As a Graduate Trader at Optiver you will work in an entrepreneurial manner to fully manage your own trading book. You will work closely with our Researchers and Developers to design, develop and improve our trading strategies.

If you have a technical academic degree, programming skills and a passion to prove yourself, then you could be the Graduate Trader we are looking for.

WHO WE ARE:

Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 50+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates.

Our Amsterdam office is where it all began. Over 35 years ago, Optiver’s business started with a single trader on the floor of Amsterdam’s European Stock Exchange. Since our 1986 founding, Optiver’s Amsterdam office has grown into one of the most dynamic and exciting trading floors in Europe. Our culture reflects the Dutch capital city’s progressive, innovative and inclusive nature. With its unique spirit, Amsterdam is the ideal hub for our teams to trade a wide range of products from listed derivatives to cash equities, ETFs, bonds and foreign exchange. 

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

The Optiver trading floor is one of the most dynamic and exciting trading floors in Europe. As a Graduate Trader you will use in-house and external data to develop and execute strategies while managing the risk of the complex portfolio of financial instruments you trade in the process.  

We value Traders who take the initiative to work closely together with the technology and research functions to improve everything we do. In summary, as a Graduate Trader you will:

• Entrepreneurially manage your own trading book
• Develop and execute data-driven strategies in financial markets
• Manage the risks of a complex portfolio of financial instruments
• Seek improvement in everything you do
• Work closely with colleagues across multiple departments

Upon starting as a Graduate Trader you will be immersed in an intensive two-month training program alongside other new recruits and employees from other departments within the organisation. The first month will be classroom based, bringing you up to speed with the theoretical basics of pricing and the workings of the wider organisation. The second month you will compete against your peers in live simulation trading. Upon graduation from the training program you will join one of our trading teams. We believe hands-on experience is the best way to learn and that is exactly what we provide.

WHO YOU ARE:

• An academic degree in Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, Econometrics, Computer Science or equivalent
• Good programming skills, preferably in Python
• Good understanding of statistics, linear algebra and probability
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills
• Great attention to detail
• A proactive problem solving nature
• Competitive attitude and eagerness to constantly improve yourself

WHAT YOU'LL GET:

• The chance to start your career working alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries.

Alongside this you will get great secondary benefits such as 25 paid vacation days, fully paid first-class commuting expenses, training opportunities, discounts on health insurance, breakfast and lunch facilities, sports and leisure activities, Friday afternoon drinks and even weekly in-house chair massages. Being highly international, we are accustomed to guiding expats through their relocation, offering competitive relocation packages and providing visa sponsorship where necessary.

HOW TO APPLY:

Are you interested in furthering your career on one of the most dynamic and exciting trading floors in Europe?

Apply directly via the form below for the position of Graduate Trader. Please provide us with a CV and letter of motivation in English. Applications without a letter of motivation will not be reviewed. When we think there is a potential match, you will hear from us sooner than you expect. If you have any questions feel free to contact our Recruitment Team at [email protected] Please note, we cannot accept applications via email for data protection reasons. 

Please note, if you are selected from your application to proceed to the next round for the position of Graduate Trader, you will be required to take an online assessment.

Kindly note that we do not require any assistance from third-parties including agencies in the recruitment of this role.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

As an intentionally flat organisation, we believe that great ideas and impact can come from everyone. We are passionate about empowering individuals and creating diverse teams that thrive. Every person at Optiver should feel included, valued and respected, because we believe our best work is done together.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is hardwired through every stage of our hiring process. We encourage applications from candidates from any and all backgrounds, and we welcome requests for reasonable adjustments during the process to ensure that you can best demonstrate your abilities.

More information on how Optiver Europe processes your personal data can be found in our Privacy Policy. 

Important note: Within a week of submitting your application you will receive an online assessment, if eligible. You will have a short timeframe to complete the assessment. By submitting your application you are confirming that you will be able to take the assessment within 5 days

*We accept one application per role, per year, across all office locations. If you have applied to this role across any of our offices in the last year and have been unsuccessful, you can reapply once your 12 month cooling period has concluded.