Quantitative Analyst (Quant) - Derivatives Pricing

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Home office allowance

Performance-based bonus

Remote work acceptance across SA

Job summary

Placements24 invites a highly skilled Quantitative Analyst to join a leading global financial firm in a remote SA role based in Welkom, Free State. You will build pricing models for a wide range of derivatives and develop trading algorithms.

You should have a strong mathematical foundation, expertise in stochastic calculus, and proficiency in Python, C++, Java, or R. Collaborative, autonomous work is expected.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a quantitative field (Math/Physics/Statistics/Financial Engineering/CS).
• 4–6 years of experience as a Quantitative Analyst in finance (investment banking/hedge funds/asset management).
• Strong programming skills in Python/C++/Java/R with numerical methods experience.
• Deep understanding of derivatives, stochastic calculus, and financial modeling.
• Experience with pricing models (Black-Scholes, HJM, LMM) and risk frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and implement pricing models for derivatives such as options, futures, and swaps.
• Design algorithms for trading strategies and portfolio optimization.
• Calibrate and validate models; ensure alignment with market conditions.
• Collaborate with front-office and IT to productionize models and workflows.
• Perform sensitivity analyses and contribute to quantitative research.

Skills

Python

C++

Java

R

Education

Master's or PhD in Mathematics/Physics/Statistics/Financial Engineering/CS

Tools

SQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading global financial firm, is looking for an exceptionally talented Quantitative Analyst (Quant) specializing in Derivatives Pricing to join their advanced analytics team. This role is based in Welkom, Free State , and offers the unique advantage of being a fully remote position, allowing you to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining sophisticated mathematical models used for pricing complex financial derivatives, risk management, and algorithmic trading strategies. This position demands a rigorous analytical approach, advanced programming skills, and a profound understanding of financial mathematics and stochastic calculus. You will collaborate with traders, portfolio managers, and technology teams to drive innovation in financial modeling and product development. This is a critical role requiring sharp intellect and a passion for quantitative finance, contributing directly to the firm's competitive edge in the financial markets. The role offers a high degree of autonomy and intellectual challenge.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and implement pricing models for a wide range of financial derivatives (e.g., options, futures, swaps).
• Design and build algorithms for trading strategies and portfolio optimization.
• Perform mathematical research and develop new quantitative methodologies to enhance pricing accuracy and risk management.
• Validate and calibrate existing models to ensure they accurately reflect market conditions and product characteristics.
• Collaborate closely with front-office teams (traders, sales) to understand their needs and provide quantitative solutions.
• Work with the IT department to integrate models into production systems and ensure efficient implementation.
• Conduct sensitivity analysis and scenario modeling to assess model performance under different market conditions.
• Contribute to the firm's research efforts and stay at the forefront of quantitative finance developments.
• Document models and methodologies clearly and comprehensively for internal and regulatory purposes.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a quantitative field such as Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Financial Engineering, or Computer Science.
• Minimum of 4-6 years of experience as a Quantitative Analyst in investment banking, hedge funds, or asset management.
• Strong programming skills in languages such as Python, C++, Java, or R, with demonstrable experience in numerical methods.
• Deep understanding of financial derivatives, stochastic calculus, and financial modeling techniques.
• Experience with pricing models (e.g., Black-Scholes, HJM, LIBOR Market Model) and risk management frameworks.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and computational skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage complex projects in a remote setting.
• Strong communication skills for collaborating with technical and non-technical colleagues.
• Experience with large datasets and database technologies is a plus.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary of ZAR .
• Performance-based annual bonus.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Generous allowance for home office setup and professional development.
• Opportunity to work remotely from anywhere in South Africa .
• Engage in intellectually stimulating work with cutting-edge financial models.
• Collaborate with a global team of top quantitative talent.