Systematic Index Options Trader

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

Job summary

IMC Trading is seeking an Index Options Low-Latency Execution Quantitative Trader to join our team in Chicago. The role spans deep trade analysis, execution-system improvement, and early ownership of a defined part of the strategy.

You'll work with traders, quant researchers, and developers to drive revenue through high-performance electronic execution, using Python for analysis and backtesting on large datasets. A strong quantitative background and ownership mindset are essential.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in low-latency index options execution.
• Strong understanding of exchange microstructure and automated trading systems.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with ownership and bias toward action.
• Ability to perform efficient analysis on large datasets in Python.
• Strong communicator across trading, research, and development teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive revenue in low-latency index options trading by improving electronic execution systems.
• Deliver high-quality analysis using datasets including options pricing, trades data, and exchange feeds.
• Dive into trade examples to understand system behavior, identify anomalies, and quantify opportunities.
• Use backtesting and analysis tools to predict the impact of changes and improve performance.
• Collaborate with traders, quant researchers, and developers to bring ideas from inception to production.
• Take early ownership of a defined area of the strategy and grow to plan multi-month improvements.

Skills

Low-latency trading

Python analysis

Quantitative methods

Cross-team communication

Ownership mindset

Education

Graduate or post-graduate in mathematics, computer science, statistics

Tools

Backtesting frameworks

Job description

We are looking for an Index Options Low-Latency Execution Quantitative Trader to join our team. IMC's Index Options desk is one of the leading electronic liquidity providers in index options markets. Our execution team is responsible for getting IMC into the trades we want to participate in, across a range of mechanisms. Our ultra-low latency infrastructure is best-in-class, and because IMC is highly collaborative between traders, quant researchers, and developers, the scope of this role spans deep trade analysis, execution system improvement, and early ownership of a defined part of the strategy.

Your Core Responsibilities:

• Drive revenue in low-latency index options trading by building upon and improving our electronic execution systems
• Deliver high-quality analysis using a variety of datasets, including options pricing, trades data, and exchange feed
• Dive into specific trade examples to understand the behavior of our systems and those of our competitors, identify anomalies, and quantify opportunities
• Use backtesting and analysis tools to predict the impact of changes to our execution systems and continuously improve our performance
• Work collaboratively with traders, quant researchers, and developers to bring ideas from inception to production
• Take early ownership of a defined area of the strategy, for example a certain exchange or execution type, and grow into setting multi-month improvement plans

Your Skills and Experience:

• 2+ years of experience in low-latency index options execution, including liquidity providing and taking
• Strong understanding of exchange microstructure and how automated trading systems interact with exchanges
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a competitive nature, strong ownership mentality, and a bias toward action
• Ability to perform efficient analysis on large datasets in Python
• Preference for relevant tertiary qualifications (graduate or post-graduate) in a quantitative field: mathematics, computer science, statistics, or similar, with strong academic results
• Strong communicator, able to collaborate effectively across trading, research, and development teams

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.Please visit Benefits - US | IMC Trading for more comprehensive information.

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…