At a Glance
- Tasks: Research and develop systematic trading strategies to drive scalable profits.
- Company: Boutique trading firm focused on innovative quantitative strategies.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, autonomy in research, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to build and lead a Quant Research function in London.
- Why this job: Shape the future of quantitative research and influence key business decisions.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in systematic trading, strong quantitative skills, and excellent communication.
The predicted salary is between 85500 - 104500 £ per year.
MA Capital US LLC is a boutique international proprietary trading firm specializing in systematic strategies across multiple asset classes. We leverage advanced technology, quantitative research, and sophisticated models to capitalize on opportunities in global markets. We believe talented professionals drive meaningful performance, creating an environment where individuals can grow, contribute, and make an impact. We are looking for an exceptional Senior Quant Researcher to help strengthen our systematic trading capability. This is broader than a conventional alpha-research role. The successful candidate will combine quantitative research, strategy due diligence and infrastructure judgement, acting as a senior technical adviser to the CEO and Leadership Team.
Key Responsibilities
- Research and develop systematic trading signals and strategies, with a focus on ideas capable of reaching live production and generating scalable P&L.
- Evaluate prospective Portfolio Managers and systematic strategies before hire, assessing: robustness of the strategy and research; data and infrastructure requirements; execution assumptions, capacity and scalability; implementation complexity and realistic time to production.
- Provide an independent view on whether a proposed strategy is viable within our platform and what would be required to deploy it.
- Work with engineering and trading teams to identify high-value gaps in data, research tooling, simulation, execution and infrastructure, and help prioritise capabilities that can support future alpha generation.
- Translate complex quantitative and technical issues into clear commercial recommendations for the CEO and Leadership Team.
- Over time, the role may evolve into building and leading a broader internal Quant Research function.
Candidate Profile
- Approximately 8+ years of relevant systematic trading experience, with a strong track record of quantitative research progressing into live trading and P&L.
- A strong MSc or PhD in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative discipline.
- Deep foundations in probability, stochastic processes, statistical learning, optimisation, time series analysis and numerical methods.
- Strong knowledge of market microstructure and machine learning applied to financial markets.
- Demonstrated experience developing systematic alpha and taking research into live production.
- Strong understanding of backtesting, overfitting, transaction costs, execution, capacity and scalability.
- Strong commercial judgement, with the ability to distinguish interesting research from scalable, executable and economically attractive alpha.
- Practical understanding of trading and research infrastructure.
- Strong Python and ideally C++ / Java skills.
- Experience working closely with PMs, traders and engineers.
- Ability to challenge assumptions and critically assess other people's strategies.
- Intellectual breadth across systematic trading, with the ability to evaluate strategies and research approaches beyond their own immediate area of specialisation.
- Exceptional communication skills.
Beyond deep quantitative expertise, this role requires an unusual combination of technical authority, commercial judgement and executive communication. The successful candidate should be a strong mathematician and experienced quant, complementing the entrepreneurial and commercial strengths of the existing management team. They will act as a trusted quantitative adviser and right hand to senior management, providing independent judgement on alpha research, systematic strategies and technical feasibility. A critical part of the role will be serving as the key interface between management, Portfolio Managers, quantitative researchers, technology teams and the broader business.
The individual must be able to:
- Challenge quantitative and technical teams with sufficient depth and credibility.
- Identify the key assumptions, risks and dependencies behind complex strategies.
- Translate quantitative conclusions into clear commercial implications and recommendations.
- Represent management's objectives effectively to highly technical teams.
- Ensure that management has an independent, fact-based view when making decisions around strategies, talent and infrastructure investment.
The ideal candidate combines the intellectual depth of a senior quantitative researcher with the judgement and communication skills of a senior business leader.
Why Join Us?
- Foundational Impact: Play a central role in shaping the firm’s quantitative research capability, alpha strategy and approach to evaluating systematic opportunities.
- Strategic Influence: Work closely with the CEO and Leadership Team, providing quantitative insight that directly informs decisions around strategies, talent, technology and investment.
- Research Ownership: Have significant autonomy to identify, evaluate and develop new sources of alpha, with the opportunity to shape the firm’s longer-term research agenda.
- Entrepreneurial Environment: Join an agile, commercially driven organisation where strong ideas can translate quickly into decisions, investment and implementation.
- Strong Trading Platform: Leverage the firm’s proprietary trading infrastructure and work closely with experienced Portfolio Managers, quantitative researchers and technology teams to bring research into live production.
- Build for the Future: Help define how the firm’s quantitative capability evolves, with the potential to build and lead a broader Quant Research function over time.
- London-Based Role: Be part of the firm’s growing London presence, working closely with senior management and key stakeholders across the business.
Senior Quantitative Researcher employer: MA CAPITAL U.S. LLC
MA Capital US LLC is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and entrepreneurial work culture, where talented professionals can thrive and make a significant impact. As a Senior Quantitative Researcher, you will enjoy the autonomy to shape the firm's quantitative research capabilities while collaborating closely with senior management in a vibrant London setting. With a strong emphasis on employee growth and the opportunity to influence strategic decisions, this role offers a unique chance to contribute to innovative trading strategies within a supportive and technologically advanced environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Quantitative Researcher
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
Tap into local data science meetups or workshops to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals. These events are goldmines for networking, and sometimes even lead directly to job openings at companies like MA CAPITAL U.S. LLC!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Start building a public portfolio showcasing your data science projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight unique analyses or models you've developed. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gets your name out there for roles like Senior Quantitative Researcher at MA CAPITAL U.S. LLC.
✨Leverage Professional Networks
Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like MA CAPITAL U.S. LLC.
✨Apply Directly through Our Website
When you find a suitable opening like Senior Quantitative Researcher at MA CAPITAL U.S. LLC, make sure to apply directly through our website. It gives you an edge and shows you're keen to join our team. Plus, who doesn’t love a direct application? It’s easier than navigating through job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Quantitative Researcher
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!
Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at MA CAPITAL U.S. LLC, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at MA CAPITAL U.S. LLC. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at MA CAPITAL U.S. LLC
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at MA CAPITAL U.S. LLC!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.
