Quantitative Intern – Quantitative Research

Job Description

Quantitative Intern (Summer 2027) | Optiver

The Tone:
This is an internship at Optiver, located in Chicago, IL, with opportunities also available in Austin, TX. Optiver is a leading technology- and research-driven trading firm, comprised of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and traders who develop, test, and scale ideas to shape global markets. This role is crucial for interns to solve complex problems in global financial markets, learning how quantitative research, data, technology, and AI-enabled tools converge to identify opportunities, test ideas, and drive informed decision-making. Through structured project work, mentorship, and specialized training, interns will build the foundational skills necessary to make a significant impact within the firm’s rapidly evolving market environment.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Temporary
• Location: In-person, Chicago, IL (also Austin, TX)
• Pay: $70000–$88000 yearly
• Team: Collaborates closely with traders, researchers, and engineers.
• Mission: Apply quantitative thinking, modern research, and AI tools to continuously solve real trading challenges and uncover market insights that drive strategic decision-making.
• Tech Stack: AI-enabled tools, Python, other programming languages.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Deepen Understanding: Develop a comprehensive understanding of financial markets, the principles of quantitative trading, and the foundational research and technology that power these systems.
• Analyze Data: Analyze complex datasets and investigate market behavior to uncover critical insights that directly inform strategic decision-making.
• Develop Solutions: Apply quantitative and programming skills to solve real trading challenges, building impactful tools and contributing to live market solutions.
• Enhance Decision-Making: Strengthen decision-making capabilities through participation in live market simulations and gaining hands-on experience with trading scenarios.
• Innovate with AI: Explore and leverage advanced AI tools to accelerate the processes of research, experimentation, and quantitative decision-making within market contexts.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a STEM field, with an expected graduation between December 2027 and June 2028, and holding sophomore standing or higher. Must be available to intern during Summer 2027.
• Experience: Demonstrated experience with programming or scripting in Python or another language is essential.
• Skills: Possess strong quantitative, analytical, and logical reasoning skills, alongside a solid foundation in mathematics, probability, and statistics. Candidates must also exhibit a strong interest in financial markets, quantitative research, and decision-making, coupled with fluent English written and verbal communication abilities. Excitement to contribute in a collaborative, high-performance environment is also expected.
• Bonus: Openness to pursuing full-time opportunities at Optiver upon graduation is a plus.