Head Trader Jobs
Head trader jobs are open across investment banks, proprietary trading firms, hedge funds, and asset managers, at every level from junior trader to senior head trader, with specializations in equities, fixed income, and derivatives. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Job Overview
As a Metal Trader - Sales, you’ll build client relationships and support trading activity across metal and related markets. You’ll combine sales, market research, and financial analysis to identify opportunities, communicate market developments, and help manage risk. Your impact: Clear, timely market insights help clients make informed trading decisions.
Duties
- Develop client relationships through responsive communication, thoughtful follow-up, and a clear understanding of client needs.
- Support sales and trading activity, including commodity, negotiation, and recycling discussions.
- Research markets and metals, applying industry knowledge of environmental regulations.
- Conduct quantitative, and risk analysis; use Excel to review data and support trading decisions.
- Use market indices and other software to monitor markets, assess exposure, and support financial compliance and risk management.
Experience
- Experience practicing in the securities industry and familiarity with financial services, asset management, or fixed income financial markets are valuable.
- Demonstrated sales, trading, negotiation, and client relationship development skills are important.
- Bring financial acumen, knowledge of financial concepts and markets, and the ability to apply math and quantitative financial analysis.
- Technical proficiency with Excel data analysis, SQL, Bloomberg, or comparable financial software is preferred.
- Knowledge of FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) requirements, securities law, financial compliance, and financial risk management is preferred.
Pay: $70,100.00 - $150,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- On-site gym
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
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Find Head Trader JobsHead Trader Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Investment & Asset Management
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Technology & Software
- Banking & Financial Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head trader jobs.
- Five or more years of trading experience with demonstrated desk or book management responsibility
- Deep knowledge of execution strategies, order flow, and market microstructure
- FINRA Series 57 and Series 7 licenses, with Series 24 preferred for supervisory roles
- Proficiency in trading platforms, order management systems, and real-time risk tools
- Strong quantitative skills including statistical analysis, pricing models, and risk metrics
- Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, mathematics, or a related quantitative field
Tips for Your Head Trader Job Search
Quantify your P&L and risk metrics
Your resume needs hard numbers: average daily volume managed, Sharpe ratios, drawdown limits held, or book size. Hiring managers in trading evaluate candidates the same way they evaluate strategies, so give them data they can actually compare.
Tailor applications to the asset class
A head trader role at a rates desk reads differently than one at an equities prop shop. Reframe your experience around the specific instruments in each job posting so your background maps directly to what the team actually trades.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists head trader openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Get your Series 57 or 24 current
Many head trader postings require FINRA licensing before day one. If your Series 57 or 24 is lapsed or pending, resolve it before applying so you don't lose an offer to a faster candidate who is already licensed.
Prepare for live market simulations
Many firms run a desk simulation or a case where you price a trade, manage a risk scenario, or explain a position you would put on today. Practice talking through your real-time reasoning out loud, not just describing past trades in retrospect.
Negotiate comp structure, not just base
Head trader offers are heavily weighted toward variable pay. Before you accept, clarify how the bonus pool is calculated, whether desk P&L is shared or individual, and what happens to your payout if the firm has a down year.
Head Trader Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most head traders?
The most active employers for head traders right now are Caely Renewables, Jefferies, and Citi, and the most openings are in New York, Illinois, and Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is concentrated at proprietary trading firms, large investment banks, and multi-strategy hedge funds.
How many head trader jobs are remote?
About 60% of head trader openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the real-time, desk-based nature of most trading roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements include quantitative strategy oversight and risk management functions rather than active execution seats.
How do you become a head trader?
Start by building execution experience as a junior or mid-level trader on a specific asset class, developing a consistent record of managing risk and hitting performance targets. Obtain the necessary FINRA licenses, expand your understanding of desk operations and regulatory requirements, and progress into senior trader roles that carry supervisory or book-management responsibility before moving into a head trader seat.
Can you get hired as a head trader without direct leadership experience?
It is possible if you have deep execution experience and can demonstrate you have informally led trade decisions, mentored junior traders, or managed a significant book independently. Firms hiring for growth desks sometimes promote strong senior traders who lack a formal management title, especially at smaller prop shops or newly formed trading operations where leadership structure is still being built.
What does the head trader interview process look like?
Most processes start with a recruiter or HR screen, followed by a technical interview focused on market knowledge, risk management, and instrument-specific expertise. Later rounds typically include a case study or live market simulation, a conversation with the desk head or CIO, and a final discussion covering team dynamics, strategy, and compensation structure before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to head trader jobs?
You can find and apply to head trader jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your background and target asset class, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
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