Economist, Macro & Economic Insights

Plaid•San Francisco, CA

11d

About The Position

Plaid’s Economics Team uses economic research and data science to deepen understanding of economic, credit, and financial trends. The Economist will conduct applied economic research, develop reliable analytical methods, and communicate complex findings as useful insights. Working with economists and data scientists, this person will own research projects from framing questions and preparing data through validation and written communication. The role suits an economist who enjoys working with large datasets, exercising sound judgment, and explaining evidence and limitations to a range of audiences. There are opportunities to develop a research specialty and take on broader ownership as the team grows. Plaid builds tools and experiences used by developers and financial products, and its network covers 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada, UK, and Europe. Plaid is headquartered in San Francisco and has offices in New York, Seattle, Washington, D.C., Raleigh, London, and Amsterdam. Its mission is to unlock financial freedom for everyone and support a more equitable financial ecosystem.

Requirements

PhD in economics or a related empirical field, or a Master’s degree plus at least 4 years of relevant applied experience, with strong empirical training. Exceptional candidates completing a PhD in 2027 are welcome.
Proficiency in Python and SQL.
Experience independently analyzing large, complex datasets and building reproducible analytical workflows.
Strong econometric and time-series modeling skills, including experience applying these methods to economic questions and assessing robustness.
Excellent writing for non-academic audiences, demonstrated through policy memos, market commentary, or research briefs.
Ability to explain and defend methods, findings, and limitations to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Sound research judgment, including distinguishing evidence from interpretation, communicating uncertainty, and limiting claims to what the data supports.

Nice To Haves

Relevant research in applied macroeconomics, household or behavioral finance, fintech, or financial regulation.
Experience conducting applied economic research in fintech, finance, a research institute, or a public-sector organization.
Prior ownership of a recurring research publication.

Responsibilities

Investigate economic questions and trends through rigorous empirical research, from framing the question through analysis, validation, and communication.
Work with large, complex datasets to develop reliable measures and reproducible analytical workflows.
Evaluate findings against established research and public benchmarks; assess data quality and representativeness; and clearly communicate uncertainty and limitations.
Apply econometric and time-series methods to test hypotheses, assess robustness, and distinguish meaningful patterns from noise.
Write clear research briefs and present findings to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Partner with colleagues across research, data science, and the business to identify useful questions and inform decisions.