Quantitative Researcher / Trader

Quantitative Researcher / Trader: Options Market Making

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Experience: 3+ years

Visa sponsorship: Available

About the Firm

Our client is a fast-growing quantitative trading firm, founded in 2020, that has scaled to 120+ people across 7 offices globally. The firm is built on systematic, research-driven trading and on the belief that the best ideas come from open, collaborative teams rather than siloed individuals. It is still early in its growth story, so people who join have real scope to shape strategy, expand into new areas and leave a visible mark on the business.

The Role

The firm is hiring a Quantitative Researcher / Trader to join its mid-frequency desk in Amsterdam, focused on options market making across the Indian exchanges (NSE, BSE and MCX). This is a genuinely hybrid role. You will research and build alpha signals and pricing models, and you will also take ownership of risk and trading decisions in live markets. Your work will not be handed off to someone else to run; you will see it through from hypothesis to P&L.

The primary focus is systematic intraday trading, with room for semi-systematic approaches where human judgement adds value, such as during unusual market conditions, around events or when managing risk through volatile sessions.

Key Responsibilities

• Research, develop and refine intraday options market-making strategies across index, equity and commodity derivatives on NSE, BSE and MCX
• Build and improve models for volatility surface construction, skew and term-structure dynamics, fair-value estimation and short-horizon alpha signals
• Own the full strategy lifecycle: idea generation, data analysis, backtesting and simulation, deployment, live monitoring and iteration
• Actively manage risk in real time, including delta, gamma, vega and inventory exposure, hedging decisions and behaviour around expiries and event days
• Take responsibility for live trading performance, using both systematic frameworks and discretionary judgement where appropriate
• Analyze trading performance, execution quality and market microstructure to find edge and cut slippage and adverse selection
• Work closely with other researchers, traders and technologists to improve shared infrastructure, tooling and research methodology
• Contribute new ideas and challenge existing assumptions, including exploring adjacent products, markets and strategies as the firm expands

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in quantitative research and/or trading at a proprietary trading firm, market maker, hedge fund or similar environment
• Hands-on experience with options, ideally in market making or volatility trading, and a strong grasp of pricing theory, the Greeks and volatility dynamics
• Strong quantitative and statistical foundations, with a degree in a numerate discipline (Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering or similar)
• Proficiency in Python (or a comparable language) for research, data analysis and strategy development
• Comfort making decisions under uncertainty and taking ownership of risk in fast-moving markets
• A rigorous, evidence-driven approach to research, with sound judgement about what is signal and what is noise
• Excellent communication skills and a genuine preference for collaborative work

Advantageous (Not Essential)

• Familiarity with Indian derivatives markets, their structure, participants and market conventions
• Experience across both systematic and semi-systematic trading styles
• Experience with C++ or other performance-oriented languages
• Exposure to intraday or mid-frequency strategy development at scale

What Makes Someone a Great Fit

• Value collaboration and see sharing knowledge and ideas as a strength, not a risk
• Are open-minded, curious and quick to welcome new perspectives, including those that challenge their own
• Are energized by an expanding remit and keen to grow into new products, markets and responsibilities
• Take ownership and combine intellectual rigour with humility and a team-first mindset

What's on Offer

• A high-impact seat with real autonomy and ownership across both research and trading
• A collaborative, idea-driven culture within a young, rapidly growing global firm
• A highly competitive compensation package, with genuine flexibility for the right candidate and a willingness to meet strong expectations
• Visa sponsorship for candidates relocating to the Netherlands
• The chance to help shape the direction of a growing franchise rather than slotting into a fixed structure

Please get in touch by applying to this job advert with a copy of your latest CV and we can set up a confidential discussion.