Associate Quantitative Trader, Voleon Securities

About the role

Voleon Securities, a division of the Voleon Group, is dedicated to providing liquidity in the securities markets by leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. This on-site position in New York City offers a unique opportunity for a motivated individual to work directly within a fast-paced trading environment. The role involves supporting automated trading systems, monitoring market activity, and contributing to the development and enhancement of trading infrastructure. You will be integral to the team's efforts to optimize execution quality, manage risk, and expand trading capabilities across different asset classes. The position is ideal for someone with a strong quantitative background who is eager to learn about market microstructure, trading operations, and the application of advanced data analysis in finance.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Oversee the operation of automated trading systems during U.S. market hours, ensuring smooth execution and responding swiftly to any alerts or incidents that may arise.
• Monitor real-time market data across various asset classes, including credit, rates, and ETFs, to identify potential issues or opportunities.
• Develop, maintain, and improve data pipelines, dashboards, and analytical tools to evaluate execution quality, data integrity, and operational performance.
• Conduct statistical analyses on production and research datasets to uncover insights, automate routine analysis tasks, and support decision-making processes.
• Collaborate with software engineers and quantitative researchers to enhance the codebase for automated trading systems, focusing on error reduction, robustness, and operational capacity.
• Assist in managing relationships with clients, trading venues, and counterparties to facilitate clearing, financing, and other operational processes.
• Provide market insights and data-driven recommendations to research and strategy teams to inform trading decisions and strategy development.
• Support the expansion of trading activities into new asset classes, including equities and futures, by helping develop necessary infrastructure and strategies.
• Obtain and maintain relevant FINRA licenses, such as Series 7 and Series 57, to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Participate in ongoing learning about market microstructure, trading protocols, and new technologies to stay current with industry developments.
• Contribute to the documentation of processes, procedures, and best practices to ensure operational consistency and knowledge sharing across the team.
• Engage with internal teams to troubleshoot issues, optimize workflows, and implement new features or enhancements to existing trading systems.
• Assist in the development of risk management tools and procedures to monitor and control trading risks effectively.
• Support the team's efforts to automate manual processes, improve data quality, and increase overall operational efficiency.
• Maintain a strong understanding of market conditions and how they impact trading strategies and execution.

Requirements

• Demonstrated strong interest and some experience in financial markets, with the ability to thrive in a startup-like environment that values innovation and adaptability.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL, with practical experience managing complex datasets, performing data analysis, and developing analytical tools.
• Solid statistical foundation, capable of framing questions mathematically, understanding data distributions, and applying statistical methods to real-world problems.
• Familiarity with Unix-like environments, including command line interfaces, scripting, and version control systems such as git.
• Excellent data visualization skills, with the ability to communicate complex insights clearly and effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Attention to detail and a thorough understanding of cause-and-effect relationships in data analysis.
• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative or scientific discipline such as statistics, data science, computer science, engineering, mathematics, or economics.
• Ability to work well under pressure, prioritize tasks effectively, and respond quickly to changing market conditions and operational issues.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.
• Willingness to obtain and maintain necessary FINRA licenses, including Series 7 and 57, as required.
• Good communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within a team environment.

Nice to have

• A master's degree or at least one year of relevant experience in data, engineering, or trading, including internships or research projects.
• Prior experience in trading fixed income securities or a solid understanding of market microstructure concepts.
• Experience in building data pipelines, ETL workflows, or production tools, such as workflow orchestration systems like Airflow.
• Familiarity with data libraries such as pandas and Polars, and analytical storage solutions like DuckDB and Parquet.
• Exposure to electronic trading protocols, particularly the FIX protocol, or experience working with electronic trading systems.
• Knowledge of financial regulations and compliance requirements related to trading activities.

Skills & tools

• Python programming for data analysis, automation, and system development.
• SQL for managing and querying large datasets.
• Unix/Linux command line tools and scripting.
• Version control systems, especially git.
• Data visualization tools and techniques to communicate findings effectively.
• Familiarity with data libraries like pandas and Polars.
• Knowledge of storage formats such as Parquet and database systems like DuckDB.
• Understanding of trading protocols such as FIX (Financial Information Exchange).
• Basic knowledge of financial markets, trading strategies, and market microstructure.

Practical notes

Candidates interested in this role should apply through our official website. Voleon is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, gender, age, or other protected statuses. Candidates should be prepared to obtain necessary FINRA licenses, including Series 7 and 57, if not already licensed. The role requires on-site presence in New York City, and candidates should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. We value curiosity, initiative, and a strong desire to learn about financial markets and trading technology. Prior experience in finance or trading is beneficial but not mandatory; a demonstrated interest and aptitude in quantitative analysis and programming are essential.