Quantitative Development Internship, Summer 2025

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 and London.

What you'll do as a Quantitative Developer Intern on the Quant Trading & Research team at Akuna:

Akuna's Quantitative Trading and Research team creates trading strategies scientifically by combining its quantitative expertise with sophisticated understanding of derivatives and financial markets. The team is looking to add Quantitative Development Interns to our team for our 10-week internship Akunacademy who 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 this role you will:

• Design and develop production code of trading strategies: pricing models, execution logic and performance optimization along with researchers, traders and system engineers
• Analyze and incorporate market signals in our trading systems
• Advance existing codebase and propose new solutions and improvements
  
  

Requirements for this role:

• Pursuing a BS/MS/PhD in a technical field – Engineering, Computer Science, Math, Physics (or 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 2026
• 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
• Exposure to financial markets and trading
  
  

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 all women and underrepresented groups to feel empowered to apply, even if you don't meet every qualification. We welcome your application and encourage you to take the first steps toward your future with us!

Please note: By submitting an application to 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 acknowledgement does not limit applications to Trading roles - in addition to this role, you may apply to any Trader roles of interest.

• Resumes must be submitted in PDF format.