Quantitative Researcher
Do you want to build tools that shape real trading decisions?
We are looking for a Quantitative Researcher to join De Facto Traders. In this role, you’ll conduct rigorous quantitative research and help shape the analytics platform that puts your insights into our traders’ hands. You will participate in the trading rotation and experience first-hand how your models will drive how we trade. Your dashboards will become the primary tool for our traders. Your analysis will spark conversations that change how we trade.
You’ll work within our technology team in a small, flat organization, collaborating with the developers who build and operate the core trading infrastructure. You’ll also work closely with our traders - the people who use your tools sit next to you, so you’ll hear immediately when something breaks or works brilliantly.
About De Facto Traders
De Facto Traders is a Danish proprietary trading firm founded in 2017, located in a modern office in central Aarhus. We trade systematic equity strategies using our own capital, with a focus on technology and quantitative analysis. Without external clients, our work centers on research, systems, and execution.
We are a specialized firm that builds our own trading infrastructure. We believe building rather than buying gives us an edge - our trading platform, analytics tools, and data infrastructure are developed in-house. We embrace modern development practices and tooling, including AI assistants integrated into our daily workflows.
In a small team, your work has real impact. You’ll have ownership, solve interesting technical problems, and work with colleagues who take their craft seriously. You’ll see the results of your efforts every trading day.
The Role
You’ll combine quantitative analysis and research with hands-on trading involvement.
Post-trade analysis - Understand what happened and why. Decompose returns, evaluate execution quality and identify patterns.
Strategy research & optimization - Analyze existing strategies, propose improvements, test hypotheses about market behavior.
Analytical tooling - Build dashboards and tools that traders rely on daily.
Trading participation - Join the trading rotation to understand the business from the inside.
Your Qualifications
This role sits at the intersection of quantitative research and software engineering. We’re looking for someone who can bridge these worlds.
Quantitative foundation - Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in mathematics, statistics, physics, computer science, or a related quantitative field.
Statistical expertise - You can distinguish signal from noise. Hypothesis testing, experimental design, time-series analysis and healthy skepticism.
Software design thinking - You can architect solutions, design clean interfaces, and guide implementation. Specific programming languages matter less than your ability to think systematically about software.
Data engineering skills - You can work with databases and handle messy real-world data.
Market awareness - Understanding how financial markets, trading strategies and market microstructure work.
Experience - 3+ years in quantitative research, data science, or a similar analytical role.
If you’re missing one of these but exceptionally strong in others, we’d still like to hear from you.
Your Working Style
Technical skills matter, but how you work matters just as much. You communicate clearly, translating complex quantitative concepts for non-technical colleagues and turning business needs into analytical solutions.
Our values guide how we work - and we’re looking for someone who shares them.
Ambition - You’re always raising the bar. You don’t settle for “good enough” when better is possible.
Curiosity - You dig into data to understand what’s really happening. You question assumptions and update your views.
Grit - You stay focused and push through obstacles. You can move forward without having everything fully defined upfront.
Ownership - You gather requirements, prioritize ruthlessly, ship things, and iterate. You don’t wait to be told what to do.
How to Apply
Send your application to Simon Søllingvraa at sso@defactotraders.com including:
- Your CV showing relevant quantitative and software experience
- A brief cover letter explaining why this role appeals to you
You will receive confirmation when your application is received. We accept applications until March 1, 2026, and will evaluate applications on an ongoing basis. After the deadline, we will invite selected candidates for interviews.
