Junior Pit Trader

About Akuna:

Akuna Capital is an innovative trading firm with a strong focus 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 providing 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 is proud to operate from additional offices in Sydney, Shanghai, London and Singapore. 

What you’ll do as a Junior Pit Trader at Akuna:

We are seeking bright, math-savvy, competitive, and ambitious Junior Pit Traders with a strong desire to learn how to make markets for an industry-leading trading firm. Akuna gives new Traders the opportunity to learn from the most successful members of our Trading team and apply their knowledge quickly. The ideal candidate will be a motivated individual with a desire to compete in the marketplace and make an immediate impact.

As a Junior Pit Trader, you will help represent Akuna in this externally facing role by competitively marking markets in CBOE's bustling trading pits. The role requires the ability to build and maintain relationships with market participants to maximize revenue generation and information gathering. A strong Junior Pit Trader will have an immediate impact on desk profitability by independently analyzing and vociferously acting upon trading opportunities, researching counterparty trends and positional exposure, analyzing counterparty trade quality, updating Akuna’s pricing and parameters to reflect relevant trading flow, and making recommendations to the team surrounding Akuna’s positional management in a physically demanding work environment where being heard is as important as being correct. 

Qualities that make great candidates:

• BS/MS/PhD degree in Engineering, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Actuarial Science or a related/equivalent field must be completed upon employment
• Strong critical thinking, problem solving, and quantitative analysis skills
• The ability to communicate effectively and efficiently while fostering external professional relationships
• The ability to react quickly and accurately to rapidly changing market conditions, including the ability to quickly and accurately respond and/or solve math problems are essential functions of the role
• Entrepreneurial self-starter ready to work in a fast paced and competitive team environment
• Desire to learn about financial markets and economic theories
• Collegiate team sports experience preferred
• Major GPA of 3.0 or above
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required on the first day of employment including F-1 students using OPT or STEM

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

*This role is not for immediate hire - the next available start date is August 2027*

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 full-time Trading roles at Akuna this recruiting season. This acknowledgement does not limit applications to other Tech and/or Quant roles - in addition to this role, you may apply to any Tech and/or Quant roles of interest. 

In accordance with Illinois Equal Pay Act, the minimum base salary starts at $145,000. Exact compensation offered may vary based on many factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and skill set. This role is also eligible for a discretionary performance bonus as part of the total compensation package and includes a comprehensive benefits package that may encompass employer-paid medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, paid time off, and other benefits. The minimum base salary herein was determined in good faith by Akuna Capital LLC.