At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and support complex quantitative trading strategies using cutting-edge technology.
- Company: Join an innovative financial tech firm leading in algorithmic trading.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fast-paced world of quantitative trading.
- Qualifications: 3 years in finance tech, strong Python skills, and a STEM degree.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
iSAM is an innovative financial technology firm specialising in quantitative trading, comprised of iSAM Funds and iSAM Securities. iSAM Securities, regulated by the FCA, SFC, and CIMA, is a leading algorithmic trading firm and trusted electronic market maker, providing liquidity, technology, and prime services to institutional clients and trading venues globally. The firm offers full-service prime brokerage and execution via its cutting-edge proprietary technology, as well as market-leading analytics, cleared through the group’s bank Prime Brokers. iSAM Funds is an alternative asset manager specialising in systematic investing. Each strategy is unique, provides a specialist quantitative approach, and is designed to deliver highly diversifying absolute returns for institutional portfolios.
About the Role: iSAM Helix is an Equities Statistical Arbitrage (StatArb) business line within iSAM Funds, which trades 24/6 globally. iSAM Helix has been live since 2021 and continues to evolve rapidly as part of an ambitious roadmap focused on expanding strategy breadth and capacity. Helix consists of four groups: Research, Quantitative Development, Technology, and Data. The project is highly collaborative; the team are looking for a Quantitative Developer capable of working on all aspects of the trading platform - research, development, and live trading platforms. Technology is a front-line function within Helix, playing a critical role in systematic trading.
Both the research platform and the production trading system are built on top of a custom implementation of high-performance python graph (DAG). The same graph framework is being used across the whole environment – research and back testing, live trading, analytics, risk, position keeping, and P&L.
Responsibilities: The opportunity would involve tackling complex problems in which you’d be a key part of a team working on a large breadth of challenges, including the following:
- Develop and support complex quantitative StatArb strategies involving large-scale data processing, sophisticated statistical modelling, portfolio construction, and highly optimised execution.
- Build and maintain systems handling highly diversified equity portfolios.
- Monitor transaction costs and behaviour of a high turnover strategy.
- Process and analyse vast historical datasets for research and back-testing, alongside real-time, tick-level market data for live trading.
- Contribute to the design and use of a high-performance, graph-based (DAG) framework enabling concurrent data processing for research and production.
- Monitor and manage execution quality, transaction costs, and market risks arising from changing market regimes and small statistical effects.
- Work closely with quantitative researchers to enhance tooling, frameworks, and shared feature libraries.
- Take ownership of system components in a fast-paced, agile environment, working both independently and collaboratively as required.
- Participate in live trading support, including interaction with orders and brokers as part of a rota (FCA certification required).
Qualifications:
- 3 years’ experience in a technical role within the finance industry (investment bank, hedge fund, and associated firms).
- Degree in Mathematics or Physics preferred; other STEM subjects such as Computer Science will also be considered.
- Python: Strong software developer with in-depth knowledge and experience.
- Numpy (including numba): in-depth knowledge is required.
- Strong knowledge of Unix systems (processes, memory, I/O).
- Deep understanding of statistical methods, numerical optimisation, and equity market microstructure.
- Experience working with graph-based (DAG) data processing frameworks.
Personal Attributes:
- Highly analytical with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
- Comfortable tackling complex, ambiguous problems with limited oversight.
- Collaborative mindset with the ability to work closely with researchers, technologists, and trading operations.
- Calm and reliable under pressure, particularly in live trading environments.
Key Outcomes:
- Delivery of robust, scalable, and high-performance systems supporting live trading.
- Tangible improvements to research productivity, execution quality, and platform stability.
- Technical excellence and system ownership.
Helix Junior Quantitative Developer in London employer: iSAM
Contact Detail:
iSAM Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Helix Junior Quantitative Developer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the finance and tech sectors, especially those who work at iSAM or similar firms. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a GitHub or portfolio showcasing your Python projects, make sure to share it. It’s a great way to demonstrate your coding chops and passion for quantitative development.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the technical interview! Brush up on your statistical methods and numerical optimisation knowledge. Be ready to tackle some real-world problems they might throw your way during the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who take the initiative. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the iSAM team. Don’t miss out on this chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Helix Junior Quantitative Developer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the role of a Junior Quantitative Developer. Highlight your technical expertise in Python, statistical methods, and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how you can contribute to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about quantitative trading and how your background makes you a great fit for iSAM Helix. Be sure to mention any specific experiences that relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Projects: If you've worked on any relevant projects, whether in school or professionally, make sure to include them! We love seeing practical applications of your skills, especially those involving data processing or algorithmic trading. It gives us a glimpse into your problem-solving abilities.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This way, your application will be reviewed by the right people, and you'll have a better chance of standing out. Plus, it shows us you're proactive and keen to join our innovative team!
How to prepare for a job interview at iSAM
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Python skills, especially with Numpy and any graph-based frameworks. Be ready to discuss how you've used these technologies in past projects, as well as any challenges you've faced and how you overcame them.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with iSAM's business model and the specifics of quantitative trading. Knowing how statistical arbitrage works and being able to discuss market microstructure will show that you're not just a tech whiz but also understand the financial side of things.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect to tackle complex problems during the interview. Practice explaining your thought process clearly and logically. Use examples from your experience where you had to analyse data or optimise systems under pressure, as this aligns with the role's requirements.
✨Show Your Collaborative Spirit
Since the role involves working closely with researchers and other teams, be prepared to discuss your teamwork experiences. Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated on projects, tackled conflicts, or contributed to a team’s success in a fast-paced environment.