Our client is at the forefront of high frequency trading. They have a trading infrastructure that has been built up over the last 10 years and is now seen as one of the quickest and robust platforms in the business.
One of their established trading teams is looking to expand due to continued success. They are looking for an exceptional Phd level quantitative researcher to assist with the development and implementation of cross asset high frequency strategies.
This is a fantastic opportunity to fast track a career in high frequency/quantitative trading by working with two traders that have a wealth of experience within high frequency, proprietary trading firms. It is a small team and you will be exposed to all facets to the trade lifecycle from initial strategy development to back testing and live trading.
The standard of entry for this team is very high but the rewards are directly correlated to the teams success– bonuses paid directly from P&L from the start.
Successful candidates must have at least the following skills and experience:
Excellent academic background, with an Msc or preferably Phd in a numerical subject, from a leading University essential.
Outstanding aptitude for quantitative problem solving supported by strong foundations in maths/statistics.
Professional or academic experience working with large/noisy data sets.
Up to a years’ experience, or a keen interest in, high frequency/quantitative trading.
Quantifiable enthusiasm for applied/commercial problem solving.
Good working knowledge of C++.
This position will broadly suit two types of person. You have either joined a leading investment bank on completing your Phd, and you are now working in a quantitative team but can see that this is not the environment you can see yourself flourishing in long term (and the sooner you get out the better). Or, you have completed your Phd, are now a leader in your chosen filed and working within a data driven research environment but have always been interested in finance and want to experience the quantitative trading space.
Whatever your situation, if you match the above criteria then do not hesitate to contact Will North, for an initial, confidential discussion. willn@campbellnorth.co.uk or call 020 3006 3622
A successful Quant Trader with a known track record in high frequency trading has founded and funded an intra-day proprietary trading firm in Chicago.
Aware that the arms race has its limits this firm will concentrate on providing an environment in which Quantitative Researchers and Traders can get their strategies through testing and production more effectively and efficiently than previously possible.
There is a current search for skilled and experienced technologists from the automated trading space, who would be able and interested in the design and development of a robust and industry leading research infrastructure for this fledgling trading firm.
Requirements:
· Advanced C++ (Linux)
· Any other OO/functional Java, C#, Python
· High performance trading platform design
· Modelling and graphical tools for research
· Experience within quantitative teams
· BSc/MSc in Computer Science or numerate subject
The role would involve working alongside the Quant Traders in a flat structure, conceiving and deploying ground breaking and rigorous research platforms for algorithmic trading. This will include developing technology for back-testing and simulation, complex data analytics and progressive tools to help streamline the strategy development process from start to finish.
In the future as third-party managed high performance infrastructure is brought in-house there will in turn be major development projects as and when bespoke core trading systems are built from scratch.
There are positions open here for very senior and experienced programmers, if you can bring value to the firm then you will be seriously considered regardless of your current position. Joining a small firm at this embryonic stage can bring some great challenges but also unparalleled reward, the founder is clear on his vision and is investing appropriately.
If you are interested in hearing more about this opening please send some details to:
Major US proprietary trading firm is expanding in Europe, opportunity exists for an experienced quantitative FX trader to build new trading unit for Europe. High-frequency FX will be a key part of the company and there are huge rewards on offer for the right person.
The company re-invests a large % of profits in trading tools and infrastructure, and insists on being the best in class on any exchange they trade on. The company is a member of all major exchanges, and is ahead of the game in their use of new hardware and latency reducing technologies (they will give you arguably the best platform in London for increasing the profitability of trading strategies).
You will only be reporting into your direct superior in London rather than having a complex chain of command, and there will be no internally competing trading groups for the foreseeable future. There are significant shared services that can be utilised by any trading group in the company, such as quantitative researchers, backtesting facilities, exchange connectivity teams, trade assistants, etc
There are favourable arrangements on offer for any trader with a good track record and payouts of up to 50% of net PnL. IP protection can be written into contracts and no groups will have their trading profits/losses set off against each other.
The ideal candidate will have been trading FX at high-frequencies (sub-second holding periods) in a major bank, hedge fund or at another proprietary trading company. Ideally you will have historical trading strategies that can be replicated on better infrastructure, but you should be smart enough to devise new ones if that is not possible.
You should have a Sharpe >3 over a reasonable time period in live trading, and have experience of developing your own strategies from start to finish rather than replicating other peoples. Competence in at least one major programming language is a necessity (C++/Java).
The type of people who will be right for this position will generally not be actively looking for a new role, if you want to have a confidential conversation please e-mail Paul@campbellnorth.co.uk or call directly on 0203 006 3626.
A high frequency index arbitrage team in an award winning hedge fund irequires some quant firepower with experience of US market micro-structure to be involved in adapting European strategies and devising new US centric strategies that later be exported into other markets.
This hire will be critical for the groups expansion and there is potential to build a region specific team around you within the larger team. The fund as a whole will have a permanent presence in the US by mid-2014 so this hire could potentially lead one of the initial US teams.
The ideal candidate will have an MSc/PhD in an intensely numerate or technical subject from a world class university, and 1-3 years of experience in a good quantitative equities trading and/or research team.
The fund has won multiple awards over its lifetime for consistently impressive rewards and is a market leader in high frequency technology and trading. The equities trading team in the UK have an impressive track record and total compensation is determined by (generous) % share of net PNL. They are building a global team over the next few years and this should be thought of as a long-term move.
A newly formed high frequency FX trading group is seeking an experienced C++ developer to join them to design and develop a cutting edge trading platform from scratch.
Nestled within an established and successful fully privately owned electronic trading company, this independent trading group is comprised of a handful of experienced and junior quantitative researchers who will be devising strategies within the FX space for high frequency trading.
With a strong research team built the group is in need of an advanced C++ programmer with experience of designing and developing a high frequency trading platform from grass roots through to launch and beyond. This is a completely Greenfield site, where there will be an element of guidance and support from the firm but ultimately an open road for someone with a track record of delivering to such a self-contained trading team.
The role:
• Work alongside the Quant Trader and Researchers to discuss system requirements
• Work collaboratively with small team of programmers within the trading group
• Design and develop the complete technology stack using a C++ under Linux architecture
• Deliver an industry leading platform for running high frequency FX strategies
• Provide technical expertise from feeds and connectivity through to modelling tools
• Help mentor more junior members and continue to build a world class team
• On-going research into innovative and ground breaking technology for HFT
This opening provides an ideal opportunity for an established hands-on technologist in the automated trading space to work among some inspiring individuals in a non-ego driven environment where collaboration and freedom to lead from the front will deliver great job satisfaction.
Requirements:
• Advanced C++ (STL, Boost, etc.)
• Advanced Linux user
• Worked with performance sensitive systems/code
• Experienced in designing a developing trading platforms for automated trading
• Experience of programming an FX platform a big plus
The new trading group offers a start-up feel but with the reduced risk of having the support of an established firm that has a track record of building successful teams globally. There will be plenty of pure programming and idea sharing which should bring to fruition a profitable trading team with a concentrated bonus pool.
For more information regarding this opening please contact nick@campbellnorth.co.uk or for confidential discussion I am available on +447904 287 393.
A recent study into high-frequency trading has concluded that computer-based trading has "several beneficial effects” and has advised regulators to exercise caution “to avoid undoing the advantages that high-frequency trading has brought”.
The UK Government’s Foresight Study, conducted by the Government Office for Science and sponsored by HM Treasury, published its final report into HFT after two years.
The report found that there was "no direct evidence that computer-based high-frequency trading has increased volatility in financial markets". It said: “The evidence suggests that computer-based trading has several beneficial effects on markets, notably liquidity has improved, transaction costs have fallen for both retail and institutional traders… and market prices have become more efficient.”
It did however also call for “immediate evidence-based regulatory action” to “incentivise accident-avoiding practices and behaviour”, a “larger role for standards" and “better surveillance of financial markets.”
This report comes as European regulators are contemplating stricter controls over HFT after a few 'flash crashes' on public exchanges and growing fears that proponents of the activity benefit at the expense of other investors and that it increases volatility.
This has caused the European Commission to propose several pieces of legislation designed to curb HFT – including a minimum order resting time, order-to-trade ratios and European-wide circuit breakers. This report states that “caution needs to be exercised to avoid undoing the advantages that high-frequency trading has brought.”
Being such an indepth report, conducted over 2 years and including views from over 150 academics and 350 stakeholders, it is generally seen as positive news for an industry that has been under teh cloud of increased regulation for a number of years now.
"After hearing my needs and expectations, Paul suggested me a shortlist of firms that made sense. Some of them were among his clients and some were not: he was frank about it and asked me for the mandate to those he can reach.
During all interview process, he was very supportive: making sure that I had all pieces of information before and debriefing after.
He shared with me as much information as he can and he was constantly making sure that I had everything I need to choose what would be best for me.
I later learned that he is filtering candidates in order to make sure his clients do not loose time. It is a pleasure to deal with someone straightforward like him.
From my experience with headhunters, it is not a coincidence that he was the one that placed me in October 2012: it is by far the best service I had from a recruiter.” http://uk.linkedin.com/in/pauljcarr
“Matt was always helpful and attentive through-out the application process though was never overly obtrusive as has I have found with other recruiters.
With Matt guiding me through (as well as helping behind the scenes) I am now waiting to start an amazing new position at a simply incredible company and at least part of that credit is owned to him.” http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-watson/24/743/449
