Quantitative Trader

Optiver is an industry leader across everything we do. We don’t just meet industry standards; we aim to set them! We believe that in order to stay at the top, we must adapt, innovate, and continuously improve. Our Delta1 trading team combines a systematic approach with sophisticated pricing models, iterating often to ensure consistent, robust trading performance with scalability.
As the next stage of our evolution, we are looking to build out a cash equities statistical arbitrage/positional offering. We are looking for an experienced and entrepreneurial quantitative trader with an established track record of trading cash instruments over hours-days horizons to lead the development into this space.
The early stages of the build will be pragmatically led, so an engineering mindset and methodical approach to problem-solving will be required, along with experience in both alpha research and covariance risk book management.

Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market-making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 50+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency, and acting as a stabilising force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates.

Our Amsterdam office is where it all began. Over 35 years ago, Optiver’s business started with a single trader on the floor of Amsterdam’s European Stock Exchange. Since our 1986 founding, Optiver’s Amsterdam office has grown into one of the most dynamic and exciting trading floors in Europe. Our culture reflects the Dutch capital city’s progressive, innovative, and inclusive nature. With its unique spirit, Amsterdam is the ideal hub for our teams to trade a wide range of products from listed derivatives to cash equities, ETFs, bonds, and foreign exchange.

As an experienced Stat Arb Quantitative Trader, you will use in-house and external data to develop and execute strategies while managing the risk of the complex portfolio of financial instruments you trade in the process. You will leverage and contribute to our in-house built libraries and comprehensive market datasets.

• A strong understanding of the fundamentals of pricing, execution, and risk management in cash equity markets.
• Exceptional analytical skills, particularly in terms of identifying opportunities when analysing large data sets.
• Extensive mathematical and statistical modelling skills, utilising a range of techniques.
• The ability to prototype and iterate quickly.
• Programming experience in languages such as Python, Java, and C++ is a strong plus.
• A passion for solving problems and a drive for results.
• A preference for working collaboratively with like-minded people.

• The chance to further your career working alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries.
• Our performance-based bonus structure is unmatched anywhere in the industry. We combine our profits across desks, teams, and offices into a global profit pool fostering a truly collaborative environment to work in.
• Alongside this, you will get great secondary benefits such as 25 paid vacation days, fully paid first-class commuting expenses, training opportunities, discounts on health insurance, breakfast and lunch facilities, sports and leisure activities, Friday afternoon drinks, and even weekly in-house chair massages.
• Being highly international, we are accustomed to guiding expats through their relocation, offering competitive relocation packages and providing visa sponsorship where necessary.

Are you interested in furthering your career on one of the most dynamic and exciting trading floors in Europe?

Apply directly via the form below for the position of Statistical Arbitrage Quantitative Trader. Please provide us with a CV and letter of motivation in English. When we think there is a potential match, you will hear from us sooner than you expect. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Recruiter Nick Blundy via nickblundy@optiver.com. Please note, we cannot accept applications via email for data protection reasons.