At a Glance
- Tasks: Research and validate alpha signals for cash equities strategies in a collaborative team.
- Company: High-performing, research-led equities stat arb team based in London.
- Benefits: Visa sponsorship available, strong engineering support, and real ownership of your work.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for mid to senior-level researchers seeking visible impact.
- Why this job: Join a lean team where your contributions directly impact performance and strategy.
- Qualifications: 5-15 years in systematic equity research with strong programming skills in Python.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
A high-performing, research-led, collaborative, equities stat arb team in London is hiring a Quant Researcher to become the number 2 and drive alpha and signal generation. This is a rare chance to join a lean pod where researchers have real ownership, strong engineering support around them, and a clear mandate across cash equities.
Scope:
- Research, design, and validate alpha signals for cash equities stat arb strategies
- Build robust feature sets from market, fundamental, and alternative datasets
- Run disciplined backtesting and statistical validation to avoid overfitting
- Translate research into production-ready signals in collaboration with engineering
- Monitor live performance and iterate on signals as market regimes shift
- Contribute to idea generation and the team’s evolving research framework
Ideal profile:
- 5-15 years of experience in systematic equity research
- Strong statistical intuition and a rigorous research process (hypothesis, testing, validation)
- Solid programming skills (Python required; familiarity with research-to-production workflows is a plus)
- Experience working with equities data and market microstructure awareness preferred
- Candidates from prop trading environments are interesting, but top long-only / fundamental researchers with a systematic mindset are also of interest
- Comfort working in a small, high-accountability team where your work has visible impact
Nice to have:
- Single-stock research exposure with a clear, testable signal mindset
- Experience with factor research, statistical arbitrage, or systematic equities strategies
- Familiarity with portfolio construction concepts and risk-aware signal development
- CQF qualification
Logistics:
- London-based role, on-site
- No remote / overseas-based working
- Visa sponsorship available
Hiring timeline: next 1 to 2 months
If you’re a mid to senior-level researcher who wants genuine signal ownership and a direct line between your work and PnL, this is the kind of seat that doesn’t come up often.
Quant Researcher - No.2 for a Collaborative Cash Equities Team with upside - daily to monthly holding period in London employer: J K Barnes
Contact Detail:
J K Barnes Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Quant Researcher - No.2 for a Collaborative Cash Equities Team with upside - daily to monthly holding period in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees in the team or similar roles on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a mini-project or case study that showcases your statistical intuition and programming prowess. Presenting this during interviews can really set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on market trends and recent research in equities. Being able to discuss current events and their implications on cash equities will demonstrate your passion and knowledge during interviews.
✨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, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Quant Researcher - No.2 for a Collaborative Cash Equities Team with upside - daily to monthly holding period in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Research Skills: Make sure to highlight your experience in systematic equity research. We want to see your strong statistical intuition and rigorous research process, so don’t hold back on showcasing your best projects!
Tailor Your Application: Customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. We love seeing candidates who take the time to connect their background with what we’re looking for.
Demonstrate Programming Proficiency: Since Python is a must-have, make sure to mention any relevant programming projects or experiences. We’re keen to see how you’ve used your coding skills in past roles, especially in relation to research-to-production workflows.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you 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 J K Barnes
✨Know Your Signals
Make sure you can discuss your previous work on alpha signals in detail. Be prepared to explain your research process, the statistical methods you used, and how you validated your findings. This shows that you have a strong grasp of the technical aspects required for the role.
✨Showcase Your Programming Skills
Since Python is a must-have, brush up on your coding skills before the interview. Be ready to talk about specific projects where you've implemented research-to-production workflows. If possible, bring examples of your code or projects to demonstrate your proficiency.
✨Understand Market Microstructure
Familiarise yourself with market microstructure concepts and how they relate to equities trading. Being able to discuss how these factors influence your research and signal generation will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration
This role is all about collaboration, so be prepared to share examples of how you've worked effectively in a team. Highlight any experiences where your contributions had a visible impact on the team's success, as this aligns perfectly with what they're looking for.