Application Engineer, Aladdin Engineering, Vice President

About this role

Are you interested in building innovative technology that crafts the financial markets? Do you like working at the speed of a startup, and solving some of the world’s most exciting challenges? Do you want to work with, and learn from, hands-on leaders in technology and finance?

At BlackRock, we are looking for Software Engineers who like to innovate and solve sophisticated problems. We recognize that strength comes from diversity, and will embrace your outstanding skills, curiosity, and passion while giving you the opportunity to grow technically and as an individual.

We invest and protect over $9 trillion (USD) of assets and have an extraordinary responsibility to our clients all over the world. Our technology empowers millions of investors to save for retirement, pay for college, buy a home, and improve their financial well-being.

Being a technologist at BlackRock means you get the best of both worlds: working for one of the most sophisticated financial companies and being part of a software development team responsible for next generation technology and solutions.

What are Aladdin and Aladdin Engineering?

• You will be working on BlackRock's investment operating system called Aladdin. Aladdin is used both internally within BlackRock and externally by many financial institutions. Aladdin combines sophisticated risk analytics with comprehensive portfolio management, trading, and operations tools on a single platform to power informed decision-making and create a connective tissue for thousands of users investing worldwide.
• Our development teams reside inside the Aladdin Engineering group. We collaboratively build the next generation of technology that changes the way information, people, and technology intersect for global investment firms. We build and package tools that manage trillions in assets and supports millions of financial instruments. We perform risk calculations and process millions of transactions for thousands of users every day worldwide!

Being a member of Aladdin Engineering, you will be:

• Tenacious: Work in a fast paced and highly complex environment.
• Creative thinker: Analyze multiple solutions and deploy technologies in a flexible way.
• Great teammate: Think and work collaboratively and communicate effectively.
• Fast learner: Pick up new concepts and apply them quickly.

Responsibilities

This role is for an experienced Java engineer to become an integral part of the Analytics & Compliance Engineering team that is building the next generation analytics factory for Aladdin. The role is for a technical individual contributor who will drive software initiatives while coordinating with peers and junior engineers. The ideal candidate will be able to establish an in-depth knowledge of all parts of the system, design and implement scalable solutions, and lead the team to successful delivery.

Strong experience with the client-server model and inter-process communication technologies is a must to work with our myriad Java services, which act as both consumers and producers of data. The candidate will solve complicated problems in large scale data systems by applying their knowledge of data modeling and database technologies. API design will be a facet of the role, requiring partnership with clients to deliver our data in an efficient and performant manner. As a senior member of the team, the applicant will be expected mentor junior engineers and collaborate directly with stakeholders. Experience deploying and operating software in a production environment will also be highly beneficial.

Desirable Qualifications

• BA/BS/MS in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience
• 7+ years of experience in software development using Java
• Excellent communication skills, time management, organization, and attention to detail
• Experience working with global, multi-functional project teams
• Robust object-oriented design pattern knowledge and implementation experience
• Experience with inter-process communication frameworks like gRPC and REST
• Advanced knowledge and experience working with relational and NoSQL databases
• Experience with multi-tier application architecture and high performance distributed and in-memory caching solutions
• Experience adhering to software development life cycle standards, including test driven development, unit testing discipline, agile development, and CI/CD strategies
• Creativity and resourcefulness to problem solve independently
• Passion for learning and implementing new technologies

Skills that would be a plus

• Experience handling large volumes of time series data and building associated services and APIs
• Experience with message streaming technologies such as Kafka and RabbitMQ
• Familiarity with API specifications and standards like OpenAPI
• Experience with cloud-based data warehouse solutions like BigQuery and Snowflake
• Experience with cloud technologies such as Kubernetes, Docker, Helm, and Terraform
• Proficiency with the Linux environment and command-line tools
• Knowledge of telemetry and monitoring tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and Splunk
• Experience in application performance tuning using tools like AppDynamics, VisualVM, and JMeter
• Experience in the finance industry and knowledge of financial products/markets

Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

Guidance on AI use for candidates

At BlackRock, AI has long been part of how we work – enhancing decision-making, improving operations, and helping us deliver better outcomes for clients. We encourage candidates to use AI thoughtfully to learn, prepare, and work more effectively; but during our interview process, we want to focus on getting to know you through your own experiences, thinking, and judgment. To support you, we’ve provided guidance on when and how to use AI during our hiring process so you can approach each step with confidence and showcase your best self.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

To learn more about BlackRock, please visit Careers.BlackRock.com. We also encourage you to get to know us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, X, and TikTok.

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected attributes at law.