Sr Options Strategist
Job Description
Senior Options Strategist
Role Summary
We’re looking for a Senior Options Strategist to identify and develop small, durable structural edges in US equity options. This role sits close to live trading, with direct access to production systems and the autonomy to pursue ideas from initial insight through deployment. The team is small, collaborative, and focused on impact over process.
What You’ll Do
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Research and uncover market structure and microstructure inefficiencies in US equity options
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Analyze exchange behavior, including venue differences, fee and rebate structures, allocation rules, and queue dynamics
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Use Python to explore data, test hypotheses, and prototype strategies
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Work closely with traders and engineers to move ideas into production efficiently
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Own strategies end-to-end, including iteration, performance evaluation, and refinement
#LI-RO1
Job Requirements
What We’re Looking For
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5+ years of experience in options market making or proprietary trading
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Strong hands-on experience with US equity options
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Deep, practical understanding of exchange microstructure and how it impacts real trading outcomes
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Comfortable using Python for research, analysis, and rapid experimentation
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Demonstrated ability to originate and develop structural trading ideas
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Based in Chicago, with an expectation of being in the office daily
Nice to Have
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Working knowledge of C++
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Familiarity with low-latency or high-performance trading systems
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Experience operating in small, fast-moving trading teams
Additional Information
Team & Culture
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Small team with very few meetings and a strong bias toward action
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Fully in-office, with close day-to-day collaboration
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Direct access to live trading infrastructure and market data
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High trust environment with real ownership and accountability
#LI-RO1
Meet Your Recruiter
Rolf Otten
Technology Recruiter
EXPERIENCE:
In 2004, shortly after graduating from NIU's College of Business, my recruiting career at CPS, Inc. started. During this time, I have been able to learn from some of the best recruiters within the industry and continually look to improve myself in order to better serve both the candidates and client companies I represent.
I partner with several of the leading tech firms in Chicago and across the country in helping them secure hard to find technologists. These companies are in a variety of industries: Financial/Trading, E-Commerce, Data Analytic, Ad-tech, Education Tech, SaaS, Hedge Funds, and more.
The positions I work include: Software Engineers (C++, Java, C#, Python, Ruby, etc.), Network/Systems Engineers, DevOps, DBA's, Data Scientists, and more.
About me:
I grew up in the west suburbs of Chicago just blocks from the famed Brookfield Zoo. I enjoy spending time with my wife and our three children and try to keep up with all of their activities. I try to remain as active as possible and enjoy all things "sports". You can find me at Soldier Field for most Bears games and will never say no to a good chicken wing.