Index Options Volatility Trader

Trading Interview; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Paid leave

Insurance

Job summary

IMC is seeking an experienced index options trader in Chicago to monetize flow and capitalize on short-term mispricings. You will collaborate with quants and researchers to sharpen edge and own execution strategies.

The role requires 2+ years of index options volatility trading, strong analytical skills, and a proactive, fast-deciding mindset. Base salary and discretionary bonus accompany a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of index options volatility trading experience.
• BS, MS, or PhD in business, economics, or STEM.
• Ability to identify flow patterns and describe them analytically.
• Passionate about volatility dynamics and fast in acting on views.

Responsibilities

• Maximize revenue by identifying and capitalizing on short-term mispricings in index options.
• Monitor and react to flow patterns, volatility shifts, and liquidity changes across index products.
• Collaborate with traders to manage risk of a large book as a team.
• Work closely with research and quant teams to analyze results and improve approach.
• Identify and analyze counterparty behavior and repetitive flow patterns to inform positioning and execution.
• Provide feedback to enhance pricing models, risk systems, and execution tools.
• Perform post-trade reviews to improve execution and hedging.
• Take on significant responsibility and ownership early to drive strategies forward.

Skills

Index options trading

Flow pattern analysis

Volatility analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Job description

Our Index Options desk focuses on monetizing flow and capitalizing on short-term mispricings. We are a highly collaborative group that combines strong market intuition with analytical rigor, working closely with dedicated quants and researchers to sharpen our edge. Together, we strive to develop deep expertise, ownership, and innovation in understanding counterparty behavior, flow dynamics, and volatility pricing.

Your Core Responsibilities

• Maximize revenue by identifying and capitalizing on short-term mispricings in index options
• Monitor and react to flow patterns, volatility shifts, and liquidity changes across index products
• Collaborate with traders to manage the risk of a large book as a team
• Work closely with our best-in-class research and quant teams to analyze results and improve your approach
• Identify and analyze counterparty behavior and repetitive flow patterns to inform positioning and execution
• Provide feedback to enhance pricing models, risk systems, and execution tools
• Perform post-trade reviews to continuously improve execution and hedging
• Take on significant responsibility and ownership early in your time here to help drive strategies forward and succeed

Your Skills and Experience

• 2+ years of index options volatility trading experience
• BS, MS, or PhD, preferably in business, economics, or a STEM field
• Ability to identify flow patterns and describe them analytically, with strong knowledge of repetitive market flows
• Passionate about understanding volatility dynamics and willing to act quickly on your views to capture market opportunities
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a healthy risk appetite; competitive by nature and a fast decision-maker
• Analytical, reflective about past trades, and always seeking to improve

The Base Salary range for the role is included below. Base salary is only one component of total compensation; all full-time, permanent positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and benefits, including paid leave and insurance.

Salary Range

$250,000 — $250,000 USD

About Us

IMC is a global trading firm powered by a cutting-edge research environment and a world-class technology backbone. Since 1989, we’ve been a stabilizing force in financial markets, providing essential liquidity upon which market participants depend. Across our offices in the US, Europe, Asia Pacific, and India, our talented quant researchers, engineers, traders, and business operations professionals are united by our uniquely collaborative, high-performance culture, and our commitment to giving back. From entering dynamic new markets to embracing disruptive technologies, and from developing an innovative research environment to diversifying our trading strategies, we dare to continuously innovate and collaborate to succeed.

For three decades IMC has provided liquidity to the financial markets globally. Specialised in algorithmic trading and advanced technology, we set the pace for the evolution of market making. Cutting-edge…