Optiver is growing our Systematic Volatility Trading team and looking for an exceptional Quantitative Researcher to join us in the early stages. This is a rare opportunity to help define the direction of a fully automated options trading strategy, leveraging cutting-edge research to drive performance and profitability.
What you’ll do
As a Quantitative Researcher on our Systematic Volatility Trading team, your key responsibilities include:
- Develop and refine alpha-driven strategies for fully automated options trading
- Research and implement novel signals, models, and execution techniques to optimize trading performance
- Play a key role in shaping the future of the team
What you’ll get
- The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
- A highly competitive compensation package
- Global profit-sharing pool and performance-based bonus structure
- 401(k) match up to 50%
- Comprehensive health, mental, dental, vision, disability, and life coverage
- 25 paid vacation days alongside market holidays
- Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more
Who you are
- 4-5+ years of quantitative research experience, focused on alpha generation in equity or index options
- BS, MS, and/or PhD in a quantitative or technical field
- Strong individual contributor who thrives in a fast-paced, high-ownership environment.
- Strong programming and data analysis skills (Python, C++, or similar)
- Ability to think differently, challenge assumptions, and identify unique trading opportunities
- Excited to be an early-stage team member, helping to build and scale a world-class systematic vol trading effort
Who we are
At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilizing the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritize safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.
Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.
Below is the expected base salary for this position. This position will also be eligible for a discretionary bonus and Optiver’s benefits package with the benefits listed above.
Below is the expected base salary for this position. This position will also be eligible for a discretionary bonus and Optiver’s benefits package with the benefits listed above.
Skills Required
- 4-5+ years of quantitative research experience in options
- BS, MS, and/or PhD in a quantitative or technical field
- Strong programming and data analysis skills
Optiver Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Optiver and has not been reviewed or approved by Optiver.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Pay is considered highly competitive in trading, quantitative, and engineering paths, with performance-linked bonuses materially elevating total earnings for strong contributors. High performers are described as seeing outsized upside when firm and team results are strong.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is depicted as comprehensive, including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, alongside HSA/FSA options and mental-health support. Some locations note unlimited therapy access through a partner platform.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — U.S. roles are often described as offering 25 days of paid vacation plus market holidays, alongside generous parental leave. This breadth of time off is highlighted as helping to offset a high-intensity environment.
Optiver Insights
What We Do
Optiver’s story began over 30 years ago, when we started business as a single trader on the floor of Amsterdam’s options exchange. Today, we are at the forefront of trading and technology as a leading global electronic market maker, focused on pricing, execution and risk management.
Why Work With Us
People at Optiver love challenges, welcome collaboration, and strive to be better tomorrow than they are today. Improving the market is an extraordinary challenge that requires a carefully crafted approach. Optiver provides a collaborative working environment to tackle these challenges. In fact, it is this way of working that sets us apart.
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