Quantitative Researcher

BHFT; City of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A proprietary algorithmic trading firm in London seeks an experienced Quantitative Researcher to design and implement automated trading algorithms. Candidates must have over five years of experience in trading and strong knowledge in portfolio strategies. This role offers opportunities for remote work and professional growth while emphasizing a collaborative work environment.

Benefits

Health insurance compensation

Flexible remote work

Professional growth opportunities

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Quantitative Research/Trading, preferably in proprietary trading firms or hedge funds.
• Strong experience with portfolio option strategies including pricing and risk management.
• Proficiency in programming languages like Python, C++, or Rust.

Responsibilities

• Calibrate SSVI or similar volatility surfaces using market data.
• Design and implement automated algorithms for adjusting surface parameters.
• Analyze historical and live market data to identify trading opportunities.

Skills

Quantitative Research

Portfolio option strategies

Model building

VaR simulations

Communication skills

Python

C++

Rust

Job description

BHFT is a proprietary algorithmic trading firm. Our team manages the full trading cycle, from software development to creating and coding strategies and algorithms.
Our trading operations cover key exchanges. The firm trades across a broad range of asset classes, including equities, equity derivatives, options, commodity futures, rates futures, etc. We employ a diverse and growing array of algorithmic trading strategies, utilizing both High-Frequency Trading (HFT) and Medium-Frequency Trading (MFT) approaches.

Looking ahead, we are expanding into new markets and products. As a dynamic company, we continuously experiment with new markets, tools, and technologies.
We’ve got a team of 200+ professionals, with a strong emphasis on technology—70% are technical specialists in development, infrastructure, testing, and analytics spheres. The remaining part of the team supports our business operations, such as Risks, Compliance, Legal, Operations and more.

With a strong focus on innovation and performance, BHFT is actively expanding its presence in traditional financial markets. We value a results-driven culture, emphasizing collaboration, transparency, and constant improvement, all while offering the flexibility of remote work and a globally distributed team.

Job Description

• Calibrate SSVI or similar volatility surfaces using market data to ensure smoothness, arbitrage-free conditions, and temporal stability;
• Design and implement automated algorithms for adjusting surface parameters such as skew, curvature, and wing dynamics;
• Tune and debug models under realistic market conditions –including bid/ask spreads, market noise, and incomplete markets;
• Analyze historical and live market data to identify trading opportunities and spread dislocations;
• Perform backtests on option spread strategies portfolio optimizations and against multiple underlyings;
• Collaborate with the quant team to enhance ML pipelines and expand statistical toolkits for research and production use.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Quantitative Research/Trading; background in a top-tier proprietary trading firm or hedge fund is strongly preferred;
• Strong experience with basket and portfolio option strategies, including pricing and risk management;
• Proven track record in building inventory-aware models where quoted prices adjust based on live risk metrics and our options position;
• Practical experience with VaR simulations and SPAN margin optimizations;
• Experience supporting systematic trading strategies with holding periods from minutes to several hours, including near-expiry trading (non-latency sensitive);
• Background in single-name equity or equity index options preferred;
• Proficiency in Python, C++, or Rust;
• Solid understanding of market microstructure;
• Strong collaborative spirit, work ethics, and a determined drive for success; ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex ideas.

Additional Information

What we offer:

• Experience a modern international technology company without the burden of bureaucracy.
• Collaborate with industry-leading professionals, including former employees of Tower, DRW, Broadridge, Credit Suisse, and more.
• Enjoy excellent opportunities for professional growth and self-realization.
• Work remotely from anywhere in the world with a flexible schedule.
• Receive compensation for health insurance, sports activities, and non-professional training.