Quant Trading Associate - 2027 Start

About the role

The Quant Trading Associate (QTA) role is our entry-level position within our Trading and Quant organization. It provides broad exposure to the whole business as you work towards graduating from the Associate Program and assuming a role as a Quant Trader or Quant Researcher.

As a QTA, you will work in a high-impact role as a member of a trading or quantitative team. You will play a vital part in identifying trading opportunities and impacting your team through dynamic problem solving—including trade execution, strategy formulation, back-testing, data analysis, and the modeling and pricing of traded financial derivatives—while communicating with traders, risk managers, software engineers, and quants throughout the trading day.

You will learn all aspects of the trading and quant operation and work towards a role that generates trading revenue or drives strategy development for the team. In addition to the trading and quantitative side of the business, you will have exposure to technology through our combined trading and technology curriculum. We encourage competitiveness and collaboration in equal measure and strive to better each other to win as one team.

What to Expect

Due to the dynamic nature of this business, we cultivate an environment of continuous learning and growth through an in-house education department. Through formal classroom work, mock trading, and real-time practical exposure, you will gain a holistic introduction to the derivatives market while sharpening your quantitative skillset.

• An introduction to options pricing, theory, trading philosophies, and programming courses
• Exposure to different product areas and responsibilities
• One-on-one mentorship from senior members in the firm
• Opportunities to grow quickly and start making autonomous trading decisions
• Participation in data-driven research for the purpose of alpha generation

Requirements

• Pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree. All majors and concentrations welcome. You will graduate between December 2026–June 2027
• Demonstrated record of success (academics, awards, etc.)
• Willing to relocate to Chicago, IL

Qualifications

• Competitive drive and highly motivated individual who thrives as part of a collaborative team
• Aspiration to collaborate with traders, quants, developers, and other experts to further CTC's goal of providing world-class liquidity to financial markets
• Passion for solving complex problems
• Intellectual curiosity and a willingness to challenge the status quo
• Ability to effectively communicate sophisticated ideas both written and verbally
• Strong quantitative and analytical abilities
• Basic programming skills or a willingness to learn Python
• No prior experience in finance is necessary, but a deep curiosity and a hunger to learn is essential

Benefits

• Excellent growth potential
• Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package
• Free breakfast and lunch (and healthy snacks)
• Fitness center membership

Pay

Salary Range: $175,000 USD. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, dependent upon the individual's skills, experience, qualifications, and firm performance.