Equity Analyst

Optiver Holding BV; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Highly competitive compensation package

Global profit-sharing pool

401(k) match up to 50%

Comprehensive health, dental, and life coverage

Process improvements and mentorship opportunities

Job summary

A leading market-making institution is seeking an experienced Equity Analyst in Chicago to influence real-time trading decisions. This high-impact role requires deep sector knowledge, excellent quantitative skills, and the ability to translate research into trading strategies. The ideal candidate possesses over 3 years of experience and thrives in collaborative, fast-paced environments. Expect a competitive compensation package, global profit-sharing, and a comprehensive benefits structure.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant experience as an equity analyst within a market-making environment.
• Comfortable with options concepts and volatility analysis.
• Strong quantitative abilities and thrives in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Leverage fundamental and event-driven catalysts to identify trading opportunities.
• Collaborate with traders to manage positions influencing PnL.
• Perform scenario analyses for upcoming events and corporate developments.
• Translate research into actionable frameworks for option and volatility trading strategies.
• Contribute to process improvements and knowledge sharing across the analyst team.
• Mentor junior analysts and support the continued professionalization of global equity research.

Skills

Fundamental analysis

Volatility analysis

Quantitative problem-solving

Communication skills

Strong communication

Market-making mindset

Job description

As an Equity Analyst, you’ll sit directly on the trading desk, influencing real-time decisions and managing research-driven positions that have direct PnL Impact. You’ll bring deep sector knowledge or a proven ability to adapt across sectors, a keen understanding of how fundamentals drive short-term price and volatility changes, and the commercial mindset needed to translate your insights into profitable trading outcomes.

This is a high-impact role designed for analysts who thrive in fast-paced, collaborative environments – and who are eager to apply their market-making instincts, short-horizon research, and option-aware thinking to drive tangible results.

What you’ll do

As an Equity Analyst, you will:

• Leverage fundamental, event-driven, and short-term catalysts to identify and evaluate trading opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with traders to generate and manage positions that capture these opportunities, directly influencing desk PnL.
• Perform scenario and sensitivity analyses for upcoming events and corporate developments, assessing their potential impact on both equity and volatility.
• Translate research insights into actionable frameworks for option and volatility trading strategies.
• Contribute to process improvements and knowledge sharing across the analyst team, helping to refine how fundamental insights are monetized in a market-making context.
• Mentor junior analysts and support the continued professionalization of the global equity research effort.

What you’ll get

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• Highly competitive compensation package
• Global profit‑sharing pool and performance‑based bonus structure
• 401(k) match up to 50%
• Comprehensive health, mental, dental, vision, disability, and life coverage
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more

Who you are

• 3+ years of relevant experience as an equity analyst, within a market‑making environment, event‑driven hedge fund, or trading‑focused team.
• Comfortable working with options concepts and volatility analysis, or eager to deepen your expertise in these areas.
• Skilled at applying fundamental analysis over short time horizons and identifying key drivers of near‑term price moves.
• A sector specialist with proven expertise.
• Strong quantitative and problem‑solving abilities; thrives in fast‑moving, information‑rich settings.
• Excellent communication skills, proactive in sharing views and partnering with traders and researchers.
• Passionate about markets, adaptable, and driven by the pursuit of impact and learning.
• Comfortable working with large data sets and building out systematic processes.

Who we are

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Below is the expected base salary for this position. This is a good-faith estimate of the base pay scale for this position and offers will ultimately be determined based on experience, education, skill set, and performance in the interview process. This position will also be eligible for a discretionary bonus (if determined by Optiver) and Optiver’s benefits package with the benefits listed above.