Senior Equities Trader and Options / Derivatives Specialist

Principal Financial Group • Chicago, IL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Trader – Equities is a senior member of the Americas Equity Trading Desk responsible for executing equity and equity-related orders across markets while delivering best execution outcomes aligned with client mandates and regulatory standards. This individual will play a leadership role in advancing the firm’s trading capabilities across broker strategy, execution analytics, trading technology, and options strategy. Success requires advanced market structure knowledge, strong judgment in sourcing liquidity across cash equities and derivatives, and seamless collaboration with portfolio managers and key partners. We’re looking for a Senior Trader to join our Americas Equities team. In this role, you will partner with portfolio management teams to ensure the efficient execution of common stock and derivatives transactions.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience as an Equities Trader
• Possess these key competencies: Judgment under pressure in fast-moving markets, Analytical rigor with a data-driven mindset, Collaboration across global teams, Accountability for execution outcomes, Innovation in trading strategies and workflows
• Experience in trading Options
• Proficiency in trading systems and platforms such as Charles River, Triton, and Bloomberg
• Proficiency across trading channels, including high-touch, algorithmic, block pools, and program trading
• Desire to be an influential collaborative contributor to enhancing the Desk’s value proposition
• Experience executing large, complex equity orders that required advanced liquidity sourcing strategies
• Working knowledge of the market dynamics of various marketplaces, including the trading dynamics of large/medium/small capitalization equities
• Able to apply advanced knowledge of market structure, liquidity dynamics, and order types
• Solid understanding of TCA (Transaction Cost Analysis) and demonstrate its applications both pre- and post-trade execution

Nice To Haves

• Investment management, hedge fund, or brokerage trading experience
• Proven ability to analyze complex trading needs and execute trades efficiently under market-imposed time constraints while adhering to the best execution principles
• Maintain a constant awareness of developments within markets, regulations, trading technology, and other issues relevant to the effective transaction of business
• Experience in trading Total Return Swaps
• MBA and/or CFA designation

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with analysts and portfolio managers to successfully implement trades (cash equites and options) within portfolio parameters set by portfolio managers
• Stay abreast of general economic and financial market events/trends. Monitor market conditions, liquidity opportunities, pertinent news for firm’s holdings, and proactively establish an ongoing dialog with portfolio managers and the firm's investment staff
• Position yourself as a trusted internal advisor who drives incremental value through actionable insights, including proactive collaboration with portfolio managers on options strategy development and execution
• Maximize exposure to favorable liquidity. Minimize adverse impact from order footprint. Mitigate exposure to predatory participants. Maintain anonymity in the marketplace
• Proactively develop, foster, and maintain professional and positive relationships with industry partners, including brokers, vendors, regulators, and industry peers, to facilitate innovative and productive relationships
• Leverage and strengthen Principal’s reputation with strategic broker relationships
• Initiate and support a globally harmonized investment team structure with persistent communication and interaction with the other regional desks
• Operate with an innovative mindset to advance workflow efficiencies, data sources, improve access to liquidity, enhance reporting capabilities and technology evolution within the framework of the trading desk, and the firm’s initiatives
• Drive continuous improvement in order routing, venue selection, and algo performance
• Support evolution toward an “algo meritocracy” model across brokers

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness.
• Comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees