Research Operations Lead

Aquatic was founded with a shared passion for tackling some of the most complex challenges in one of the world’s most competitive arenas—global financial markets. From the very beginning, we have been driven by a deep commitment to applying cutting-edge scientific research and technological innovation to deliver unparalleled performance. Our journey is one of continuous growth and exploration, marked by a spirit of curiosity and relentless drive for excellence.

At Aquatic, we believe in pushing the boundaries of possibility. Our vision is to create the world’s leading quantitative trading firm, built on a foundation of applied science and a culture of relentless innovation. By harnessing the power of data, we aim to unlock insights and transform them into strategies that succeed in even the most competitive global markets.

Our goal is simple: to build the world’s best prediction machine. To achieve this, we are constantly exploring new opportunities and expanding our reach across global markets. We are committed to attracting and nurturing top-tier talent—researchers and engineers who share our curiosity and drive. Together, we aim to foster a culture of lifelong learning and collaboration, where every challenge is seen as an opportunity for growth and innovation.

We are looking for an experienced individual with excellent project management, leadership and analytical skills to help coordinate our research team and scale our platform to make it simpler to deliver results. 

In this role, you will work with the Head of Quantitative Strategies and contribute to the firm’s strategy and operations. You will help coordinate the Quantitative Research department’s priorities, lead dedicated project teams, improve organizational efficiency, and collaborate with the firm leadership. You will develop a deep understanding of the infrastructure (e.g., compute and storage architecture) and the software development and engineering required to accelerate our ability to build and deploy quantitative trading models.

Technical Experience

• Academic background in a STEM subject
• Work experience in a research-driven field, or equivalent
• Experience with team management and project leadership 
• Ability to program in Python is a plus

Candidate Qualities

• 3-8 years of professional experience in management consulting with a focus on R&D is preferred, or equivalent experience in a top-tier technology firm or start-up with a focus on data science /  business operations
• Rigorous analytical skills and experience with data analysis and/or software engineering tasks
• Excellent project management skills with a track record of organizing and delivering cross-functional projects with explicit timelines
• Critical thinker with a strong bias for action
• Driven by accountability, internal urgency and a drive towards tangible business results
• Comfortable providing and receiving feedback in a collaborative team setting
• Motivated by an ambitious environment and driven colleagues 
• Strong oral and written communication skills with a strong executive presence

Benefits:

• Benefits: Fully paid medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents, competitive 401k plan, employer-paid life & disability insurance
• Perks: Wellness programs, casual dress, snacks, lunch, game room, team and company events
• Development: Open environment to maximize learning and knowledge sharing
• Time: Generous PTO, paid holidays, competitive paid caregiver leaves

Aquatic Capital

This role represents a unique opportunity to join a quantitative investment manager in its early stage of growth. The firm’s culture will be shaped by collaboration, meritocracy, ambition, and calm determination.

Aquatic is a proud equal opportunity workplace. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.