Quant Trading Associate - Options Theory Intensive

CTC Campus - Website • Chicago, IL

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Quant Trading Associate (QTA) is an entry-level role within Chicago Trading Company’s Trading and Quant organization. Associates gain broad exposure to the business while progressing through the Associate Program toward a role as a Quant Trader or Quant Researcher. As a member of a trading or quantitative team, the QTA helps identify trading opportunities and contributes through trade execution, strategy formulation, back-testing, data analysis, and modeling and pricing financial derivatives. The role involves communicating with traders, risk managers, software engineers, and quants throughout the trading day, and provides exposure to both trading and technology.

CTC supports continuous learning through an in-house education department. Training includes classroom instruction, mock trading, and practical real-time exposure to derivatives markets. Associates receive instruction in options pricing, theory, trading philosophies, and programming; exposure to different product areas and responsibilities; one-on-one mentorship from senior employees; and opportunities to develop autonomy in trading decisions and contribute to data-driven alpha-generation research.

The posting also invites eligible students to a five-day Introduction to Options Theory Program, held at CTC’s Chicago headquarters from January 4, 2027 through January 8, 2027. Participants must plan to arrive the evening of January 3. The program includes four days of hands-on learning and one assessment day; top performers may earn a final-round interview for the QTA role. Travel, meals, and hotel accommodation are covered for the program.

Requirements

• Be pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree; all majors and concentrations are welcome.
• Graduate between December 2026 and June 2027.
• Have a demonstrated record of success, such as academic achievement or awards.
• Be willing to relocate to Chicago, Illinois.
• Have strong quantitative and analytical abilities.
• Have basic programming skills or willingness to learn Python.
• Be able to communicate sophisticated ideas effectively in writing and verbally.
• Be highly motivated, competitive, collaborative, intellectually curious, and interested in solving complex problems.
• Collaborate with traders, quants, developers, and other experts.
• No prior finance experience is necessary.
• For the Options Theory Intensive program, be able to attend January 4–8, 2027, and arrive the evening of January 3.

Responsibilities

• Identify trading opportunities and contribute to the trading or quantitative team through dynamic problem solving.
• Execute trades.
• Formulate and back-test trading strategies.
• Conduct data analysis and contribute to data-driven research for alpha generation.
• Model and price traded financial derivatives.
• Communicate with traders, risk managers, software engineers, and quants throughout the trading day.
• Learn the trading and quantitative operation and work toward a role generating trading revenue or driving strategy development.
• Participate in training and exposure to options, derivatives markets, programming, and different product areas.
• Progress toward making autonomous trading decisions.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package.
• Free breakfast and lunch, as well as healthy snacks.
• Fitness center membership.
• Annual discretionary bonus eligibility.
• For Options Theory Intensive participants: covered travel to Chicago, meals, and hotel accommodation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level