IED - Quantitative Trading Assistant - Analyst/Associate

Quantitative Trading Assistant

The Institutional Equity Division (IED) is a global leader in the origination, distribution, and trading of equity, equity-linked, and equity-derivative securities. Our Sales & Trading teams provide liquidity, deliver market insights, and design innovative solutions to help clients achieve superior performance.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Quantitative Trading Assistant to support front-office equity derivatives trading. This role is critical in ensuring the accuracy and robustness of our pricing and risk models in real time. You will work closely with traders and strategists to maintain market parameters, troubleshoot issues, and optimize workflows in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee real-time model calibration and market parameter maintenance.
• Monitor market data (volatility surfaces, dividends, borrow curves, yield curves) and resolve fit errors promptly.
• Troubleshoot exchange-related quote issues and ensure smooth trading operations.
• Validate new-name fits and manage corporate actions and basket compositions.
• Collaborate with traders, strats, and support teams to address live requests quickly and accurately.

What We're Looking For

• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to work under pressure.
• Strong technical aptitude with experience in model calibration frameworks and script-driven workflows.
• Critical thinking skills to diagnose, escalate, and resolve complex issues.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across multiple teams.
• Familiarity with equity derivatives concepts (vol surfaces, dividends, borrow curves, forward pricing, yield curves).
• Prior experience in a front-office or quant-adjacent support role within equities or derivatives.
• Exposure to structured products, equity derivatives, or options market-making environments.

Preferred Technical Background

• Mathematics: Linear algebra, multivariate regression, optimization techniques, PDEs, stochastic processes.
• Quantitative Finance: Option pricing (PDE, Monte Carlo), risk-neutral measures, volatility modeling.
• Programming: Proficiency in Python

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of quantitative strategy and trading, where precision and speed drive success. You'll be part of a collaborative team that values innovation, problem-solving, and continuous learning.

Position Description: - Assist in the execution and life cycle management of a variety of equity structured derivatives and exotic derivatives - Work closely with internal colleagues in trading, operations, and control functions - Manage operational queues and work to improve workflows to achieve a dual mandate of efficiency and accuracy Skills Required: - Extreme attention to detail - Ability to multitask and work under pressure - Critical thinking, ability to identify and solve weaknesses in existing workflows - Desire and intention to climb a steep learning curve for expertise in the exotic product space - Excellent communication skills and effectiveness working across teams - Previous experience and good understanding of derivatives or equity products would be an advantage

We are committed to maintaining the first-class service and high standard of excellence that have defined Morgan Stanley for over 89 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren't just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you'll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There's also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

Morgan Stanley's goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our standards of integrity and excellence. Consequently, our recruiting efforts reflect our desire to attract and retain the best and brightest from all talent pools. We want to be the first choice for prospective employees.

It is the policy of the Firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce (M/F/Disability/Vet).