Principal Researcher – Industrial Systems in San Jose, California at Straits Meridian Capital Office

Principal Researcher – Industrial Systems

Remote · Freelance · Competitive Retainer

About SMCO

Straits Meridian Capital Office (SMCO) is a research-driven capital platform. We operate at the intersection of capital, systems, and long-horizon structural change. We do not follow market narratives. We read the structures beneath them.

What that means in practice: We are not a trading desk. We do not chase short-term volatility. Our decisions are informed by deep, structural research across industrial ecosystems, supply chains, and the evolving geography of global production. Your analysis will not sit on a shelf — it will directly inform how and where we deploy capital.

We are a lean team. No bureaucracy. No revenue targets driving your work. Just research, rigour, and conviction.

The Role

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

Your typical week might include:

• 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.

Who You Are — Core Competencies

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Deep knowledge of industrial economics, manufacturing systems, or supply chain dynamics — you understand how production networks work, where they are vulnerable, and how they are evolving
• Professional experience in industrial research, manufacturing strategy, corporate intelligence, or related analytical roles — this is not an entry-level position
• Sector familiarity with one or more of: automotive, aerospace, electronics, advanced manufacturing, or engineering services
• Strong written English — you can synthesise complex technical and policy information into clear, structured, decision-ready prose
• Comfort with data — you are at home working with company-level financials, trade statistics, policy documents, and industry association reports

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

Preferred Backgrounds

We are particularly interested in candidates whose professional experience has been shaped by one or more of the following environments:

• 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: We are especially interested in candidates whose work has been shaped by settings such as Booz Allen Hamilton, L3Harris, Bechtel, Northrop Grumman, Rolls-Royce, Siemens, or equivalent industrial or advisory institutions.

Why SMCO

Here is what you can expect from working with us:

• 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

We measure performance on three criteria:

1. Analytical rigour — are your arguments well-supported? Do you consider counterarguments? Can you distinguish signal from noise?
2. Writing quality — is your analysis clear, structured, and decision-ready? Can a busy reader grasp your core argument in 30 seconds?
3. 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.