Experienced Equity Options Trader

Belvedere Trading, LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonuses

Access to various employee benefits

Job summary

A leading proprietary trading firm in Chicago is seeking an Experienced Equity Options Trader. You will take ownership of strategy, risk, and performance while leading options market-making activities in a fast-paced environment. A strong quantitative mindset, understanding of options pricing, and collaboration with technology teams are key to success in this role. The position offers a competitive salary ranging from $150,000 to $200,000, along with discretionary bonuses and various benefits.

Qualifications

• 3–7+ years experience trading single-stock or index options.
• Strong track record of generating PnL and managing risk.
• Deep understanding of options pricing and market dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Lead options market-making activities and execution of trades.
• Collaborate with team to design and implement trading strategies.
• Analyze market data to identify trends and opportunities.

Skills

Options trading experience

Strong market intuition

Quantitative mindset

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science or related field

Tools

Python

R

SQL

Job description

Belvedere Trading is a leading proprietary trading firm. We are a team driven by intellectual curiosity, seeking answers that will change not only how we trade in this technological age, but also the future landscape of the trading industry. Our traders provide liquidity to the market through their market‑making activities and are the masters of a diverse set of commodities, interest rates, exchange‑traded funds (ETF), and equity index options. Traders partner with our technologists to continually engineer and optimize our trading systems to stay on top of the industry.

As an Experienced Equity Options Trader, you will join our Equity Index or Individual Equity Options Trading Groups. In this role, you’ll take ownership of strategy, risk, and performance across equity options while helping shape the future of our trading desk. You’ll bring strong market intuition, a quantitative mindset, and a team‑first approach to a fast‑paced environment where we solve complex problems together.

What You’ll Do

• Become a leader in options market‑making, while being recognized and compensated for your contributions within the firm.
• Participate in formal education on quantitative concepts to build your trading knowledge.
• Execute trades in a fast‑paced environment with precision and a focus on maximizing profitability.
• Excel in market‑making on a highly collaborative team and actively provide liquidity across multiple markets while ensuring efficient pricing and risk management.
• Execute strategy development and collaborate with the team to design and implement trading strategies in highly liquid names.
• Provide analytics & insights to analyze market data to identify trends, mispricing, and emerging opportunities within Equity Markets.
• Develop tools to analyze positional opportunities, evaluate risk, and improve options liquidity.
• Collaborate with technologists, quants, and traders to systematize models and trading strategies.
• Ensure risk management by monitoring and managing positions within risk limits.

What You’ll Need

• 3–7+ years of experience trading single‑stock options, index options, or ETF options, ideally in a market‑making setting.
• A strong track record of generating PnL, managing risk, and executing strategies in fast‑moving markets.
• Deep understanding of options pricing, volatility dynamics, and market microstructure.
• Proficiency in Python, R, SQL, or similar tools, with the ability to work with large datasets and build analytical or modeling frameworks.
• Ability to thoughtfully approach decision‑making, thrive under pressure and adapt quickly to changing market conditions.
• Excellent communication skills and a team‑oriented mindset.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Finance, Economics, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

$150,000 - $200,000 a year

Additionally, certain positions at Belvedere Trading are eligible for discretionary bonuses. Our employees have access to a variety of benefits, which can be found on our website here .

How We Operate - Core Values

• Team Belvedere: Work seamlessly with others to achieve shared goals. Foster a positive and supportive environment that brings out the best in your teammates.
• Me in Team: Focus on competing and succeeding at the highest level, constantly striving for excellence.
• Own It: Actively address challenges and make decisions that drive positive results, taking ownership of both successes and failures.
• Build Rockets: Bring forward bold, creative ideas and solutions. Be open to experimentation and willing to take calculated risks.
• Passionate Discourse: Encourage and bring innovative, out‑of‑the‑box ideas to discussions, actively contributing to team growth and progress.

Women and underrepresented groups frequently apply for jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage you to break that mold and apply. No candidate is perfect; all have a lot to offer. We welcome your application.

Belvedere is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a non‑discriminatory workplace. We promote diversity and equal opportunity for all employees and applicants, fostering an inclusive environment where all team members are treated with respect, dignity, and courtesy. We value a dynamic culture where diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives thrive.

Job Requirements

• Work Schedule: Regular and reliable attendance during business hours with the ability to be on‑site prior to the start of business on occasion.
• Physical: Ability to remain at a desk and concentrate for long periods of time.
• Amount of Travel Required: None.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Job Details

• Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
• Employment type: Full‑time
• Job function: Finance and Sales