Senior Quantitative Researcher

MA CAPITAL U.S. LLC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

MA Capital US LLC in London is seeking an exceptional Senior Quant Researcher to advance its systematic trading capability. You will combine quantitative research, strategy due diligence and infrastructure judgement, supporting the CEO and Leadership Team.

The role blends research with practical production, requiring 8+ years of experience, a strong math background, and hands-on programming in Python and C++/Java. You’ll work with PMs, traders, and engineers to turn ideas into live alpha.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of systematic trading experience.

Responsibilities

• Research and develop systematic trading signals and strategies for live production and scalable P&L.
• Evaluate prospective Portfolio Managers and strategies for robustness, data needs, and execution.
• Collaborate with engineering to identify data gaps and improve tooling and infrastructure.
• Translate quantitative findings into clear commercial recommendations for leadership.
• Provide independent judgment on alpha viability and deployment requirements.

Skills

Quant research

Probability

Time series

ML in finance

Backtesting

Python

C++

Java

Data infrastructure

Communication

Education

MSc or PhD in Mathematics, Physics, CS, Statistics, or related

Tools

Python

C++

Java

Job description

MA Capital US LLC is a boutique international proprietary trading firm specializing in systematic strategies across multiple asset classes. We leverage advanced technology, quantitative research, and sophisticated models to capitalize on opportunities in global markets. We believe talented professionals drive meaningful performance, creating an environment where individuals can grow, contribute, and make an impact.

We are looking for an exceptional Senior Quant Researcher to help strengthen our systematic trading capability.

This is broader than a conventional alpha-research role. The successful candidate will combine quantitative research, strategy due diligence and infrastructure judgement, acting as a senior technical adviser to the CEO and Leadership Team.

Key Responsibilities

Research and develop systematic trading signals and strategies, with a focus on ideas capable of reaching live production and generating scalable P&L.

Evaluate prospective Portfolio Managers and systematic strategies before hire, assessing:

• robustness of the strategy and research;
• data and infrastructure requirements;
• execution assumptions, capacity and scalability;
• implementation complexity and realistic time to production.

Provide an independent view on whether a proposed strategy is viable within our platform and what would be required to deploy it.

Infrastructure & Research Strategy

Work with engineering and trading teams to identify high-value gaps in data, research tooling, simulation, execution and infrastructure, and help prioritise capabilities that can support future alpha generation.

Translate complex quantitative and technical issues into clear commercial recommendations for the CEO and Leadership Team.

Over time, the role may evolve into building and leading a broader internal Quant Research function.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for someone with approximately 8+ years of relevant systematic trading experience, with a strong track record of quantitative research progressing into live trading and P&L.

A typical profile would include:

• a strong MSc or PhD in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative discipline;
• deep foundations in probability, stochastic processes, statistical learning, optimisation, time series analysis and numerical methods;
• strong knowledge of market microstructure and machine learning applied to financial markets;
• demonstrated experience developing systematic alpha and taking research into live production;
• strong understanding of backtesting, overfitting, transaction costs, execution, capacity and scalability;
• strong commercial judgement, with the ability to distinguish interesting research from scalable, executable and economically attractive alpha;
• practical understanding of trading and research infrastructure;
• strong Python and ideally C++ / Java skills;
• experience working closely with PMs, traders and engineers;
• ability to challenge assumptions and critically assess other people's strategies;
• intellectual breadth across systematic trading, with the ability to evaluate strategies and research approaches beyond their own immediate area of specialisation;
• exceptional communication skills.

Beyond deep quantitative expertise, this role requires an unusual combination of technical authority, commercial judgement and executive communication.

The successful candidate should be a strong mathematician and experienced quant, complementing the entrepreneurial and commercial strengths of the existing management team.

They will act as a trusted quantitative adviser and right hand to senior management, providing independent judgement on alpha research, systematic strategies and technical feasibility.

A critical part of the role will be serving as the key interface between management, Portfolio Managers, quantitative researchers, technology teams and the broader business. The individual must be able to:

• challenge quantitative and technical teams with sufficient depth and credibility;
• identify the key assumptions, risks and dependencies behind complex strategies;
• translate quantitative conclusions into clear commercial implications and recommendations;
• represent management's objectives effectively to highly technical teams;
• ensure that management has an independent, fact-based view when making decisions around strategies, talent and infrastructure investment.

The ideal candidate combines the intellectual depth of a senior quantitative researcher with the judgement and communication skills of a senior business leader.

Why Join Us?

• Foundational Impact: Play a central role in shaping the firm’s quantitative research capability, alpha strategy and approach to evaluating systematic opportunities.
• Strategic Influence: Work closely with the CEO and Leadership Team, providing quantitative insight that directly informs decisions around strategies, talent, technology and investment.
• Research Ownership: Have significant autonomy to identify, evaluate and develop new sources of alpha, with the opportunity to shape the firm’s longer-term research agenda.
• Entrepreneurial Environment: Join an agile, commercially driven organisation where strong ideas can translate quickly into decisions, investment and implementation.
• Strong Trading Platform: Leverage the firm’s proprietary trading infrastructure and work closely with experienced Portfolio Managers, quantitative researchers and technology teams to bring research into live production.
• Build for the Future: Help define how the firm’s quantitative capability evolves, with the potential to build and lead a broader Quant Research function over time.
• London-Based Role: Be part of the firm’s growing London presence, working closely with senior management and key stakeholders across the business.