Quant Dev & Strategy Intern

About Akuna

Akuna Capital is an innovative trading firm focused on collaboration, cutting-edge technology, data-driven solutions, and automation. We specialize in providing liquidity as an options market-maker, meaning we are committed to offering competitive quotes that we are willing to both buy and sell. To do this successfully, we design and implement our own low-latency technologies, trading strategies, and mathematical models.

Our founding partners first conceptualized Akuna in their hometown of Sydney. They opened the firm's first office in 2011 in the heart of the derivatives industry and the options capital of the world, Chicago. Today, Akuna operates from additional offices in Sydney, Shanghai, London, and Singapore.

What You'll Do

Akuna's Quant team creates trading strategies scientifically by combining quantitative expertise with a sophisticated understanding of derivatives and financial markets. The team is looking to add both Quant Development and Quant Strategy Interns to our 10-week Akunacademy internship program, where you will make a direct and measurable impact on our trading decisions and performance.

The successful candidate will have a strong programming background, familiarity with mathematical techniques, and the fluency to leverage both skills to produce trading solutions and high-performance production code. In these roles you will:

• Design and develop production code for trading strategies, including pricing models, execution logic, and performance optimization, alongside researchers, traders, and system engineers.
• Analyze and incorporate market signals into our trading systems.
• Advance the existing codebase and propose new solutions and improvements.

Requirements

• Pursuing a bachelor's, master's, or PhD in a technical field such as Engineering, Computer Science, Math, Physics, or a related subject.
• Strong Python programming background.
• Experience in object-oriented programming.
• Exposure to linear algebra and introductory statistics.
• Desire and ability to learn the intricacies of financial markets.
• Must graduate by August 2028.
• GPA of 3.5 or above.
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required on the first day of employment, including F-1 students using CPT, OPT, or STEM.

Qualities That Make Great Candidates

• Experience with generic and/or parallel programming.
• Deeper understanding of any of the following fields: Linear Algebra, Numerical Methods, Statistics, Optimization, Signal Processing, Computer Architecture, Machine Learning, Heterogeneous/High Performance computing.
• The ability to react quickly and accurately to rapidly changing market conditions, including solving math and coding problems, is essential.
• Exposure to financial markets and trading.

Note: Resumes must be submitted in PDF format.

In addition to technical skillsets, Akuna values the unique perspectives people can bring to collaboratively solve complex problems and drive the firm forward. We want everyone to feel empowered to apply and encourage you to take the first steps toward your future with us.

Please note: By submitting an application for this role, you are indicating this is your top preference and acknowledge you will not be considered for other Quant and/or Tech roles at Akuna this recruiting season. This does not limit applications to Trading roles; you may also apply to any Trader roles of interest.

In accordance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act, the minimum annualized base salary starts at $145,000. Exact compensation may vary based on factors including experience, qualifications, and skill set. The minimum base salary was determined in good faith by Akuna Capital LLC.