2021 Graduate Performance Researcher null

• $170K first year package, plus an abundance of perks and benefits
• Relocation assistance provided if based outside of Sydney, including flights and accommodation
• Start date - Feb 2021

What you'll work on

Performance Researchers use data science, reverse engineering and computing fundamentals to improve the success of our trading systems. You'll develop hypotheses about how to improve our competitive success and test them experimentally under real-world conditions and constraints. You'll direct development efforts and build tools to optimise our low-latency strategies. You'll work with cutting-edge technology, from custom FPGA hardware and picosecond precision latency to microwave communications and more. You'll analyse terabytes of systems and network capture data to process and discover hidden patterns. You'll reverse engineer networks and systems to understand how to optimise our trading.

What you'll learn

Thanks to our custom-built trading systems and pricing expertise, we're at the forefront of quantitative trading. You will gain experience with low-latency trading strategies and how to optimise them for the most competitive markets. You'll develop an understanding of the models and technology that allow us to continually provide prices for a substantial number of financial products across Asia.

You'll spend your first eight weeks in a highly interactive training program alongside Traders, Software Developers and Researchers, learning the ins and outs of quantitative trading. From there you'll join our Research teams and take on your own responsibilities.

You will learn how our trading systems operate and how to optimise them for the most challenging and competitive markets in Asia. You'll be mentored by a senior member of our research team. You will gain experience from designing models and randomised controlled trials to test your theories, to details about optimising network configurations and running custom FPGA hardware.

Who you are

You are a creative, critical thinker, who takes ideas apart to understand the 'why'. You're an inquisitive sceptic who is excited to test yourself in one of the most competitive areas of the financial markets. In addition, you:

• Love getting into the details of problems and understand how to decompose big challenges into solvable pieces.
• Are pragmatic and focused on outcomes.
• Enjoy utilising technology, programming or maths in your daily life to solve problems
• Possess programming experience in any language (C, C++, Python, Basic, Java, etc.);

Much of the technical skill set for this role can be learnt. What we truly value is your aptitude, growth mindset, drive for success and passion for collaborative problem solving.

Eligibility

• You study a highly quantitative or technically focused degree - Maths, Statistics, Physics, Elec / Mechatronic / Software Engineering, Computer Science, Applied/Quantitative Finance or Econometrics.
• You're a final-year/Honours/Masters/PhD student or a recent graduate (up to 4 years).
• An Australian or New Zealand Citizen or Australian Permanent Resident.

Who we are

Optiver. It's a combination of the Dutch words for 'trading' and 'options'. And that's what we do. We're a leader in Options trading (and other financial products) on the world's financial markets.

At Optiver, we do things a bit differently to most businesses. We operate without clients, taking risks and reaping the rewards ourselves. We play by our own rules and maintain an informal culture to make sure it's fun. We skip the mindless meetings and get on with it. And we celebrate high performance, individual excellence and doing better every day. We take serious things very seriously - like chasing wins and embracing the challenges of the market. We collaborate to solve open-ended problems in the most competitive market there is. We're about fast feedback and speedy solutions. Since we take the risk, we reap the rewards. And that's just how we like it. We collaborate to innovate. We share knowledge, ideas and the glory when everything goes right.

More than 1000 Optiverians around the world work to improve the market. Optiver's a quiet powerhouse of creative problem solving and collaboration. We like challenges. We love success. And we're proud of our culture, designed to give you plenty of opportunity and support to do amazing things.

What we offer

Optiver is a truly high performing environment. We make life easy for you by taking care of the little things. Like lunch, which our in-house chefs prepare every day. And coffee, free from our barista. And fitness, with your free gym membership and access to group training sessions. There are massages every week, meditation training and lots of wellness perks. There are also plenty of ways to unwind, from our famous games room and social clubs to our many internal sports teams. And with a culture that celebrates wins, you can bet that from our monthly social events, annual trip, Christmas party and more, you'll find time to meet your fellow Optiverians and enjoy a party or two.

Optiver also believes in getting better every day. Our internal learning and development programs are designed to help you get to the next level. With in-house experts, a structured learning program and plenty of opportunities to learn as you work, you're always developing new skills. Which helps when you're solving the most interesting problems in the world.

Want to solve the world's most interesting problems? Take up the challenge and apply today!

Applications close on 24 August 2020. We recruit on a rolling basis so the sooner you apply, the sooner you could secure your Graduate role!

Optiver embraces diversity and encourages applications from people with a disability. Candidates will have the opportunity to request support or reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process in order to demonstrate their ability to meet the inherent requirements of the job.

If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please contact us at careers@optiver.com.au.