turn investment ideas into durable, rules-based index methodologies.
- Push the use of AI, coding assistants, and agentic workflows to automate research, speed up analysis, test methodology logic, and make product development smarter and faster.
- Bring builder energy to the team by creating tools, prototypes, dashboards, research insights, and client-ready stories that make complex quant and AI ideas easy to understand and exciting to use.
The Requirements:
- 4+ years of experience in indexes, asset management, investment banking, fintech, systematic investing, quantitative research, or a related investment technology environment.
- Strong quant toolkit, including hands-on experience with investment analysis, factor research, portfolio construction, back-testing, risk analytics, or systematic strategy design.
- Proficient in writing code and working with data using Python, R, SQL, MATLAB, or similar tools to prototype ideas, analyze large datasets, and automate repeatable workflows.
- Excited by AI-first ways of working, with experience using tools such as Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Gemini, ChatGPT, or similar platforms; exposure to AI agents, RAG, or workflow orchestration is a plus.
- Clear communicator who can translate complex quant, AI, and investment concepts into methodology documents, research notes, presentations, and compelling client-facing narratives.
- Experience developing and using optimized portfolio construction and risk modelling tools, factor investment strategies, private equity data, and index derivatives strategies is a strong plus.
Why this role is exciting: You will join a global indexes team with the freedom to build, experiment, and scale new ideas—using AI, quant research, and modern development tools to create products that can reach investors around the world.
Compensation and Benefits
At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That’s why we champion your wellness through a wide range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:
Financial Health
100% 401k match up to 6% of salary
Stock Ownership Potential
Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission
Physical Health
Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coverages
Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual
Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance
Emotional Health
Trust-Based Time Off
6-week Paid Sabbatical Program
6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Leave
Adoption Assistance
Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
Annual Flex Stipend - $1000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses
Tuition Reimbursement
Social Health
Charitable Matching Gifts program
Dollars for Doers volunteer program
Paid volunteering days
15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups
Total Cash Compensation Range
$114,100.00-167,350.00Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentive
Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.
001_MstarInc Morningstar Inc. Legal EntitySkills Required
- 4+ years of experience in indexes, asset management, investment banking, fintech, systematic investing, quantitative research, or related investment technology
- Hands-on experience with investment analysis, factor research, portfolio construction, back-testing, risk analytics, or systematic strategy design
- Proficiency writing code and working with data using Python, R, SQL, MATLAB, or similar tools
- Experience using AI productivity or coding tools such as Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Gemini, ChatGPT, or similar platforms
- Ability to communicate complex quantitative, AI, and investment concepts through methodology documents, research notes, presentations, and client-facing narratives
- Experience developing and using optimized portfolio construction and risk modeling tools, factor investment strategies, private equity data, and index derivatives strategies
- Exposure to AI agents, retrieval-augmented generation, or workflow orchestration
What the Team is Saying
Morningstar Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Policies include a paid sabbatical every four years and flexible PTO covering vacation, sick, and personal days, alongside paid volunteer time. Feedback suggests these features create meaningful flexibility and rest opportunities beyond standard leave plans.
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Parental & Family Support — A global minimum of 16 weeks paid parental leave for primary caregivers (up to 8 weeks for secondary) and at least six weeks of paid caregiving leave are publicly stated, with adoption assistance also available. These provisions indicate robust support for families during key life events.
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Retirement Support — U.S. materials document a 401(k) match of $0.75 per $1 up to 7% of pay and no‑cost access to Morningstar retirement tools. This combination strengthens long‑term savings and planning for employees.
Morningstar Insights
What We Do
We are a global investment research and financial data company with 40-plus offices across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Our products and services are used daily by individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, retirement plan providers, and institutional investors. We provide data, research, and analysis across managed investment products, publicly listed companies, private capital markets, debt securities, and real-time global market data. The financial system can have real barriers—hidden information, friction that can slow decisions, and forces that can limit transparency and access. We work to remove them, bringing independent research, connected data, and investor-first tools to a system that needs more clarity. The people doing this work span research, technology, design, product, sales, and functional areas. We build many of our products in-house, so the work can connect directly to the tools investors use to make real financial decisions.
Why Work With Us
Imagining big things is in our blood -- it's transformed us from a company with just a few employees in 1984 to a leading independent investment research company with a worldwide presence today. As of April 2020, we acquired Sustainalytics to drive long-term meaningful outcomes for investors in the ESG space. Join us on this exciting journey!
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Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
