Title: Quantitative Researcher 
Location: Chicago

Our Research team continually improves our core derivatives pricing and parameter models. Quantitative Researchers help advance our trading strategies and explore quantitative elements of new business initiatives. By operating within our Technology Group, ideas are quickly applied in our trading systems. Researchers and software engineers on this team work together closely with our traders. They find solutions to pricing problems, test those solutions with historical pricing parameters and market data, and then modify various parts of our trading system so traders can see these new models operate in the real world.

Technology at Optiver:
Our engineers work closely with traders to identify the business problems we face and determine how they should be solved. We apply a disciplined and scientific approach. We engineer simple, well-architected solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our traders. Our passion is to solve problems which really matter to the business, and we take pride in the quality of our solutions.

What you’ll do: 
•   Create and update option pricing models, volatility surfaces, yield curves, and other financial models
•   Test your models against historical market data
•   Leverage financial modeling methodologies to identify trading opportunities
•   Work closely with software engineers and traders to discuss, test and implement ideas
•   Work with traders on the quantitative aspects of their automated trading

What you’ll need:
•   Research experience improving pricing models in Quantitative Finance
•   PhD preferred in mathematics, computer science, statistics, physics, or a related field
•   Strong research, analytical, valuation, and modeling skills
•   Experience using Matlab, R, python, or other analytical tools for quantitative research
•   Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required; we will not sponsor individuals for employment authorization for this job opening
 
Who we are:
Optiver’s story began over 30 years ago, when we started business as a single trader on the floor of Amsterdam’s options exchange. Today, we are at the forefront of trading and technology as a leading global electronic market maker, focused on pricing, execution and risk management. With over 1,000 employees globally and 200 in our Chicago office, our mission to improve the market unites us.