Head Trader

talisman; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

talisman is seeking a highly skilled quantitative trader to operate and oversee algorithmic trading strategies, ensuring alignment with performance targets and risk parameters. The role involves monitoring activity, analyzing positions, and optimizing profitability through research and collaboration with researchers and developers.

You will leverage expertise in market microstructure and quantitative modeling to uncover alpha sources, test improvements, and implement enhanced execution and risk

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, mathematics, engineering, finance, or related quantitative discipline.
• 4–6+ years trading financial products, including derivatives such as options or futures.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, and mathematical skills to interpret market data.
• Experience with Python for data analysis, research, or trading infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Operate and oversee algorithmic trading strategies aligned with performance objectives.
• Maintain oversight of trading activity, positions, and market exposure.
• Conduct advanced research and post-trade analysis using proprietary infrastructure.
• Leverage market microstructure knowledge to generate alpha.
• Collaborate with researchers and developers to improve strategy logic.
• Coordinate with trading, risk management, and technology teams to address issues.
• Design, build, and maintain quantitative analytics and modeling tools.
• Partner with operations to resolve trade breaks and reconcile positions.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Mathematical modeling

Communication

Multitasking

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in statistics, mathematics, engineering, finance, or a related quantitative discipline

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.