Staff Data Scientist, ML (Quantitative Researcher)

October 27, 2026

About the position

Robinhood is building the future of finance with a mission to democratize finance for all. The Investment Strategy team is expanding access to sophisticated investment advice by turning high-quality portfolio management into a scalable, intuitive experience for everyday customers. This team combines rigorous investment thinking with a mobile-first product design, dedicated to building accessible investing tools that reach and support millions of people. As a Staff Data Scientist, ML, you will report to the Chief Investment Officer and play a key role in shaping our investment product offerings. In this role, you will build complex portfolio construction factor models, identify critical areas for methodology improvement, and design high-performing investment solutions. You will also collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Compliance, and Legal to launch these products and bring them directly to our customers. This role is based in our New York, NY office, with in-person attendance expected at least 3 days per week. Robinhood believes in the power of in-person work to accelerate progress, spark innovation, and strengthen community.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Chief Investment Officer and investment leadership to develop, refine, and maintain complex portfolio construction models.
Work with large datasets, including unconventional data sources, to predict and test statistical market patterns, conceptualize valuation strategies, and improve mathematical models.
Backtest and implement financial models and signals in a live trading environment.
Continuously research and analyze new approaches to building portfolio models, applying knowledge of existing and emerging quantitative finance principles, theories, and techniques to inform investment decisions.
Partner with product and engineering teams to help design and execute on complex projects and product launches.
Assist with reviews by Legal & Compliance to develop written policies and procedures when new features are introduced or methodology changes are developed.

Requirements

5+ years of quantitative research, quantitative portfolio construction, or machine learning experience, ideally within asset management, a broker-dealer, an RIA, or broader financial services.
Experience taking machine learning models, research, or quantitative signals into a live investing or production environment.
Strong proficiency in Python and SQL for quantitative modeling, statistical analysis, and working with large-scale datasets.
Strong grounding in statistics, machine learning algorithms, and pattern recognition.
Outstanding communication skills, with a proven ability to translate complex modeling, statistical, or investment concepts for software engineering, product, and compliance partners.
Comfort with ambiguity, high personal ownership, and the ability to work independently to deliver on critical business milestones.

Benefits

Performance driven compensation with multipliers for outsized impact
bonus programs
equity ownership
401(k) matching
100% paid health insurance for employees with 90% coverage for dependents
Access to the best AI tools on the market and continuous AI skill-building for every employee, technical or not.
Lifestyle wallet - a highly flexible benefits spending account for wellness, learning, and more.
Employer-paid life & disability insurance
fertility benefits
mental health benefits
company holidays
paid time off
sick time
parental leave
Catered meals
events
comfortable workspaces

Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...