Graduate Quantitative Researcher (2027 Start)

Optiver; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Global team with colleagues from 50++

25 paid vacation days

Training opportunities

Office perks and commuting

Relocation and visa sponsorship forexp

Job summary

Optiver in Amsterdam is seeking a Graduate Quantitative Researcher to contribute across the full research lifecycle, from framing questions to deploying models in production. You will work with market data, then build and test models using ML techniques, and monitor performance in live environments.

You will join a collaborative team of researchers, traders and engineers, using cross-disciplinary methods to improve strategies and adapt as markets evolve. English proficiency is essential.

Qualifications

• Academic degree in Engineering, Physics, Maths, Econometrics, CS or equivalent.
• Programming experience in Python (also C/C++, Java)
• Strong knowledge of probability, calculus and linear algebra
• Strong English verbal and written skills
• Creative, versatile and eager to learn
• Able to work cross-functionally with researchers and engineers

Responsibilities

• Building models for pricing, forecasting and signal discovery, choosing the statistical, mathematical or Machine Learning methods that best fit the problem.
• Working across petabytes of market, order-flow and unstructured data to find signals that improve strategies as conditions change.
• Monitoring models in production and using live behavior to refine your assumptions and decide what to investigate next.
• Using deep learning and AI-enabled workflows to shorten the loop from hypothesis to evidence.
• Working directly with researchers, traders and engineers to shape problems and understand how system constraints affect performance.

Skills

Python

C/C++

Probability

Calculus

Linear algebra

English proficiency

Education

Engineering

Physics

Mathematics

Econometrics

Computer Science

Job description

If you enjoy using mathematics and code to investigate difficult questions, you could make a direct contribution to Optiver’s success in global markets. As a Graduate Quantitative Researcher, you’ll work across the full research process, from framing the question and choosing the data to building, testing and deploying models. Machine Learning is central to the work, whether you’re extracting signals, forecasting prices or modelling relationships. Our data, compute and production infrastructure let you test ideas quickly, understand where they fail and decide what to investigate next.

Our researchers believe in academic discourse and invite fellow researchers, traders and engineers to challenge each hypothesis. Different perspectives help improve the question, the model and how it performs in production. Through constant testing, analysis and refinement, you’ll help our quantitative models adapt as markets evolve.

What You’ll Do

Your onboarding

You'll participate in Global Optiver Academy, a structured onboarding programme for graduates. It gives new joiners a shared foundation in how Optiver trades, builds systems, and manages risk before they move into their teams. As part of your onboarding, you'll gain exposure to the AI tools and technologies that support research and development across the business.

Your Responsibilities

Depending on the team you join, you'll own the research end to end. That could include:

• Building models for pricing, forecasting and signal discovery, choosing the statistical, mathematical or Machine Learning methods that best fit the problem.
• Working across petabytes of market, order-flow and unstructured data to find signals that improve strategies as conditions change.
• Monitoring models in production and using live behavior to refine your assumptions and decide what to investigate next.
• Using deep learning and AI-enabled workflows to shorten the loop from hypothesis to evidence.
• Working directly with researchers, traders and engineers to shape problems and understand how system constraints affect performance.

Who You Are

We're looking for aspiring Quantitative Researchers who are versatile and creative in innovating and suggesting new solutions. In return, we'll give you the freedom to pursue your ideas and implement them right into our production systems.

In terms of skills and qualifications, we're looking for

• An academic degree in Engineering, Physics, Maths, Econometrics, Computer science or equivalent, with outstanding academic achievements
• Programming experience in any language (preferably Python, but C, C++, Basic, JAVA, etc. are also a plus)
• Ability to apply concepts of probability, calculus and linear algebra
• Competitive attitude and eagerness to constantly improve
• Ability to learn quickly
• Excellent verbal and written English language skills

What You’ll Get

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talent colleagues, working collaboratively to tackle the toughest problems in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive

• A performance-based bonus structure, enabling all of our employees to benefit from our global profit pool
• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 50 countries
• 25 paid vacation days in your first year, increasing to 30 from your second year onwards
• Training opportunities, discounts on health benefits, and fully paid first-class commuting expenses
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, world-class barista coffee, bi-weekly chair massages, Friday afternoon drinks, a bicycle to explore Amsterdam and much more
• Training and continuous learning opportunities, including access to conferences and tech events
• Competitive relocation packages and visa sponsorship where necessary for expats

Diversity statement

Optiver is committed to diversity and inclusion.

We encourage applications from candidates from any and all backgrounds, and we welcome requests for reasonable adjustments during the process to ensure that you can best demonstrate your abilities.

For answers to some of our most frequently asked questions, refer to our recruitment FAQ.

For applicants based in India, our entry route is via the placement office internship hiring season (July/August).

• Optiver has a global application re-apply policy for our intern and graduate roles. If you have completed an online assessment or interviewed for a quantitative graduate or internship role at any Optiver location in the past 8 months, please note that you are not yet eligible to reapply. We welcome you to re-apply after the 8-month cool off period.