Old Mission
Quantitative Researcher (Ph.D.) - 2027 Graduate Program - (August Start)
$175K–$250K
Chicago, IL · On-site · Full-time · Posted Jul 30, 2026
- Education
- Master’s or Ph.D. in a quantitative discipline
About the job
Develop and improve options pricing models, research tools, and market analyses to support volatility-derivatives trading.
What you'll do
- Build and evaluate pricing models for single-asset derivatives and equity volatility products, including variance swaps, volatility swaps, and VIX options.
- Develop options research infrastructure and libraries in Python, and analyze market data and microstructure to identify trading ideas.
- Collaborate with traders on research, data analysis, and tools for the options desk.
What they ask for
- Master’s or Ph.D. in a quantitative discipline, such as computer science, engineering, physics, mathematics, statistics, or another hard science.
- Proficiency in derivatives and volatility modeling, including forward-curve and volatility-surface construction and calibration; knowledge of equity and index derivatives, including variance derivatives and VIX.
- Programming skills in Python and C++.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
Nice to have
- Experience with dividend swaps and futures.
Pay
$175,000 - $250,000 USD base salary
Tools
Python, C++
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative