At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop cutting-edge execution algorithms for real-time trading.
- Company: Join Citi's innovative Electronic Execution & Algo Trading team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a chance to impact live markets.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities to work on high-impact projects.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of algorithmic trading and see your work in action.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in algo quant roles; strong coding skills in Java or C++ required.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
Execution Algorithm Design & Development
- Design, implement, and maintain production execution algorithms from scheduling models to adaptive allocation strategies driven by real-time signals and analytics.
- Build, enhance, and optimise venue selection, queue priority modelling, and dark/lit routing across fragmented equity markets.
- Develop and improve execution models that account for market impact, timing risk, and other key cost drivers.
- Leverage AI and machine learning tools across the development lifecycle, from accelerating research and prototyping to enhancing model validation, code review, and continuous performance monitoring in production.
- Develop and maintain client-specific algorithm customisations, respond to BAU and analytics requests, and lead investigations into order behaviour and execution performance queries raised by clients or internal stakeholders.
Quantitative Research & Signal Development
- Understand and study equity market microstructure: order book dynamics, venue behaviour, queue mechanics, adverse selection, and execution impact.
- Build and back-test models on tick-level and order-level data; translate findings into production components with measurable performance improvements.
- Model internal and external liquidity sources to optimise algo interaction across the full liquidity landscape.
Production Engineering & Delivery
- Write clean, efficient, production-quality code where latency, correctness, and resilience are non-negotiable.
- Own the full development lifecycle: design, testing, deployment, monitoring, and iteration based on live performance data.
- Build analytics and reporting tools to measure execution quality, identify performance gaps, and surface improvement opportunities.
- Contribute to platform architecture and scalability as volumes, markets, and complexity grow.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
- Partner with traders, electronic trading specialists, and technology teams to refine models and influence execution strategy in real time.
- Collaborate with Sales and Client Coverage to translate client execution needs into algorithmic enhancements and bespoke solutions.
- Work in close partnership with control functions such as Legal, Compliance, Market and Credit Risk, Audit, Finance to ensure appropriate governance and control infrastructure.
Culture, Risk & Compliance
- Build a culture of responsible finance, good governance and supervision, expense discipline and ethics.
- Be familiar with and adhere to Citi's Code of Conduct and the Plan of Supervision for Global Markets and Securities Services; and ensure that all team members understand the need to do the same.
- Adhere to all policies and procedures as defined by your role which will be communicated to you.
- Obtain and maintain all registrations/licenses which are required for your role, within the appropriate timeframe.
- Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behaviour, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in a comparable Algo Quant, Quantitative Developer or Strategist role, ideally in Cash Equities or FX but candidates with analogous experience in other areas are considered too.
- Strong technical and programming skills are essential, with proficiency in low latency and resilient Java or C++ required. Proficiency in Python and/or KDB+/q for tick data analytics and real-time signal computation is highly desirable.
- Exposure to market data and derived statistics and analytics is a plus.
- Proven experience in software architecture design and engineering principles, with a demonstrable track record of building systems where low latency and high throughput are crucial.
- Strong grounding in probability and statistics for quantitative inference, combined with a solid understanding of equity market microstructure, including the mechanics of limit order books, queue dynamics and priority, venue fragmentation across lit and dark pools, adverse selection, and market impact cost modelling.
- Master's or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, Finance, Mathematics, or a related field is preferred. Strong candidates with a Bachelor's degree and relevant experience are also welcome to apply.
Role Summary
Citi's Electronic Execution & Algo Trading Quant team is seeking an experienced execution strategist to research, design, develop, and maintain the algorithmic trading systems that define Citi's execution product. You will be at the heart of a world-class electronic trading franchise, building the next generation of execution strategies, owning the full lifecycle from idea generation and research through implementation and testing to production deployment and continuous improvement. If you are the kind of person who wants to see your code running in live markets, your signals driving real execution decisions, and your models measurably improving outcomes for clients and the firm, this role was built for you.
Execution Strategy Quant (Cash Equities), Director in City of Westminster employer: Citigroup, Inc.
Citi is an exceptional employer for the Execution Strategy Quant role, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have access to cutting-edge technology and resources, enabling you to develop and optimise algorithmic trading systems that directly impact market performance. The culture prioritises responsible finance and ethical practices, ensuring that you contribute to a reputable firm while enjoying the benefits of a supportive team and opportunities for professional advancement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Execution Strategy Quant (Cash Equities), Director in City of Westminster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with alumni from your university. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those related to algorithm design and execution strategies. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Practice coding challenges and be ready to discuss your past experiences in detail, especially around market microstructure and algorithm optimisation.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at StudySmarter.
We think you need these skills to ace Execution Strategy Quant (Cash Equities), Director in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in algorithm design and execution strategies. We want to see how your skills align with the specific requirements of the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant projects!
Show Off Your Technical Skills:Since this role requires strong programming skills, be sure to mention your proficiency in Java, C++, and Python. If you've worked with low latency systems or have experience in quantitative research, let us know! We love seeing concrete examples of your coding prowess.
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Market Microstructure:We’re looking for candidates who really get equity market dynamics. Use your application to discuss your knowledge of order book mechanics, venue behaviour, and execution impact. This will show us that you’re not just a tech whiz but also understand the trading landscape.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Citigroup, Inc.
✨Know Your Algorithms
Make sure you have a solid understanding of execution algorithms and their design. Be prepared to discuss your experience with adaptive allocation strategies and how you've used real-time signals in past projects. This will show that you can hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Coding Skills
Since strong programming skills are essential, brush up on your Java or C++ knowledge. Be ready to demonstrate your ability to write clean, efficient code. You might even be asked to solve a coding problem during the interview, so practice some low-latency coding challenges beforehand.
✨Understand Market Microstructure
Familiarise yourself with equity market microstructure concepts like order book dynamics and queue mechanics. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will highlight your expertise and show that you understand the complexities of the trading environment.
✨Prepare for Collaboration Questions
Expect questions about how you’ve worked with traders and technology teams in the past. Think of examples where you’ve successfully collaborated to refine models or enhance execution strategies. This will demonstrate your ability to work well in a team and engage with stakeholders effectively.
