Options Trader - Asia Hours

CTC Lateral - Website & LinkedIn; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous time off

Insurance coverage

Paid parental leave

Free meals

Wellness reimbursement

Job summary

Chicago Trading Company (CTC) in Chicago is seeking an Options Market Making Trader to expand operations during Asian market hours. You will maintain a trading schedule from 4 pm to 1 am CT and be involved in cross-shift training and strategy improvements. The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years of options trading experience and 1 year of portfolio management.

The salary range for this position is $225,000 – $250,000 USD along with a discretionary annual bonus and excellent employee benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of options market making trading experience.
• Minimum 1 year of market making portfolio management experience.
• Strong judgement to make decisions under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Maintain trading schedule from 4 pm to 1 am CT.
• Execute trading and portfolio management.
• Contribute to execution improvements during non-trading hours.

Skills

Options market making trading

Portfolio management

Operational skills

Communication

Python programming

Job description

Chicago Trading Company (CTC) is a premier proprietary trading firm specializing in options market making. Our collaborative culture fuels innovation in quantitative research, systematic trading strategies, and cutting‑edge trading technology. For over three decades CTC has provided critical liquidity across derivatives exchanges worldwide – making them fairer, more transparent, and more efficient.

We strive to be the most innovative firm in the industry today, tomorrow, and long into the future while upholding ethical excellence. We believe that CTC makes a positive impact on the markets, the lives of our employees, and all the communities to which we belong. Started in 1995 by a team of forward‑thinking traders, we are proud to call ourselves an industry leader that keeps making markets and each other better.

We are seeking an Options Market Making Trader to further expand our coverage during Asian market hours. The trading shift runs from 4 pm to 1 am CT, with the expectation to spend flexible time outside of trading on cross‑shift training and strategy improvements. The role operates Sunday through Thursday with optionality for remote and/or on‑site work.

The successful candidate will begin with a training program spanning different shifts (schedule will be tailored to candidate, but potential to spend time with Chicago, Asian, and European shifts) and products including S&P, Metals, Nasdaq, Russell, and Vix options. During this training period, you will master proprietary execution, fitting, portfolio management, and post‑trade analysis tools while developing a comprehensive understanding of CTC’s options trading strategies.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Maintain trading schedule from 4 pm to 1 am CT (with flexible time outside of trading hours for cross‑shift training and strategy improvements)
• Ensure daily production system readiness
• Execute trading (majority electronic, some broker call around) and portfolio management
• Perform real‑time recalibration of system controls to dynamically match the trading environment
• Effectively bridge the handoff between shifts by communicating relevant risk information, trading flows, and system issues
• Contribute to execution improvements and strategic projects during non‑trading hours

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Minimum 2 years of options market making trading experience
• Minimum 1 year of market making portfolio management experience
• Interested in building longer‑term stability in our Asian hours operation
• Strong operational skill set to partner with technologists on prevention and quick resolution of system issues/outages
• Strong judgement to make trading and portfolio management decisions under pressure and with more independence given more limited shift support
• Ability to distill influx of information to prioritize and address the most important thing at any given moment
• Proactive communicator and self‑starter who can effectively coordinate between shifts and take initiative to ensure continuous personal development

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience in S&P, Metals, Nasdaq, Russell, or Vix options market making trading
• Basic proficiency in Python programming

Compensation

The salary range for this role is listed below. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. The discretionary bonus will be dependent upon the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and firm performance.

Salary Range

$225,000 – $250,000 USD

We strongly believe in the well‑being of our employees and their families so we offer outstanding benefits to support you both professionally and personally. These benefits include generous time off, insurance coverage, paid parental leave, free breakfast and lunch (plus healthy snacks), wellness reimbursement, and a variety of other benefits focused on providing the best employee experience.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At CTC, we aim to cultivate a workplace that celebrates diversity and each person feels included, engaged and empowered. We are committed to having a diverse workforce and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. CTC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.