This program is your exclusive pathway to join Optiver (Shanghai) as a graduate. We won’t open for separate graduate roles in Shanghai this year, so don’t miss your chance to apply!

Want to fast-track your career path from student to a full-time trader or researcher?  

Join Career Kickstarter: Trading & Research, our five-day immersive program designed to accelerate your journey from university to a full-time trading or research career. 

Experience the fast-paced world of quantitative trading and discover what it takes to excel as a trader or researcher, from mastering options theory to developing highly practical industry skills.   

Through a blend of interactive lectures, trading simulations, and mentorship from our world-class education team, you’ll sharpen your analytical edge and learn how to think, and act, like a trader or researcher by the end of the week.  

Plus, if you excel in the program, you could receive a 2026/2027 Quantitative Researcher/Trader offer for Optiver Shanghai.  

• Eligibility: university student graduating in 2026/2027 or earlier, with China working rights

• Program dates: 21 – 25 September 2026

• Program Location: Singapore  

*Note: If you reside outside of Singapore, Optiver will cover your travel and accommodation costs.  

What you'll do  

Led by Optiver’s world-class education team, you’ll gain a deep understanding of market making and trading strategies, through a blend of hands-on and classroom learning. 

Learning and skill development:  

• Discover options theory: Learn the fundamentals that underpin options trading, through engaging, interactive lectures. 

• Explore trading strategies: Discover how data, reports, and proposals drive the development of impactful new trading strategies. 

• Build and test your own trading algorithm: Gain hands-on experience designing and testing your own trading algorithm. 

• Engage in trading games: Participate in fast-paced games that mimic real-world trading scenarios, helping sharpen your instincts and decision-making skills under pressure. 

Networking and culture:  

• Gain expert mentorship: Learn directly from a dedicated team of educators, consisting of current and former traders and engineers. 

• Build your network: Enjoy connecting with traders, quantitative researchers, and engineers through curated events. 

• Experience Optiver’s culture: Immerse in our culture and enjoy our incredible benefits, including daily breakfast, lunch, coffee, and more. 

Who you are  

• A university student graduating in 2026/2027 or earlier. All degree backgrounds are considered. 

• A Chinese Citizen or Chinese Permanent Resident. HK, TW/ Macau Resident with MTP.

• Lateral thinker, with a passion for quantitative problems and working in collaborative, dynamic environments. 

• Holds superior logical reasoning skills. 

• Experienced in programming or scripting in Python a plus. 

Applying for the program  

The Career Kickstarter program offers two streams: Trading & Research or Technology. To help you choose the stream that aligns with your interests, please find more information below. Please note that you can only apply for one stream. 

Trading & Research

Our Traders make trading decisions based on market conditions and other factors. They’re driven and have a flair for analytical problem solving. Check out Brent’s ‘Day in the life’ story to learn more. 

Our Researchers build models leveraging big data and machine learning to identify profitable signals that underpin our algorithmic trading strategies. Check out Noah’s ‘Day in the life’ story to learn more.  

Technology 

Our Software Engineers play a critical role in executing successful trades. Driven by the desire to find the simplest solutions to the most complex problems, they design and build high performance systems that solve real business problems. Check out Bharath’s ‘Day in the life’ story to learn more.

Interested in the Technology stream? Apply here. 

Ready to kickstart your career with Optiver? Apply today. 

Diversity statement  

Optiver is committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds, and welcome requests for reasonable adjustments during the process to ensure that you can best demonstrate your abilities. 

Questions?  Get in touch at  [email protected].  

We accept one application per role per year. If you have previously applied to this position during this season at Optiver regardless of location, and have been unsuccessful, you can re-apply when the next recruitment season begins in 2027.