J K Barnes · 2 weeks ago
Systematic Credit Trader (IG & HY) for leading prop trading firm
Greater Chicago Area
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$180K/yr - $250K/yr
3+ years expJ K Barnes is a leading global proprietary trading firm seeking a Systematic Credit Trader to design, implement, and scale fully systematic strategies in the high-yield corporate credit markets. The role involves developing systematic trading strategies, collaborating with engineering teams, and optimizing performance in credit markets.
Staffing & Recruiting
Hiring Manager
Jermaine B.
Responsibilities
Develop and trade systematic high-yield and IG strategies focused on market making, RFQ response, and liquidity provision across single-name and index credit instruments (cash bonds, CDS, ETFs)
Design and systematize pricing, quoting, and inventory models to automate RFQ answering, market taking, and spread optimization
Build robust frameworks for signal generation, alpha validation, and live model monitoring
Collaborate with engineering and infrastructure teams to develop low-latency RFQ systems, execution logic, and post-trade analytics
Incorporate systematic processes into core discretionary credit trading books, creating hybrid models that blend data-driven insights with trader intuition
Perform detailed transaction cost, liquidity, and slippage analyses to optimize performance in OTC credit markets
Work closely with portfolio managers, risk, and operations to ensure robust scaling, capital allocation, and governance of systematic credit strategies
Qualification
Required
3–8+ years of experience in systematic or hybrid credit trading, preferably within high-yield or investment-grade markets at a proprietary trading firm, hedge fund, or bank electronic trading desk
Proven ability to build or improve RFQ and market-making automation for corporate bonds or CDS
Hands-on experience in signal research, execution modeling, and risk analytics, full lifecycle strategist capable of going from idea to live strategy
Deep understanding of credit market microstructure liquidity tiers, portfolio trading, axe/IOI dynamics, TRACE data, dealer selection, and price discovery
Strong programming proficiency in Python (pandas/numpy/scikit-learn); familiarity with C++ or low-latency environments is a plus
Comfort with data ingestion, model validation, out-of-sample testing, and production deployment workflows
Highly collaborative mindset, capable of working with traders, engineers, and data scientists to integrate systematic components into broader trading frameworks
Preferred
Experience designing execution logic for RFQ aggregation, hit-rate optimization, and quoting engines
Knowledge of credit ETFs, index arbitrage, and basis relationships (cash vs. CDS, ETF vs. index)
Familiarity with fundamental or issuer-level features (balance sheet metrics, leverage, sector risk) and how to systematize them
Exposure to machine learning methods for price prediction, liquidity forecasting, or quote ranking
Company
J K Barnes
J K Barnes is a reputable boutique search consultancy focusing on quantitative finance professionals worldwide.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase