Alt Data Quantitative Researcher
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Alternative Data Quantitative Researcher to join a high performing quantitative trading pod at a top hedge fund. This role is focused on building and scaling a proven alternative data driven strategy with multi billion dollar AUM capacity. The mandate is to extend an established, repeatable research and production process within a collaborative, signal sharing environment.
The pod operates with a strong culture of shared alpha. Signals are contributed to a common stack and researchers benefit directly from the performance of the overall portfolio. The platform is designed for scale, capacity awareness, and disciplined risk management across market regimes.
Key Responsibilities
• Research, develop, and productionize quantitative alpha signals derived from alternative data
• Work with large scale, structured and unstructured alternative datasets across Consumer, TMT, Industrials, and Healthcare (primarily Consumer - CC, email receipts, phone records, etc.)
• Apply niche and market microstructure related datasets to extract tradeable signals, including but not limited to
• Mobile app usage and digital engagement data
• Web traffic, clickstream, and online behavior data
• Stock loan, short interest, and securities lending data
• Fund flow and ownership datasets
• Equity options and derivatives data
• IBES estimates, revisions, and consensus dynamics
• Build daily, continuous, tradeable signals suitable for systematic equity portfolios
• Collaborate closely with the portfolio manager and other researchers on signal blending and risk allocation
• Contribute to portfolio construction, optimization, and turnover management
• Monitor live signal performance, decay, crowding, and regime sensitivity
• Maintain high standards for research robustness in a production trading environment Required Experience and Qualifications
• Demonstrated experience generating true alpha from alternative data in live, systematic trading portfolios
• Track record of alternative data driven signals achieving strong risk adjusted returns, typically in the ~2.0+ Sharpe range at the signal or sub portfolio level after realistic costs
• Hands on experience with multiple alternative data categories, including both fundamental linked and non fundamental datasets
• Experience working within a quantitative or systematic trading pod structure
• Ability to build daily or higher frequency signals that feed directly into portfolio construction
• Strong statistical and quantitative research background
• Advanced proficiency in Python and a production grade research environment Explicit Non Requirements
• Candidates who used alternative data primarily as a research aid for fundamental teams or discretionary insights will not be considered
• Candidates whose work focused on reports, dashboards, or prediction narratives rather than live trading signals will not be considered
• Traditional quant researchers without hands on alternative data experience will not be considered Preferred Experience
• Signal blending and ensemble construction across heterogeneous alternative data sources
• Portfolio optimization and constraint based allocation
• Awareness of transaction costs, liquidity, and execution impact
• Experience working with shared signal libraries across multiple researchers Why This Opportunity
• Join a top tier hedge fund with a high capacity, scalable trading pod
• Build on a mature and proven alternative data framework
• Low strategy risk due to an established research and production process
• Collaborative environment where high quality signals benefit the entire book
• Strong alignment between research contributions and portfolio performance
