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Optiver

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4.6
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Optiver Graduate Programs & Internships

  • Trading

What we do: Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm & leading global market maker

No. of employees: Almost 2,000 colleagues globally

The good bits: Smart colleagues, flat structure, collaborative and inclusive environment

Hiring problem solvers across all backgrounds, including Maths, Engineering, Science, Software Development, Actuarial Studies, Finance, Machine Learning and more.

Our Story

Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. With close to 2,000 employees in office locations around the world, we’re united in our commitment to improve financial markets, making them more transparent and efficient for all participants.

The Culture

A place where your ideas thrive

We believe success can come from anywhere. Embracing a flat hierarchy, we nurture curiosity and encourage new ideas. Surrounded by like-minded colleagues who share your passion for problem solving, you’ll be entrusted with significant responsibility and empowered to challenge the status quo.

Shared goals, shared success

We believe in the power of shared knowledge and teamwork. At Optiver, transparency means ideas and information flow freely across trading desks, teams and offices, enabling us to make better decisions, faster. Our approach to collaboration is reinforced by a global profit-sharing model, ensuring that our success is shared collectively and rewards those who are driven to make a positive impact. When close to 2,000 minds share a common goal, every challenge becomes an opportunity to advance together.

World-class training

We believe in growing and accelerating together. Led by ex-traders and engineers, our award-winning training programs, such as the Optiver Academy, will equip you with essential skills, critical knowledge and a life-long network that will set you up for success in your career at Optiver.

Our Perks

We believe that great ideas and impact can come from everyone. As an intentionally flat organisation, we’re focused on creating an environment where every person is supported to build, innovate and thrive.

  • Daily breakfast and lunch are provided by our in-house chefs
  • Fresh fruit, healthy snacks and vegan/vegetarian options for every meal
  • Onsite barista
  • Gym memberships for staff to help stay fit and active
  • Onsite shower facilities
  • Weekly meditation and mindfulness sessions
  • Weekly in-chair massages for all staff
  • Plenty of teams and clubs to get involved in, from soccer, and basketball to cycling teams, and even rock climbing!
  • Health challenges for charities, such as City2Surf and more
  • An internal library - a quiet area, full of resources available to all staff

Creating meaningful impact

  • We have volunteer days for all staff, allowing our people to dedicate their time to the things they care for.
  • We support Indigenous artists through the Artbank program.
  • Each day, leftover food is donated to OzHarvest, ensuring it goes to those in need.
  • We hold a Charity Vote every year, giving $20K donations to three charities voted for by our staff.
  • We support the Movember campaign, which means a lot of furry lips (and fitness folks) during November.
  • We promote blood donation drives, and fitness and wellness events.
  • We have regular in-house trading sessions to raise money for nominated charities and causes.
  • We donate books, toys and gifts to the Smith Family Christmas Appeal, and allow staff to give their Christmas gift to a charity of their choice.
  • We're continuously adopting new initiatives to improve our impact on the planet, including sustainable coffee cups, selecting vendors with impeccable environmental credentials, and reducing our single-use plastics.
  • We encourage staff to cycle to work, providing bike storage and free bike servicing services to reduce environmental impact and traffic on the roads.
  • Our offices are in a 6-star green-rated building, and we work with Ecosave to monitor and optimise our environmental impact.

Recruitment Process

Optiver aim to keep the process as smooth and simple as possible to help you be at your best during the process. Here are the steps you can expect as part of your application and interview process:

  1. Submit application
  2. Complete online assessments
  3. Behavioural Zoom interview
  4. Technical and behavioural interviews
  5. Congrats, you’ll receive an offer!

Remuneration & Career Growth

Led by ex-traders and engineers, our renowned in-house education programs will equip you with practical skills, invaluable knowledge and the technical tools to set you up for success.

With our support, mentorship and world-class training, there’s no limit to how quickly you can accelerate your career at Optiver.

FutureFocus

For pre-penultimate university students

Ignite your potential as a future trader, researcher or software developer in FutureFocus, our immersive five-day program. Beyond the average insights program, this is your chance to elevate your skills, collaborate on real-world challenges, and demonstrate your potential in a tech-driven quantitative trading firm. Plus, if you’ve excelled during the program, you could secure a direct offer to return as an intern.

Internship

For penultimate university students 

Spend your summer tackling complex technical problems at one of the world’s leading tech-driven trading firms. Through a mix of trading lectures, mentorship and hands-on project experience, you’ll deepen your industry knowledge and master the skills needed to drive our trading success. Plus, if you’ve excelled over the summer, you could receive an offer to return as a graduate. 

Graduate

For final year university students or recent graduates 

Kickstart your graduate training in the Optiver Academy, our global training program in Amsterdam, before returning to Sydney to join your new team. From lectures and coursework to direct experience, our training programs will equip you with the foundations needed to make an impact from the day you start.

Graduate Reviews

Overall Score
4.6
Overall score based on 30 reviews
They Score Best in…
9.1
Satisfaction
9.0
Recruitment
9.5
Salary
9.2
Training
What Graduates Say About Them
  • The responsibility to work on impactful projects from early on.
  • The perks - company trip, daily meals, weekly massages.
  • Opportunities are there for people who want them -- you can very quickly take ownership of a problem or space.
  • Lots of smart people and interesting problems to solve.
  • People challenge each other to be best that they can be. There is no blame with errors and every opportunity to learn is taken.
  • You will constantly be working on different products, with tight timelines and high ownership.
  • The finance domain is quite complex, and onboarding/learning about new financial concepts... is challenging.
  • The expectations are high and constant.
  • Too many things that could be done.
  • Can be intense at times

Jobs & Opportunities

Locations With Jobs & Opportunities
  • Sydney
Hiring candidates with qualifications in
B
Business & Management
E
Engineering & Mathematics
I
IT & Computer Science
S
Sciences
Current Jobs & Opportunities

Graduate Job or Program

Sydney
Salary
AUD 250,000 / Year

Internship, Clerkship or Placement

Sydney
Salary
AUD 300,000 / Year

Package Pro-Rata inclusive of superannuation, flights and accommodation provided


Graduate Success Stories


  • Graduate stories

Nicole Stallinger

Software Engineer at Optiver

Bachelor of Computer Science at Victoria University of Wellington

  • Graduate stories

Tim Cashman

Market Risk Analyst at Optiver

Bachelor of Chemistry at University of Sydney (USYD)


A Day In The Life Of


  • Day in the life

Vicky Su

Graduate Software Developer at Optiver

Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) (Honours) at QUT (Queensland University of Technology)

Videos


How technology drives Optiver’s trading success

Curious about the intersection of technology and finance? Watch this video now.

An inside look at the Quantitative Research team at Optiver

Hear from Karun, Tal and Delius, as they share unique insights into what it's like to work at Optiver.

Advice


What does Optiver look for in graduates?

Explore what Optiver seeks in graduates. Discover the desired qualities and attributes that catch the attention of the hiring team

How to answer difficult interview questions at Optiver?

Get expert insights on how to tackle difficult interview questions at Optiver. Prepare confidently for a successful interview