OPT Equity Trader Jobs
Equity Trader roles on OPT sit at the intersection of finance and strict regulatory compliance. Most positions require FINRA licensing, and employers in this space are well-versed in sponsoring F-1 students through OPT and STEM OPT extensions. Your 12-month OPT clock starts on your authorization date, so timing your job search matters.
See All OPT Equity Trader JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 15+ Equity Trader jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all Equity Trader Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Equity Trader roles.
Get Access To All JobsABOUT MORGAN STANLEY
Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals.
ABOUT PARAMETRIC
Parametric is part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, the asset management division of Morgan Stanley. We partner with advisors, institutions, and consultants to build portfolios focused on what's important to them and their clients. A leader in custom solutions for more than 30 years, we help investors access efficient market exposures, solve implementation challenges, and design multi-asset portfolios that respond to their evolving needs. We also offer systematic alpha and alternative strategies to complement clients' core holdings.
This role is part of Parametric's hybrid working model, which includes working in the office 3 days a week and choosing to work remotely or in the office the remaining days of the week.
Office locations: Seattle, WA; Boston, MA; Alpharetta, GA; Edina, MN
ABOUT THE ROLE
Assist the trading desk with daily trading department functions.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Execute equity trades across various trading systems/platforms (Common Stock, ADRs, ETFs, Mutual Funds)
- Assist with reporting requirements internally and externally
- Maintain day-to-day relationships with a wide range of brokers, custodians, and vendors
- Additional operational responsibilities as required
Job Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree preferred
- 1-2 years of experience in the financial services industry
- Knowledge of capital markets
- Knowledge of APL Fiserv, VESTMARK, and Bloomberg systems a plus
- Derivatives and/or Fixed Income experience/knowledge a plus
- Proficient with Excel and VBA
- Python, SQL familiarity desired
- Ability to use ChatGPT or Co-pilot to create efficiency in your work a plus
- Strong Initiative, desire for self-improvement and continued learning
- Excellent communication, teamwork, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT THE JOB
Consistent with SEC regulations Parametric has a code of ethics that limits personal trading. If you actively trade your personal account, friends and family accounts you will be prohibited from doing so as an employee of Parametric.
Parametric believes each member of our organization makes a significant contribution to our success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this job description is designed to outline primary duties and qualifications. It is our expectation that every member of our team will offer his/her/their services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our client services.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:
At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 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.
Salary range for the position: $70,000 - 140,000/Yr. The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive compensation award. The successful candidate may be eligible to participate in the relevant business unit's incentive compensation plan, which also may include a discretionary bonus component. Morgan Stanley offers a full spectrum of benefits, including Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Dependent Day Care Savings Account, Life Insurance, Disability and Other Insurance Plans, Paid Time Off (including Sick Leave consistent with state and local law, Parental Leave and 20 Vacation Days annually), 10 Paid Holidays, 401(k), and Short/Long Term Disability, in addition to other special perks reserved for our employees.
Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $78,000 - $140,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.
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).
ABOUT MORGAN STANLEY
Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals.
ABOUT PARAMETRIC
Parametric is part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, the asset management division of Morgan Stanley. We partner with advisors, institutions, and consultants to build portfolios focused on what's important to them and their clients. A leader in custom solutions for more than 30 years, we help investors access efficient market exposures, solve implementation challenges, and design multi-asset portfolios that respond to their evolving needs. We also offer systematic alpha and alternative strategies to complement clients' core holdings.
This role is part of Parametric's hybrid working model, which includes working in the office 3 days a week and choosing to work remotely or in the office the remaining days of the week.
Office locations: Seattle, WA; Boston, MA; Alpharetta, GA; Edina, MN
ABOUT THE ROLE
Assist the trading desk with daily trading department functions.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Execute equity trades across various trading systems/platforms (Common Stock, ADRs, ETFs, Mutual Funds)
- Assist with reporting requirements internally and externally
- Maintain day-to-day relationships with a wide range of brokers, custodians, and vendors
- Additional operational responsibilities as required
Job Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree preferred
- 1-2 years of experience in the financial services industry
- Knowledge of capital markets
- Knowledge of APL Fiserv, VESTMARK, and Bloomberg systems a plus
- Derivatives and/or Fixed Income experience/knowledge a plus
- Proficient with Excel and VBA
- Python, SQL familiarity desired
- Ability to use ChatGPT or Co-pilot to create efficiency in your work a plus
- Strong Initiative, desire for self-improvement and continued learning
- Excellent communication, teamwork, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT THE JOB
Consistent with SEC regulations Parametric has a code of ethics that limits personal trading. If you actively trade your personal account, friends and family accounts you will be prohibited from doing so as an employee of Parametric.
Parametric believes each member of our organization makes a significant contribution to our success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this job description is designed to outline primary duties and qualifications. It is our expectation that every member of our team will offer his/her/their services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our client services.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:
At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 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.
Salary range for the position: $70,000 - 140,000/Yr. The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive compensation award. The successful candidate may be eligible to participate in the relevant business unit's incentive compensation plan, which also may include a discretionary bonus component. Morgan Stanley offers a full spectrum of benefits, including Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Dependent Day Care Savings Account, Life Insurance, Disability and Other Insurance Plans, Paid Time Off (including Sick Leave consistent with state and local law, Parental Leave and 20 Vacation Days annually), 10 Paid Holidays, 401(k), and Short/Long Term Disability, in addition to other special perks reserved for our employees.
Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $78,000 - $140,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.
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).
See all OPT Equity Trader Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Equity Trader Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Equity Trader
Target FINRA-registered firms early
Broker-dealers and prop trading firms already employ licensed professionals and understand work authorization. Focus your search on firms with established compliance departments, as they're far more likely to have sponsored OPT students before and know the paperwork involved.
Pursue your Series 57 before graduating
Many equity trading roles require a FINRA Series 57 license. Preparing before your OPT begins signals readiness to employers and shortens your ramp-up time, making you a lower-risk hire for firms evaluating candidates with a limited authorization window.
Lead with your STEM OPT eligibility
Finance engineering and quantitative trading roles often qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. If your degree is in a STEM field, make this clear upfront. It gives employers 36 total months before H-1B visa sponsorship becomes necessary, which reduces their urgency significantly.
Highlight quantitative skills over trading instinct
Employers sponsoring OPT students want measurable value fast. Emphasize programming languages like Python or C++, statistical modeling, and any algorithmic trading project work. Concrete technical skills justify the sponsorship investment better than soft claims about market intuition.
Understand your employer's DSO reporting requirements
Any change in employer during OPT requires a new I-20 and timely reporting to your DSO. If a trading firm offers a short-term contract before a full-time role, confirm the arrangement is OPT-compliant before signing to avoid falling out of status.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for OPT-friendly firms
Not every trading firm lists sponsorship willingness publicly. Migrate Mate surfaces equity trading roles at employers that have sponsored international candidates, saving you the time of screening firms that won't consider OPT applicants before the first conversation.
Equity Trader OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Equity Trader on F-1 OPT?
Yes, F-1 OPT authorizes full-time employment in roles directly related to your field of study. Equity Trader positions typically align with degrees in finance, economics, mathematics, or financial engineering. Your employment must remain within your authorized field, so confirm the role matches your degree before accepting an offer.
Do Equity Trader roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Some do. If your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as financial mathematics, computational finance, or statistics, and the employer is E-Verify enrolled, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Quantitative trading and algorithmic roles tend to qualify more consistently than discretionary trading positions. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO.
How do I find Equity Trader employers that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is the most efficient way to find equity trading roles at firms that have sponsored international candidates. Sponsorship willingness is rarely listed on standard job postings, so filtering by employer history saves significant time. Focus on FINRA-registered broker-dealers, prop trading firms, and quantitative hedge funds, as these organizations hire international talent regularly.
Does working at a prop trading firm count as valid OPT employment?
It depends on the arrangement. Proprietary trading firms that classify traders as independent contractors rather than employees can create OPT compliance problems, since F-1 regulations require a standard employer-employee relationship. Before accepting any offer, confirm with your DSO that the employment structure satisfies USCIS requirements for valid OPT work authorization.
What happens to my OPT status if my trading firm gets acquired or closes?
You enter a period of unemployment the moment your authorized employment ends. OPT allows a cumulative 90 days of unemployment on standard OPT and 150 days on STEM OPT extension. Report the change to your DSO immediately and begin your job search right away. Any gap beyond those limits puts your F-1 status at risk.