Graduate Trader Program Chicago 2027

Graduate Trader Program Chicago 2027

Maven Securities is a leading proprietary trading firm that leverages sophisticated technology and quantitative analysis to trade in global financial markets. We specialize in options and derivatives market making, where your skills can be directly applied to have a real impact.

At Maven, we believe exceptional careers are built deliberately. Our graduate program is designed for a small number of high-potential individuals each year, combining comprehensive training, real responsibility, and long-term development. We don’t hire large classes with the expectation that only a few will succeed, we invest in every individual who joins the team.

Program details

• Location: Chicago (based in London for training period)

• Program start date: September 2027

• Application deadline: [Closing date]

Total compensation: $150k - $200k

You’ll begin with a structured 11-week training program in London, designed to prepare you for a career in options market making. The initial phase focuses on building the technical foundations, trading judgement and desk understanding needed for the role. This also helps you to build working relationships with your UK counterparts, both on the Graduate Program and more senior stakeholders.

Following training, you’ll return to the Chicago office where you’ll move on to desk placements. Here you’ll continue to develop through hands-on experience in live trading environments. The program is designed to prepare you to roll off onto a dedicated trading desk. Maven offers a few days of leave to support this transition, as well as travel, accommodation and relocation support.

• Learn the foundations of options market making

• Build your understanding of pricing, probability and risk

• Apply your learning through trading simulation, mock trading and classroom-based training sessions

• Gain exposure to the tools and systems used on the desk

How and what you will learn

• Progress through a structured onboarding program with clear learning milestones

• Build your foundation through theory-led training, including options theory, delivered by Maven’s in-house trainers

• Develop practical trading skills through simulation and mock trading sessions, building your understanding of screen and broker trading

• Gain early exposure to live trading, increasing responsibility with support

• Receive ongoing feedback and check-ins from the Trading and Emerging Talent teams

Key criteria

• A final-year undergraduate or master’s student

• Strong numeracy skills and a solid understanding of probability and statistics

• A genuine interest in financial markets and a curiosity to learn

• A willingness to adopt and utilise emerging AI technologies

We’re looking for someone who is

• An entrepreneurial thinker with the ability to generate ideas, take initiative and drive innovation

• A critical problem solver and decision maker who can analyze situations, think clearly and make effective decisions

• An agile learner who is able to quickly acquire knowledge, take on feedback, adapt and apply insights across different contexts

• Able to synthesize information, resolve conflicting inputs, see the bigger picture, and translate complex information into actionable recommendations

• Collaborative and influential, able to build trust, work effectively with others and positively impact the