Quant Trading Strats - Vice President

Nomura Holdings, Inc.; Hayes End; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Nomura Holdings, Inc. in London seeks a Vice President to lead the Quant Trading Strats group, driving next-generation equity execution algorithms for global markets.

You will direct research, design, and production deployment of state-of-the-art trading strategies with a focus on smart order routing and low-latency performance. The role requires an advanced degree and 5+ years in trading or real-time algorithm development, plus 3+ years in R&D of agency execution algorithms and ML applications

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in a related field.
• 5+ years in trading or real-time algorithm development.
• 3+ years in R&D of agency execution algorithms and HFT strategies.
• Deep expertise in equity market microstructure and order book dynamics.
• Strong programming skills in Python or R; Java desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of next-generation equity execution algorithms for global markets.
• Design and maintain low-latency, high-throughput trading systems.
• Apply statistical modelling and ML to signals and schedules.
• Collaborate with traders, risk, product, and tech teams on new products.
• Mentor junior team members and ensure regulatory compliance.

Skills

Python

R

C++

Low-latency computing

Machine learning in trading

Data analysis

Education

MS/PhD in relevant field

Tools

Q/KDB

Time-series databases

Numerical libraries

Optimization frameworks

Distributed systems

Job description

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Job Title: Quant Trading Strats - Vice President

Job Code: 13531

Country: GB

City: London

Skill Category: Instinet

Description:

Job Title: Quant Trading Strats

Corporate Title: Vice President

Department: Global Markets

Location: London

Company overview

Nomura is a financial services group with an integrated global network. By connecting markets East & West, we service the needs of individuals, institutions, corporates and governments through our four business divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Management, Wholesale (Global Markets and Investment Banking) and Banking.

Driven by the insights of some 28,000 people worldwide, we put our clients at the center of everything we do, delivering unparalleled access to, from and within Asia. For further information about Nomura, visit www.nomura.com

Department Overview

Instinet, a subsidiary of Nomura, is a leading global electronic trading platform that offers innovative solutions to institutional clients. With a team of experienced professionals, Instinet provides clients with customized trading strategies and access to liquidity across multiple asset classes. The platform's cutting-edge technology and commitment to client satisfaction have made it a valuable partner for clients looking to optimize their trading performance. Instinet's mission is to continue driving growth and success in the electronic trading space through its focus on technology, innovation, and client service.

The Algorithmic & Electronic Trading Equity Strategist desk is responsible for the research, design, development, and optimization of sophisticated execution algorithms that power the firm's electronic equity trading platform. Our team combines expertise in quantitative finance, machine learning, and market microstructure to deliver best-in‑class execution for institutional clients across global equity markets. The desk is experiencing strong growth as electronic trading volumes expand globally, offering significant opportunities for career development and impact on high‑profile projects that shape the firm's competitive position.

Role Description

• Senior quantitative researcher leading the research, design, and implementation of next‑generation equity execution algorithms for global markets
• Research, design, implement, and maintain next‑generation equity trading algorithms including smart order routing and high‑frequency strategies
• Develop and optimize low‑latency, high‑throughput algorithms for best execution and smart order routing
• Apply advanced statistical modelling and machine learning to develop signals, market impact models, and optimal trading schedules
• Lead research initiatives on equity market microstructure, order book dynamics, and venue behaviour
• Optimize venue selection, queue priority, and dark/lit routing across fragmented markets
• Build and maintain backtesting frameworks and performance analytics tools
• Design production‑quality systems with focus on modularity, scalability, and resilience
• Drive continuous improvement of execution quality and algorithm performance
• Collaborate with traders, risk, product, sales, and technology teams on new product development
• Manage client‑specific customizations and respond to complex analytics requests
• Mentor junior team members and provide technical guidance
• Ensure regulatory compliance and partner with Risk, Legal, Compliance, and Audit teams
• Lead product development initiatives from concept to production deployment

Skills, experience, qualifications and knowledge required

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Computer Science, Financial Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or related field
• 5+ years in trading or real‑time algorithm development in a financial institution
• At least 3 years in R&D of agency execution algorithms, smart order routing, liquidity seeking, market making, or high‑frequency strategies
• Deep expertise in equity market microstructure, order book dynamics, and execution strategies
• Strong knowledge of stochastic calculus and statistical modelling
• Strong programming skills in Python or R; Java desirable
• Experience with numerical libraries and optimization frameworks
• Q/KDB or time‑series databases desirable
• Proven track record of developing and deploying production trading algorithms
• Experience with machine learning applications in trading
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and compliance frameworks (MiFID II, Reg NMS, best execution)
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions
• Low‑latency, high‑performance computing experience (preferred)
• Experience with C++ for performance‑critical components (preferred)
• Knowledge of distributed systems and concurrent programming (preferred)
• Publications or patents in algorithmic trading or market microstructure (preferred)

Nomura Leadership Behaviours

• Explore Insights & Vision: Identify the underlying causes of problems faced by you or your team and define a clear vision and direction for the future.
• Making Strategic Decisions: Evaluate all the options for resolving the problems and effectively prioritize actions or recommendations.
• Inspire Entrepreneurship in People: Inspire team members through effective communication of ideas and motivate them to actively enhance productivity.
• Elevate Organizational Capability: Engage proactively in professional development and enhance team productivity through the promotion of knowledge sharing.
• Inclusion: Respect DEI, foster a culture of inclusion and psychological safety in the workplace and cultivate a "Risk Culture" (Challenge, Escalate and Respect).

Diversity & Inclusion

Nomura is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to ensuring we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve creating an inclusive environment for all our employees. We welcome all applications and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity and gender expression, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

If you require any assistance or reasonable adjustments due to a disability or long‑term health condition, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Right to Work

The UK Government have taken steps to reduce net migration to the UK by limiting the number of overseas workers coming to the UK for employment. Please note that whilst we are able to consider applications from overseas workers from outside the UK (who require a Tier 2 Skilled Worker visa) we can only employ them if we can provide evidence that this is a genuine vacancy for a qualified role.

Nomura is an Equal Opportunity Employer