Head Trader

talisman; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Talisman in Chicago seeks a Senior Quant Trader to operate and oversee algorithmic trading strategies, aligning with desk performance, execution standards, and risk controls. You will monitor positions, market exposure, and anomalies while driving research and enhancements to profitability and execution quality.

Apply advanced quantitative modeling, work with Python-based tooling, and collaborate with researchers to refine strategy logic and risk management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in statistics, mathematics, engineering, finance, or a related quantitative discipline.
• 4–6+ years of experience trading financial products, including derivatives such as options or futures.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, and mathematical skill set with the ability to interpret complex market data and trading behavior.
• Experience with Python for data analysis, research, or trading infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Operate and oversee algorithmic trading strategies, ensuring alignment with performance objectives, execution standards, and risk parameters.
• Maintain continuous oversight of trading activity, positions, and market exposure, proactively identifying anomalies and opportunities for optimization.
• Conduct advanced research and post-trade analysis using the firm’s research infrastructure to evaluate performance and profitability.
• Leverage market microstructure, historical tick data, and quantitative modeling to generate new sources of alpha and refine models.
• Collaborate with quantitative researchers and strategy developers to test and implement improvements to strategy logic, including execution, pricing, and risk management.
• Coordinate between trading, risk, and technology teams to address production issues and ensure stability of trading systems.
• Design, build, and maintain quantitative analytics and modeling tools to support strategy evaluation and research.
• Partner with operations to reconcile positions and ensure accurate reporting of trading activity.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Python

Trading analytics

Education

Bachelor's in quantitative field

Tools

Python

Job description

• Operate and oversee algorithmic trading strategies, ensuring alignment with the trading desk’s performance objectives, execution standards, and risk parameters.
• Maintain continuous oversight of trading activity, positions, and market exposure, proactively identifying anomalies, inefficiencies, or opportunities for optimization throughout the trading day.
• Conduct advanced research and post-trade analysis utilizing the firm’s proprietary research infrastructure to evaluate strategy performance and identify opportunities to enhance profitability and execution quality.
• Leverage expertise in market microstructure, historical tick data, and quantitative modeling to generate new sources of alpha and refine existing trading models.
• Collaborate closely with quantitative researchers and strategy developers to propose, test, and implement improvements to strategy logic, including execution, pricing, and risk management components.
• Serve as a key point of coordination between trading, risk management, and technology teams to address production issues and ensure the stability and integrity of trading systems.
• Design, build, and maintain quantitative analytics and modeling tools to support strategy evaluation, monitoring, and research initiatives.
• Partner with operations and back-office teams to resolve trade breaks, reconcile positions, and ensure accurate reporting of trading activity.

Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, mathematics, engineering, finance, or a related quantitative discipline.
• 4–6+ years of experience trading financial products, including derivatives such as options or futures.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, and mathematical skill set with the ability to interpret complex market data and trading behavior.
• Experience with Python for data analysis, research, or trading infrastructure.
• Ability to operate independently while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-performance trading environment.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving ability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across trading, technology, and risk teams.
• Demonstrated strong work ethic and a team-oriented mindset focused on contributing to the overall performance and success of the trading desk.