Options Trader - Asia Hours

Chicago Trading Company · Chicago, IL · Trading & Quant

Posted Sep 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to make a real trading decision with limited support around you, maybe overnight or during a thin-liquidity window.

comfort operating with reduced backup, since Asia hours means less desk support than Chicago day session

What does a good shift handoff look like to you, and what have you seen go wrong when it's done poorly?

whether they understand handoff communication isn't just a formality but a risk control point between shifts

Tell me about a stretch where you had to work an unusual schedule or timezone. How did you keep yourself sharp and consistent?

realistic assessment of whether the person can sustain a 4pm-1am Sunday-Thursday schedule long term

Tell me about a time you disagreed with how a colleague or a previous shift handled a position you inherited.

how they handle friction around shared portfolio ownership and whether they communicate constructively rather than just criticizing

Technical

Walk me through how you'd price and manage risk on an S&P options book if the market gapped 2% right after you took over the book from the European shift.

whether the candidate can reason through vol surface and delta/gamma exposure under stress, not just recite Greeks definitions

How do you think about managing a portfolio across correlated products like S&P, Nasdaq, and Russell versus something less correlated like Metals or Vix?

depth of actual portfolio management experience versus single-product execution experience

How would you recalibrate your system controls, like quote widths or size limits, when volatility spikes suddenly versus when it's grinding quiet?

hands-on familiarity with dynamically adjusting market making parameters rather than static risk settings

What's your experience with broker call-around versus electronic execution, and when would you choose one over the other?

practical execution knowledge across the mixed electronic and voice workflow this desk actually uses

Have you used Python or similar tools to support your trading or post-trade analysis? Give me a specific example.

whether stated Python proficiency is real and applied, since it's listed as a nice-to-have rather than a requirement

Situational

Describe a time a system or feed had an issue mid-session. What did you do first, and how did you work with technologists to fix it?

operational instincts and whether they escalate appropriately versus trying to be a hero or freezing up

Say you notice your quoting system is behaving oddly right before a major economic print during Asia hours. What's your process in the next sixty seconds?

real-time judgment and risk control reflexes under time pressure, a core requirement given the reduced shift support

If you were three weeks into training across Chicago, Asian, and European shifts and felt behind on the proprietary execution tools, what would you do?

self-direction and initiative during the training ramp, since the role expects a self-starter who drives their own development

Walk me through how you'd prioritize when you're getting hit with broker calls, a risk alert, and a system warning all at once.

ability to triage competing demands and identify the actually urgent item, a named requirement in the posting

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The full job description

As published by Chicago Trading Company.

<div class="content-intro">Chicago Trading Company (CTC) is a premier proprietary trading firm specializing in options market making.  Our collaborative culture fuels innovation in quantitative research, systematic trading strategies, and cutting-edge trading technology.  For over three decades CTC has provided critical liquidity across derivatives exchanges worldwide - making them fairer, more transparent, and more efficient. We strive to be the most innovative firm in the industry today, tomorrow, and long into the future while upholding ethical excellence. We believe that CTC makes a positive impact on the markets, the lives of our employees, and all the communities to which we belong. Started in 1995 by a team of forward-thinking Traders, we are proud to call ourselves an industry leader that keeps making markets and each other better.</div>We are seeking an Options Market Making Trader to further expand our coverage during Asian market hours. The trading shift runs from 4 pm - 1 am CT, with expectation to spend flexible time outside of trading on cross-shift training and strategy improvements. The role operates Sunday through Thursday with optionality for remote and/or on-site work.   The successful candidate will begin with a training program spanning different shifts (schedule will be tailored to candidate, but potential to spend time with Chicago, Asian, and European shifts) and products including S&P, Metals, Nasdaq, Russell, and Vix options. During this training period, you will master proprietary execution, fitting, portfolio management, and post-trade analysis tools while developing a comprehensive understanding of CTC’s options trading strategies.   WHAT YOU'LL DO <ul> <li>Maintain trading schedule from 4 pm to 1 am CT (with flexible time outside of trading hours for cross-shift training and strategy improvements) </li> <li>Ensure daily production system readiness </li> <li>Execute trading (majority electronic, some broker call around) and portfolio management  </li> <li>Perform real-time recalibration of system controls to dynamically match the trading environment </li> <li>Effectively bridge the handoff between shifts by communicating relevant risk information, trading flows, and system issues </li> <li>Contribute to execution improvements and strategic projects during non-trading hours </li> </ul> WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR <ul> <li>Minimum 2 years of options market making trading experience </li> <li>Minimum 1 year of market making portfolio management experience  </li> <li>Interested in building longer term stability in our Asian hours operation </li> <li>Strong operational skillset to partner with technologists on prevention and quick resolution of system issues/outages </li> <li>Strong judgement to make trading and portfolio management decisions under pressure and with more independence given more limited shift support </li> <li>Ability to distill influx of information to prioritize and address the most important thing at any given moment </li> <li>Proactive communicator and self-starter who can effectively coordinate between shifts and take initiative to ensure continuous personal development </li> </ul> NICE TO HAVE <ul> <li>Experience in S&P, Metals, Nasdaq, Russell, or Vix options market making trading </li> <li>Basic proficiency in Python programming </li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description">Compensation The salary range for this role is listed below. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. The discretionary bonus will be dependent upon the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and firm performance. </div><div class="title">Salary Range</div><div class="pay-range">$225,000—$250,000 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Most teams at CTC, with the exception of Trading, follow a hybrid workplace model, subject to change based on business need. Our Benefits  We strongly believe in the well-being of our employees and their families so we offer outstanding benefits to support you both professionally and personally. These benefits include generous time off, insurance coverage, paid parental leave, free breakfast and lunch (plus healthy snacks, of course), wellness reimbursement, and a variety of other benefits focused on providing the best employee experience.  (Disclaimer: interns and contractors are not eligible for benefits at CTC)  Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion At CTC, we aim to cultivate a workplace that celebrates diversity and each person feels included, engaged and empowered. Where each of us feels we belong. We are committed to having a diverse workforce and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. CTC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.  If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to apply for a position, please contact us at info@chicagotrading.com. Note that emails sent to this email account for non-disability related issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Information submitted by job applicants may be subject to review and analysis by automated systems, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), as part of the recruitment process. Such systems are utilized to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our hiring procedures. Applicants are advised that any information provided may be evaluated by AI tools to ensure an equitable and thorough assessment.</div>

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Options Trader - Asia Hours

Likely interview questions for this role

Practice this interview out loud.

The full job description

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