New Grad Full-Time Quantitative Trader

WallStreetQuants; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

WallStreetQuants in Chicago seeks a highly motivated New Grad Quantitative Trader to join the team full-time. You will apply quantitative problem-solving to identify trading opportunities, manage risk, and contribute to data-driven strategies across global markets.

This role is ideal for recent graduates passionate about financial markets, probability, game theory, technology, and fast-paced decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in a quantitative field.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Ability to make quick decisions under pressure.
• Interest in financial markets and trading.
• Programming experience in Python preferred.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze real-time market data.
• Support development and testing of trading strategies.
• Make fast, data-informed trading decisions while managing risk.
• Collaborate with traders, researchers, and engineers.
• Conduct statistical analysis on market data.
• Evaluate market microstructure, liquidity, volatility, and other drivers of price movement.
• Participate in trading simulations, training programs, and strategy review sessions.
• Communicate trade ideas, risks, and performance insights clearly to the team.
• Continuously improve decision‑making through feedback, research, and post‑trade analysis.

Skills

Quantitative skills

Analytical thinking

Decision under pressure

Communication

Teamwork

Probability interest

Education

Quantitative degree (Bachelors/Masters/PhD)

Tools

Python

Job description

About the Role

A proprietary trading firm based in Chicago is seeking a highly motivated New Grad Quantitative Trader to join the team full-time. In this role, you will apply analytical thinking, market intuition, and quantitative problem-solving to identify trading opportunities, manage risk, and contribute to the development of data-driven strategies across global markets.

This is an ideal opportunity for recent graduates who are passionate about financial markets, probability, game theory, technology, and fast-paced decision‑making. You will work closely with experienced traders, quantitative researchers, and engineers to learn how modern trading strategies are designed, tested, and executed.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze real‑time market data to identify trading opportunities.
• Support the development, testing, and refinement of quantitative trading strategies.
• Make fast, data‑informed trading decisions while managing risk.
• Collaborate with traders, researchers, and engineers to improve trading models, tools, and execution systems.
• Conduct statistical analysis on historical and live market data.
• Evaluate market microstructure, liquidity, volatility, and other drivers of price movement.
• Participate in trading simulations, training programs, and strategy review sessions.
• Communicate trade ideas, risks, and performance insights clearly to the team.
• Continuously improve decision‑making through feedback, research, and post‑trade analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Economics, Finance, or a related quantitative field.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Interest in financial markets, trading, probability, strategy games, or competitive problem‑solving.
• Ability to make decisions quickly and remain calm under pressure.
• Strong attention to detail and intellectual curiosity.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Programming experience in Python or a similar language is preferred.
• Prior internship, research, trading competition, or personal project experience involving data analysis, markets, or quantitative modeling is a plus but not required.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, competitive, numerically strong, and comfortable making decisions with incomplete information. You enjoy solving complex problems, thinking strategically, learning from feedback, and working in a fast‑moving environment where performance and precision matter.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive training in trading, market structure, risk management, and quantitative strategy development.
• Mentorship from experienced traders, researchers, and technologists.
• Exposure to live markets and real‑time trading decision‑making.
• A collaborative, high‑performance environment that values curiosity, discipline, and continuous learning.
• Opportunities for rapid growth based on performance, ownership, and impact.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.