Macro & Credit Research Economist

About the Role

The team's work is centered around building internal indicators, research outputs, and external-facing analysis that leverage Plaid's data advantage. This involves developing forecasting models, identifying economic turning points, and producing rigorous analysis that informs both internal decisions and external research. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in economics, with a Ph.D. in Economics or a related quantitative field, and 4-8 years of applied experience in macro strategy, credit investing, systematic research, or consumer credit analytics.

What You Will Do

• Work directly with large-scale, messy transaction data to build the transformations, filters, and statistical frameworks needed to extract reliable economic and credit-cycle signals.
• Develop forecasting models that quantify household financial conditions, credit dynamics, and broader economic trends, emphasizing real-world performance and interpretability.
• Identify leading indicators and turning points across liquidity, spending patterns, credit behavior, income stability, and other elements of household financial resilience.
• Build methodologies that detect changes in economic regimes and risk conditions based on high-frequency data.
• Produce rigorous backtests, scenarios, and real-time indicators that inform internal strategic decisions and external-facing research.
• Create investor-grade written analyses, dashboards, and periodic briefings that synthesize model outputs with clear economic context.
• Benchmark internal measures against official statistics and market expectations, highlighting where Plaid’s data provides differentiated early insight.
• Collaborate with product, policy, comms, and GTM teams to shape how selected findings inform data products, strategic narratives, and outreach.

What We Are Looking For

• Ph.D. in Economics (macro, finance, monetary, applied micro) or an equivalent quantitative field.
• 4-8 years of applied experience in macro strategy, credit investing, systematic research, or consumer credit analytics.
• Strong econometric and time-series modeling skills, with experience linking micro data to macro outcomes.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL, with comfort working directly with large, noisy, high-frequency datasets.
• Ability to interpret complex data sets and communicate findings effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience with data visualization tools and techniques to present complex data insights.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Nice to Have

• Experience with machine learning algorithms and their application in economic modeling.
• Familiarity with cloud-based data platforms and big data processing technologies.
• Knowledge of financial markets and instruments, including credit products and securities.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous PTO policy and paid holidays.
• Remote work stipend and support for home office setup.
• Professional development opportunities, including conference sponsorships and training programs.
• Access to the latest tools and technologies in data science and economic research.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a team of experienced professionals.

• Ensure your resume and cover letter highlight specific examples of working with large datasets and communicating complex economic insights to various audiences.
• Prepare to discuss your experience with econometric and time-series modeling, including tools and techniques you've used.
• Showcase your ability to work independently and as part of a team, emphasizing collaboration and communication skills.
• Be ready to walk through your process for developing forecasting models and identifying economic turning points.
• Consider creating a portfolio or sample project that demonstrates your data analysis and visualization skills.
• When negotiating salary, be prepared to discuss your expectations based on industry standards and your unique skill set.
• Pay attention to the company culture and values during the interview process to ensure they align with your professional goals and personal values.