[Hiring] Principal Researcher – Industrial Systems @Straits Meridian Capital Office

Role Description

We are looking for an experienced industrial systems analyst to research manufacturing ecosystems, supply chain architecture, engineering services, and the shifting geography of global production — with primary coverage across East Asia, Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe.

This is a remote, freelance engagement with a competitive monthly retainer and long-term potential. You will work directly with our research team, producing analysis that shapes capital allocation decisions across industrial sectors.

What You'll Do — Day to Day

• Policy & competitive analysis: Tracking industrial policy developments, manufacturing competitiveness indicators, and government incentives affecting key industrial sectors across your coverage regions.
• Company-level research: Assessing the operational and strategic positioning of engineering and industrial firms — their supply chain dependencies, competitive moats, and exposure to geopolitical or regulatory shifts.
• Supply chain mapping: Analysing cross-border production networks, identifying bottlenecks, concentration risks, and reconfiguration trends.
• Trade & regulatory monitoring: Following trade measures, tariffs, export controls, and investment screening mechanisms that affect industrial supply chains.
• Report writing: Producing structured, decision-grade analytical reports — typically 2–4 per month — that translate complex technical and policy information into clear investment implications.

The work is independent but not isolated. You will have access to our research team for discussion, review, and debate. You will be expected to bring your own hypotheses, defend them with evidence, and revise them when the facts change.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of industrial economics, manufacturing systems, or supply chain dynamics.
• Professional experience in industrial research, manufacturing strategy, corporate intelligence, or related analytical roles.
• Sector familiarity with one or more of: automotive, aerospace, electronics, advanced manufacturing, or engineering services.
• Strong written English — ability to synthesise complex technical and policy information into clear, structured, decision-ready prose.
• Comfort with data — experience working with company-level financials, trade statistics, policy documents, and industry association reports.

Requirements

• 2+ years in a relevant analytical or research role. Exceptions may be made for exceptional candidates with strong institutional backgrounds.

Preferred Backgrounds

• Corporate strategy, market intelligence, or supply chain analysis in industrial sectors.
• Government trade, industrial policy, or economic development agencies.
• Research institutions focused on manufacturing, trade, or industrial economics.
• Engineering or operations backgrounds with a strong analytical orientation.
• Investment research covering industrial sectors.

Institutional Affinity

• Experience in settings such as Booz Allen Hamilton, L3Harris, Bechtel, Northrop Grumman, Rolls-Royce, Siemens, or equivalent industrial or advisory institutions.

Benefits

• Your work directly informs capital deployment — not quarterly earnings reports, not marketing materials, not internal presentations that go nowhere.
• Lean, research-first culture — no sales targets, no client meetings, no administrative overhead.
• Fully remote, flexible arrangement — work from wherever you are most productive.
• Competitive monthly retainer with long-term engagement potential for the right candidate.
• No micromanagement — we trust you to deliver, and we evaluate you on output, not hours.

How You'll Be Evaluated

• Analytical rigour: Are your arguments well-supported? Do you consider counterarguments? Can you distinguish signal from noise?
• Writing quality: Is your analysis clear, structured, and decision-ready? Can a busy reader grasp your core argument in 30 seconds?
• Timeliness: Do you deliver on schedule? When deadlines are tight, do you prioritise effectively?

How to Apply

Please submit your CV. While not required, we welcome examples of past analytical work — reports, briefings, or assessments — if you have them. Relevant professional insights can also be discussed during the interview process.

We will only consider candidates who meet the core competency requirements. If you are unsure whether you qualify, please read the requirements carefully before applying.