Quantitative Trader

Quantitative Trader

Proprietary Trading Firm | Chicago, IL

Compensation

• Base Salary: $30,000
• Performance-Based Payout Structure
• Typical First-Year Earnings: $100,000–$300,000
• Unlimited Long-Term Earnings Potential

Start Date: Target Start: September–October

• Work Environment: Full-time, in-office
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial, and merit-based culture
• Modern downtown office with premium employee amenities

Company Overview

We are partnering with a growing proprietary trading firm that specializes in quantitative and technology-driven trading strategies across U.S. financial markets.

The firm provides new traders with direct mentorship, sophisticated trading technology, firm capital, and a collaborative environment designed to accelerate development. Rather than following a rigid training program, traders learn through real market experience while continuously developing their own trading style and analytical framework. This opportunity is ideal for highly competitive individuals seeking a performance-driven career where compensation and advancement are determined by results.

The Opportunity

The Quantitative Trader will participate in a structured development program focused on learning market structure, quantitative decision-making, risk management, and proprietary trading strategies. Successful candidates will work alongside experienced traders while gradually taking ownership of independent trading decisions and strategy development.

No prior professional trading experience is required. Intellectual curiosity, analytical ability, competitiveness, and disciplined decision-making are significantly more important than previous market experience.

Key Responsibilities

Trading & Market Analysis

• Learn and execute proprietary trading strategies using firm capital
• Monitor market activity and evaluate trading opportunities in real time
• Analyze pricing relationships, volatility, liquidity, and market behavior
• Develop disciplined decision-making under rapidly changing market conditions
• Continuously evaluate and improve trading performance

Quantitative Research

• Analyze large data sets to identify statistical patterns and market opportunities
• Assist in testing and refining quantitative trading ideas
• Evaluate historical trading performance and strategy effectiveness
• Support research initiatives focused on improving trading outcomes

Risk Management

• Monitor open positions and overall portfolio risk
• Apply disciplined risk management principles to daily trading activity
• Maintain adherence to internal trading guidelines and risk parameters
• Review performance metrics and identify opportunities for improvement

Professional Development

• Learn directly from experienced traders and investment professionals
• Participate in ongoing education related to markets, trading psychology, and quantitative analysis
• Collaborate with teammates to share ideas and improve trading methodologies
• Develop independent trading strategies over time

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Bachelor's degree in one of the following or another highly quantitative discipline:
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Physics
• Applied Mathematics
• Mathematics
• Finance
• Economics
• Statistics
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.8/4.0 required
• Recent graduate or early-career professional
• Collegiate athletic experience preferred but not required
• Exceptional analytical and quantitative reasoning skills
• Strong intellectual curiosity
• Highly competitive mindset
• Ability to process information quickly while remaining calm under pressure
• Entrepreneurial, self-motivated, and accountable

Preferred Backgrounds

Candidates with demonstrated excellence in highly competitive environments are particularly attractive, including:

• Collegiate athletics
• Academic competitions
• Programming competitions
• Quantitative research
• Strategy games
• Poker
• Chess
• Esports or other competitive disciplines

Why This Opportunity

• Learn directly from experienced quantitative traders
• Trade using firm capital
• Merit-based compensation with uncapped earnings potential
• Highly entrepreneurial environment with minimal bureaucracy
• Collaborative culture where ideas are encouraged and shared
• Modern office with premium employee amenities
• Significant long-term income potential tied directly to performance rather than tenure