Senior Data Scientist — Investment Management Fintech Strategies (IMFS)
Investment Management Fintech Strategies (IMFS) is a global team headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. We partner with investment teams to explore and apply new technologies that can improve investment performance, strengthen decision-making, and help capital markets work better for Vanguard’s investors. Our work spans advanced analytics and AI/ML, new data sources, market structure and liquidity research, and building scalable platforms and tools that move from experimentation into production.
Responsibilities:
- Own end-to-end research using large-scale historical data: form hypotheses, run analyses, develop models, and translate results into insights that can improve portfolio construction and trading decisions.
- Identify and solve market-impact problems across microstructure, fund flows, and liquidity dynamics—surfacing risks and opportunities tied to execution quality and market impact.
- Design and lead the evolution of core research tooling, including the back-testing framework and signal libraries, to enable repeatable, high-quality experimentation.
- Apply AI/ML thoughtfully in financial markets, staying current on emerging techniques and evaluating what is practical, robust, and scalable in real-world market environments.
- Raise the bar on engineering quality by mentoring quant strategists and data scientists on production-grade code, data pipelines, and research-to-production best practices.
- Partner with technology to integrate models into production systems, monitor live performance, and iterate based on market feedback and measured outcomes.
- Represent Vanguard externally by contributing to industry discussions and thought leadership in areas relevant to AI/ML, systematic research, trading, and market structure.
Qualifications:
- 5+ years leading or driving advanced data science work, including back-testing, simulation, and statistical modeling in complex problem spaces.
- Master’s or PhD in machine learning, data science, financial engineering, computer science, or related quantitative discipline.
- Strong end-to-end data science capability: problem framing → research design → modeling → validation → deployment partnership.
- Proficiency in Python and common ML libraries; experience collaborating with data engineering and bringing models into production.
- Demonstrated ability to apply AI/ML to solve complex technical problems through collaboration, creativity, and disciplined research.
- Comfortable partnering with senior leaders—communicating tradeoffs, impact, and value in a clear, decision-oriented way.
Special Factors
Sponsorship
Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.About Vanguard
At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.
To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.
How We Work
Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.
Skills Required
- 5+ years leading advanced data science work
- Master's or PhD in machine learning, data science, financial engineering
- Proficiency in Python and common ML libraries
- Strong end-to-end data science capability
- Experience collaborating with data engineering
Vanguard Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Vanguard and has not been reviewed or approved by Vanguard.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support appears unusually strong through a 401(k) design that includes a match plus an additional employer contribution, which can materially lift long-term total rewards. HSA seeding and an enhanced employer match further strengthen the savings-and-benefits value of the package.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle support is reinforced by a sizable annual FlexFund stipend that can be applied across many day-to-day categories such as fitness, childcare, and other personal expenses. On-site or virtual clinics and fitness options add practical health and wellness convenience.
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Affordable Benefits — Healthcare and related benefits are positioned as comparatively affordable via heavily subsidized medical plans and broad coverage options. This affordability can offset moderate base pay for employees who place higher value on out-of-pocket cost reductions.
Vanguard Insights
What We Do
We are a community of 30 million who think – and feel – differently about investing. Together, we’re changing the way the world invests. Since our founding in 1975, helping our investors achieve their goals is our sole reason for existence. With no other parties to answer to and therefore no conflicting loyalties, we make every decision—like keeping investing costs as low as possible—with only your needs in mind. Vanguard is one of the world's largest investment companies, offering a large selection of high-quality low-cost mutual funds, ETFs, advice, and related services. Individual and institutional investors, financial professionals, and plan sponsors can benefit from the size, stability, and experience Vanguard offers. As of April 30, 2019, we managed more than $5.6 trillion in global assets. In addition, we have 189 funds in the United States and 225 funds in global markets. For Commenting Guidelines & Important information, visit here: http://vanguard.com/linkedin Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.
