Quantitative Researcher - Data Curation

IMC Trading; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 200,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global trading firm in Chicago seeks an analytical Quantitative Researcher to join their research team. The role involves curating market data, conducting quantitative analysis, and collaborating with teams to enhance trading strategies. Candidates should have over 3 years of experience in quantitative research, strong Python skills, and a detail-oriented approach. Competitive salary between $200,000 and $275,000 offered.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in a quantitative research or data-focused role in financial markets.
• Proven experience with trading and financial data.
• Hands-on experience integrating non-market data sources is a plus.
• Strong understanding of data vendor landscape.
• Exceptional attention to detail and systematic approach.

Responsibilities

• Curate, cleanse, and validate large volumes of market data.
• Integrate and preprocess fundamental & alternative data sources.
• Build and maintain robust data pipelines for research and live trading.
• Conduct quantitative research to enhance trading strategies.

Skills

Quantitative research

Data analysis

Python

SQL

Statistical techniques

Machine learning

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Job description

We are seeking a highly analytical and detail-oriented Quantitative Researcher to join our dynamic research team. The ideal candidate will have deep experience curating and analyzing a broad range of trading-related data sources—including traditional market data, fundamental datasets, and other vendor-supplied information. This role will contribute to the development of innovative trading strategies, support data-driven decision-making, and collaborate closely with trading, technology, and data acquisition teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Curate, cleanse, and validate large volumes of market data, focusing on US equity and equity options
• Integrate, preprocess, and evaluate fundamental & alternative data sources
• Work closely with data acquisition & global data team to assess data quality
• Build and maintain robust data pipelines for research and live trading environments
• Perform data analysis & statistical modeling to identify patterns and inefficiencies in the market
• Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of datasets used in quantitative modeling.
• Document research processes, data provenance, and results with high standards of clarity and reproducibility
• Collaborate with software engineers and traders to translate research into production-grade models and tools
• Conduct quantitative research and analysis to support and enhance trading strategies

Required Skills & Experience

• 3+ years of experience in a quantitative research or data-focused role in financial markets, ideally in a systematic trading environment
• Proven experience working with a diverse range of trading and financial data
• Hands‑on experience integrating and analyzing non‑market data sources is a plus
• Strong understanding of data vendor landscape
• Advanced proficiency in Python
• Experience with databases (SQL) and handling large datasets efficiently
• Familiarity with real‑time data systems and tick‑level data processing
• Familiarity with statistical and machine learning techniques
• Exceptional attention to detail and a systematic approach to problem‑solving
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Salary Range
$200,000 - $275,000 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.