Junior Researcher

You have to walk from point A to point B 10 times, blindfolded. Every time before you start walking, a fair coin is tossed, and if it comes out heads, a wall in the middle is present (situation 2 in the picture), while if it comes out tails it is not (situation 1 in the picture). As you are blindfolded, you do not know if the wall is present or not.

Even though you are blindfolded, you can move in perfectly straight lines towards any point you choose. Can you give a prescription how to walk from A to B so that the total distance you cover is as small as possible? What distance do you expect to cover in those 10 walks? 

 

Click here to see the picture.

 

Did you like this puzzle? Are you looking for bigger challenges? Do you want to use your analytical skills to solve real world problems and see the results right away? Do you enjoy writing computer programs? Then the Junior Researcher position might be a great opportunity for you!

 

Who we are

Optiver is an international and innovative proprietary trading firm. We deal with highly-automated electronic market making activities. With offices in Amsterdam, Chicago and Sydney, employing around 600 talented individuals from over 30 nationalities, we trade in more than 20 countries, across 5 continents, 24 hours a day.

 

What you’ll do

As a Junior Researcher you will work in a team with traders and researchers, right on the trading floor. You will spend your first weeks at Optiver in a structured training program to learn about options, market making and delta 1. You will then immediately start your first project, with the support of a senior researcher. Within a few months, you will play a key role in developing automated analysis programs and trading algorithms.

 

What you'll need

Our Culture

No suits, no ties and no red tape. Our culture is one of our most valuable assets; result-driven, open and informal, team-based, ambitious and exceedingly flexible, whilst striving for professionalism within all our departments.

 

Our offices are modern and offer many stress-relieving extras, such as pool tables, table football and more. We give our employees the flexibility to be innovative, research their ideas and act upon them. Our working environment is ideal for ambitious and talented people who enjoy a challenge. Despite the independent nature of our profession, we are a very team-oriented company.

 

What you'll get

Besides a competitive salary, also excellent secondary benefits like: fully paid first-class commuting expenses, a premium-free pension, attractive profit sharing structure, great responsibility, a steep learning curve, training opportunities, discounts on health insurance, breakfast and lunch facilities, Friday afternoon drinks and even weekly in-house chair massage. Add the chance to work in Switzerland and you have got to be tempted.

 

We consider the Junior Researcher position to be a starting point for a motivated talent who wants to develop further within Optiver.

Interested?

Apply directly via the button below. Please provide us with a CV, a letter of motivation, and the answer to the puzzle (please write down the number we asked for and also a brief explanation of your reasoning), all in English. Applications without a letter of motivation or solution to the puzzle will not be reviewed. For more information, contact Kim Ruijer (Recruiter) on +31 (0)20 708 7000.

  

N.B. If you are selected to proceed to the next round for the position of Junior Researcher, you will be required to take an online assessment.

April 27, 2013 • Tags:  • Posted in: Financial

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