Graduating Academic Traders

Location:  Remote during the academic year (NYC trading floor access available); New York City after graduation (NYC-based strongly preferred)

Overview
This application is for students who want to begin building a real trading business while still in school and who are prepared for performance-based evaluation from the outset. This is not an internship, training program, or exploratory role.

Graduating Academic Traders are evaluated using the same standards as all traders at Quantitative Strategies Group. Capital allocation, responsibility, and continuation in the role are based entirely on demonstrated performance, discipline, and risk management. There are no guaranteed timelines, outcomes, or compensation.

How the student track works
This track exists to give high-potential students the ability to start earlier. Building a durable trading business takes time, and starting before graduation allows motivated candidates to develop skills, processes, and a track record while still completing their degree.

During the academic year, traders typically work remotely and are expected to make consistent progress on:

• Research
• Strategy development
• Implementation
   

This work is done using firm tools, infrastructure, and the same risk framework as other traders.

Students located in the New York City area may spend additional time working from the office to facilitate tighter feedback loops, but location during the academic year does not change evaluation standards or capital progression.

After graduation, continuing with the firm typically requires transitioning to New York City and utilizing the office regularly to maximize learning speed and collaboration around:

• Risk
• Infrastructure
• Live trading decisions
   

QSG is expected to be your primary professional focus after graduation.

Before applying, you should be comfortable with

• Building and evaluating trading ideas independently
• Being assessed primarily on results, process quality, and risk management
• Making real trade-offs between school, research, and personal time
• Working without a formal training curriculum or guaranteed progression
   

This application is not appropriate for students seeking resume experience, short-term exposure to markets, or a classroom-style learning environment.

Requirements

• Current undergraduate or graduate student with a strong quantitative or technical background
• Typically entering the final academic year
• Strong proficiency in Python, SQL, .NET, or similar languages used for research and trading
• Demonstrated independent interest in markets through research, coding, backtesting, or strategy development
• Ability to transition to working from New York City after graduation with QSG as your primary professional focus
• No conflicting non-compete, confidentiality, or non-disclosure agreements
• Work Authorization: Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.
   

Application instructions
Please submit your resume along with a brief personal overview describing your quantitative background, interest in trading, and any relevant research, strategies, or ideas. Attach all materials as a single PDF.

Selected candidates may be asked to complete a short candidate project. Based on that work, a subset of candidates will be invited to interviews.

Important notes

• Structure: This role is strictly an Independent Contractor (1099) position. We do not offer W-2 employment.
• Academic traders: (current graduate and undergraduate student traders) are evaluated and capital-scaled under the same framework as all traders at QSG
• Capital: QSG trades firm capital and fully backs its traders. Traders do not contribute personal capital.
• Compensation (NYC pay transparency): This is a 100% commission-based role. Base pay/rate: $0. Additional compensation is performance-based profit share. There is no guaranteed compensation.
• Work authorization note: Because this is a 1099 role and we do not offer W-2 employment or visa sponsorship, we cannot support arrangements that require an employer-employee relationship or employer-signed training/attestation forms.