The anticipated salary range for this role is between $300,000.00 and $325,000.00. The specific salary offered to an applicant will be based on their individual qualifications, experiences, and an analysis of the current compensation paid in their geography and the market for similar roles at the time of hire. The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive award. In addition to cash compensation, SMBC offers a competitive portfolio of benefits to its employees.
Role Description
We are seeking a Managing Director, Chief Data Scientist to lead the development and application of advanced AI, Machine Learning, and Large Language Model (LLM) solutions across Capital Markets. This role is designed for a highly accomplished, hands-on technical leader with deep expertise in data science, fixed income markets, and front-office technology.
The successful candidate will partner directly with Trading, Risk, and Quantitative teams to identify opportunities, rapidly prototype solutions, and deliver production-ready AI capabilities that drive measurable business impact. This is a senior role requiring both strategic leadership and active hands-on development.
Role Objectives
• Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI/ML, LLM, RAG, NLP, and agentic AI solutions supporting trading, risk management, and client analytics.
• Partner directly with traders, quants, and risk teams to transform business challenges into scalable technology solutions.
• Apply deep knowledge of fixed income markets and the trade lifecycle, including trade capture, P&L, risk, settlement, and regulatory processes.
• Rapidly prototype and productionize data science solutions that deliver tangible front-office business value.
• Develop high-quality Python-based models and services using modern AI frameworks such as LangChain, Vertex AI, and related technologies.
• Design and optimize real-time and batch data pipelines across trading, risk, and market data platforms.
• Drive workflow automation, decision support, and exception management through advanced AI techniques.
• Validate and refine models using trading data, market behavior, and user feedback.
• Serve as a senior technical expert, providing hands-on problem solving for complex data, analytics, and technology challenges.
• Mentor engineers and data scientists through direct coding, architecture guidance, and implementation leadership.
Qualifications and Skills
• PhD in Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative discipline required.
• 15+ years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, Quantitative Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, or related technology disciplines.
• Proven track record designing, building, and deploying production-grade AI/ML solutions that deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Expert-level proficiency in Python and modern AI/ML frameworks and platforms.
• Deep expertise in:
o Large Language Models (LLMs)
o Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
o Agentic AI workflows
o Natural Language Processing (NLP)
o Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics
o Statistical Modeling and Data Science
• Experience developing scalable data pipelines, real-time analytics platforms, and cloud-based AI solutions.
• Capital Markets experience, particularly within Fixed Income, Trading, Risk, or Quantitative Research, is helpful. However, professional experience from other data-intensive industries such as retail, technology, healthcare, telecommunications, or e-commerce will also be helpful.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with senior business stakeholders and translate complex business challenges into practical, scalable solutions.
• Distinguished technical contributor with a hands-on approach to architecture, coding, model development, and problem solving.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills with the ability to guide engineers and data scientists through direct technical engagement.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain advanced analytical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Additional Requirements
SMBC's employees participate in a Hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office. SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process. Hybrid work may not be permitted for certain roles, including, for example, certain FINRA-registered roles for which in-office attendance for the entire workweek is required.
