Junior Quantitative Researcher - Options

BlockTech is hiring a Junior Quantitative Researcher to join its Options trading floor in Amsterdam.

Crypto is one of the few markets where a researcher can still move the edge. The data is abundant, the microstructure is novel, and the loop between a research idea and live PnL couldn't be shorter.

In this role, you'll take your own ideas from hypothesis to live trading. No prior finance experience required.

About BlockTech

BlockTech is an algorithmic trading firm headquartered in Amsterdam, with a second office in Singapore. We specialize in market making and trade cryptocurrency derivatives and spot markets globally, using our own capital. We're growing fast and expanding into new markets.

On the Options floor, research, engineering, and trading happen a few meters apart. You'll sit shoulder to shoulder with Quantitative Traders and Quantitative Analysts, with short feedback loops and direct impact on live PnL.

What will you do?

You will own ideas end to end: from hypothesis and dataset construction, through feature engineering, model training, and backtesting, to live deployment and iteration. Your work directly drives how we price and trade.

You will:

• Turn insight into strategy. Work closely with traders to translate research insights into systematic trading strategies.

• Build predictive models. Design, develop, and deploy models for price prediction, signal generation, execution, and anomaly detection across crypto derivatives and spot markets, using modern AI and ML techniques.

• Shape the research stack. Build trading, backtesting, and research infrastructure alongside our engineers, so promising ideas reach production quickly and safely.

• Own what you ship. Monitor live performance, diagnose decay, and keep iterating on your models in production.

What we're looking for

You'll need:

• A strong academic background in a quantitative discipline (mathematics, physics, statistics, computer science, econometrics, ML/AI, or similar), typically a PhD or a MSc with strong research experience.

• Fluency in Python and the modern ML stack: PyTorch and/or TensorFlow, scikit-learn, NumPy, and pandas.

• A deep, intuitive grasp of overfitting, generalization, validation design, and feature engineering. You can explain why a model works, not just that it does.

• Solid software engineering instincts. You write code that other people can read, test, and run in production.

• Genuine curiosity about financial markets and market microstructure.

• Clear written and spoken English, and the ability to explain complex ideas to researchers, engineers, and traders.

Bonus points for:

• Hands-on experience building and deploying ML models, ideally on time-series, forecasting, or anomaly detection problems.

• Familiarity with crypto markets, derivatives pricing, or high-frequency trading data.

Pay, location, and relocation

• Compensation: a competitive base salary plus a performance bonus based on individual and company results.

• Trading fund: outstanding performance is rewarded with the opportunity to buy into the trading fund.

• Location: On-site at our Amsterdam office

• Visa: BlockTech sponsors the Dutch highly skilled migrant visa.

• Relocation: All-in relocation package and Dutch classes for international hires. Eligible hires may qualify for the 30% tax ruling.

What else is in it for you

• Pension plan, company laptop, and home internet reimbursement

• An extensive in-house training program and an annual learning and development budget

• An environment that embraces AI, both to speed up your work and to advance our systems

• Gym reimbursement and sports during working hours: kickboxing, CrossFit, fitness, and soccer

• Weekly Friday drinks, monthly outings, quarterly sports competitions, and two trips abroad a year

• Daily breakfast and warm lunch, plus snacks and drinks all day

How we work

We're a team of trading and tech enthusiasts with a flat hierarchy. Have an idea today, and it can ship tomorrow. The best idea wins, whoever it comes from.

You'll be challenged and stretched in this role, with plenty of room to grow within and beyond your main responsibilities. We promote reverse leadership, give everyone an equal playing field, and invest in personal and professional development.

Ready to move the edge?

Make your move and apply! You can expect to hear back from us within 5 working days.

Our culture

At our core, we are a team of passionate trading and tech enthusiasts committed to revolutionizing trading through automation. Our collaborative approach ensures that everyone contributes to achieving our ambitious goals.

In this role, you will be both challenged and stretched, with ample opportunities for growth and development, both within and beyond your main responsibilities.

We invest in our people by offering competitive compensation and benefits, fostering innovation, and celebrating success. Our commitment to personal development transcends traditional norms; we provide an equal playing field, promote reverse leadership, and offer boundless growth opportunities for all our employees.

Join us to unlock your potential and drive innovation in the exciting world of algorithmic trading.