Graduate Quantitative Researcher, PhD (2027 Start)

About the Role

As a Graduate Quantitative Researcher, you will tackle challenging quantitative problems in global financial markets. Working alongside researchers, engineers, and traders, you will analyze large-scale datasets, develop predictive models and algorithms, and apply statistical and machine learning techniques to understand market behavior and identify trading opportunities. Research at Optiver is highly applied and end-to-end, from framing research questions to validating models and seeing ideas evaluated in live market environments. You will combine rigorous scientific thinking with modern AI-enabled research infrastructure to transform insights into solutions that directly influence trading. This opportunity is available in Austin and New York offices.

What You'll Do

• Onboarding: Participate in Global Optiver Academy, a structured onboarding program providing a foundation in trading, systems building, and risk management. Gain exposure to AI tools and technologies that support research and development.
• Responsibilities:
• Develop predictive models and machine learning systems to understand market behavior and identify trading opportunities.
• Analyze large-scale market and order-flow data to uncover signals, evaluate hypotheses, and improve trading performance.
• Build and test statistical and stochastic models for pricing, forecasting, and risk management.
• Apply modern research techniques, including deep learning and AI-enabled workflows, to accelerate discovery and improve research efficiency.

What You'll Get

Join a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Leverage cutting-edge machine learning research to develop innovative, real-world solutions.

• Opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries.
• Highly competitive compensation package.
• Global profit-sharing pool and performance-based bonus structure.
• 401(k) match up to 50%.
• Comprehensive health, mental, dental, vision, disability, and life coverage.
• 25 paid vacation days alongside market holidays.
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch, snacks, regular social events, clubs, and sporting leagues.

What to Expect

As part of the assessment process, you may be invited to participate in a multi-day, on-site evaluative program. Through hands-on workshops, technical discussions, and direct exposure to researchers and traders, you will gain insight into how research is applied at Optiver and how PhD students transition successfully into industry. Attendance and successful completion of this program may be required for a full-time offer.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• PhD in Statistics, Computer Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, or a related STEM field, with outstanding academic achievements.
• Expected to graduate by mid-2027 and available to start full-time employment upon graduation.
• Solid foundation in mathematics, probability, and statistics.
• Excellent research, analytical, and modeling skills.
• Experience applying machine learning methods to real-world research problems, such as time-series analysis, prediction, forecasting, pattern recognition, optimization, or decision-making.
• Proficiency in any programming language.
• Strong interest in working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Fluent in English with strong written and verbal communication skills.

About Optiver

Optiver is a leading technology- and research-driven trading firm. Our teams of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and traders work side by side to develop, test, and scale ideas that shape how we understand and trade global markets. Powered by a global platform built for rapid experimentation and iteration, we combine the scientific rigor of a research institution with the pace of a technology company.

Base Salary Range: $200,000—$200,000 USD