Science & Technology Research Lead - Financial Services

F&L Search is working with a leading institutional research firm looking to hire a rare kind of thinker: someone capable of going deep into science, technology and structural change, then explaining clearly why it matters for industries, economies and capital markets. This role is not aimed solely at traditional financial markets candidates. Some of the strongest profiles may come from journalism, research, science, technology, policy or other intellectually rigorous environments where complex ideas are analysed and communicated at a high level.

The successful candidate will develop original research on major technological and scientific shifts, including:

• Energy revolution: energy systems, power, infrastructure and industrial transformation
• AI and automation
• Next gen infrastructure and compute
• Biotech revolution and life sciences
• Space infrastructure and advanced systems
• Quantum science and next gen computing

The central requirement is not that you already sound like a macro strategist. It is that you can understand substance: what is technically real, what is overstated, where the bottlenecks are, how adoption may evolve, and what the second-order consequences could be. The firm is looking for someone capable of producing genuinely differentiated thinking, rather than consensus summaries of fast-moving technology themes.

The research produced will help sophisticated institutional investors think through questions around productivity, capex cycles, infrastructure demand, supply chains, geopolitics, sector leadership and long-term portfolio positioning. A strong body of written work or published analysis will be an important part of the evaluation process.

Responsibilities

• Build a distinctive research agenda around deep science, emerging technology and structural innovation.
• Identify where major technological and scientific shifts are real, misunderstood, overstated or underappreciated.
• Produce clear, original written research for a sophisticated institutional audience.
• Translate technical developments into commercial, economic, geopolitical and investment-relevant conclusions.
• Develop frameworks around bottlenecks, adoption curves, infrastructure constraints and second-order effects.
• Work closely with macro and cross-asset colleagues to connect technological change to broader market implications.
• Present research through written work, meetings, calls and events.

Ideal Background

The firm is open-minded on background, but relevant profiles may include:

• Deep-dive technology or science journalists.
• Frontier technology researchers or analysts.
• Scientists or engineers who have transitioned into research, strategy or analytical communication roles.
• Technology intelligence or policy specialists.
• Independent writers, researchers or analysts with a strong body of original work.

Strong candidates are likely to demonstrate:

• Serious depth in at least one major technology or science domain.
• The ability to explain complex subjects clearly without flattening nuance.
• Evidence of original judgement and independent thinking.
• High-quality written output, whether through journalism, research, essays, reports or client work.
• Intellectual curiosity across multiple disciplines and industries.

This role is unlikely to suit someone whose background is purely academic or engineering-execution led without a strong record of broader research, writing or communication. Financial markets experience is useful, but not required.

Location & Compensation

London or New York preferred, with flexibility for exceptional candidates.