2027 Trading Strategy Associate

Cox Worldwide Funds plc; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Commuter benefits

Wellness program

Backup care

Matching gifts

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Job summary

Dodge & Cox in San Francisco is seeking a Trading Strategy Associate to join the Equity Trading team. This 2–4 year role focuses on implementing tactical and investment decisions in markets globally, collaborating with investment committee members, research analysts, and strategy teams to source liquidity and improve execution.

You will apply quantitative methods and AI/ML techniques, developing pre-, intra-, and post-trade analyses for Equity and FX and automating execution performance

Qualifications

• Master's degree in financial engineering, data science, or another quantitative field.
• 2 years of relevant work experience in finance preferred, or exceptional internship.
• Knowledge of trading algorithm design and analysis.
• Knowledge of and/or exposure to trade executions and/or execution performance analysis.
• Strong programming foundation using Python, R, MATLAB or C++.
• Knowledge of AI/ML methods with depth in deep learning and reinforcement learning.

Responsibilities

• Research the properties of trading algorithms and perform in-depth analyses of global market micro-structure.
• Analyze market and trading data and create frameworks to evaluate existing trading strategies and tools.
• Advise and consult with execution traders on execution strategy and tactics.
• Develop pre-trade, intra-trade, and post-trade execution analysis for trading in Equity and FX markets.
• Develop and automate execution performance measurement framework and reporting.
• Develop and implement trading signals/models to help improve execution performance.

Skills

Python

R

MATLAB

C++

Statistics

Machine learning

SQL

Reinforcement learning

Education

Master's degree in financial engineering, data science, or other quantitative field

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

Role Overview

The Trading Strategy Associate will be an integral member of the Equity Trading team at Dodge & Cox. The Equity Trading team is responsible for implementing tactical and investment decisions in markets globally. The team is comprised of creative problem solvers who not only execute trades but also work closely with investment committee members; research analysts; and portfolio implementation, trade analytics, and strategy teams to develop strategic approaches to sourcing liquidity. The Trading Strategy Associate will be expected to integrate into a teamwork-driven culture that values cooperation and communication in its decision-making processes. This is a 2-to-4-year position with the potential for longer-term employment.

Key Responsibilities

• Research the properties of trading algorithms and perform in-depth analyses of global market micro-structure
• Analyze market and trading data and create frameworks to evaluate existing trading strategies and tools
• Advise and consult with execution traders on execution strategy and tactics
• Develop pre-trade, intra-trade, and post-trade execution analysis for trading in Equity and FX markets
• Develop and automate execution performance measurement framework and reporting
• Develop and implement trading signals/models to help improve execution performance
• Leverage AI and machine learning techniques, including deep learning and reinforcement learning, to enhance trading signal research, execution strategies, and analytics
• Help to develop and improve trading workflows, including assessment of third-party vendor tools and third-party data
• Perform ad-hoc analyses/participate in projects as required by internal clients

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with outstanding time management skills
• Flexible, reliable, proactive, and service-oriented
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively and contribute in a team environment, as well as independently
• Passionate about contributing to the growth of a developing and evolving function of the business

Qualifications

• Master's degree in financial engineering, data science, or other quantitative field
• 2 years' relevant work experience at a financial institution preferred, or post-undergraduate internship experience that demonstrates exceptional potential
• Knowledge of and/or exposure to trading algorithm design and analysis
• Knowledge of and/or exposure to trade executions and/or execution performance analysis
• Basic knowledge of global market microstructure
• Strong statistical and programming foundation using Python, R, MATLAB, C++ or similar languages
• Knowledge of AI and machine learning methods, with demonstrated depth in deep learning (e.g., neural network architectures, model training and evaluation) and reinforcement learning (e.g., policy optimization, sequential decision-making) and their application to trading problems
• Familiarity with modern AI tools and frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, LLM-based tools) to accelerate research, prototyping, and workflow automation
• Basic knowledge of data management using SQL and other database tools
• Willingness and flexibility to cover different markets and trading hours
• CFA or demonstrated interest in obtaining the CFA designation

The salary range for this position is $125k - $155k. The listed pay scale denotes only the pay range of the base salary and does not include discretionary bonus compensation, which may make up an important portion of the total remuneration. Dodge & Cox encourages applicants to consider the value of the many competitive benefits it offers, including coverage of 100% of all healthcare premiums for employees and their families and fully funding a retirement plan at 25% of the total compensation to the IRS limit. Dodge & Cox also provides additional benefits such as commuter, health & wellness, backup care, matching gift, employee assistance, and life and disability insurance. The listed pay scale reflects the base salary Dodge & Cox reasonably expects to pay for this position and is not a reflection of the highest and lowest base salary of any current Dodge & Cox employee. Actual base salary will be based on factors such as the candidate's prior relevant experience (including within and external to Dodge & Cox, as applicable), education, skills, and knowledge.

The job description above is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. It is the Company's policy to provide equal opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, or medical condition, as defined in state and federal laws. This policy covers all aspects of employment including, but not limited to, recruitment, selection, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, demotion, and termination. By applying for a position with Dodge & Cox, you acknowledge that you have read our EEO Policy. All Dodge & Cox employees must adhere to the Firm's security policies and Code of Ethics. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

About Us

Founded in 1930 in San Francisco, Dodge & Cox is one of the world’s largest independently owned investment firms with over $475 billion in assets under management and 376 employees (as of January 31, 2026). We manage money for individuals and institutions globally with a single investment philosophy applied across a focused set of offerings. Undistracted by short-term product trends or asset gathering, we concentrate on serving our clients by adhering to our time-tested investment approach. We build investment portfolios using deep fundamental research, a strict price discipline, a long-term investment horizon, and team decision-making. Our engaging, collaborative environment pushes us to accomplish our best. That's why many of us devote our careers to Dodge & Cox, ensuring stability and compounding our intellectual capital across generations. This institutional memory - combined with our collaborative culture and focused business model - makes us uniquely suited for long-term investing and enables us to continuously seek lasting value for our clients in a rapidly changing world.