Breaking back into commodities after a detour through PE - does this help?
Spent a few years structuring deals in the commodities space before leaving for what I thought was a better platform on the PE/credit side. Realized pretty quickly it was the wrong call. I missed the markets and PE was IB 2.0.
Life happened and I had some time away from finance. During that time I taught myself full stack development and started putting it to work on the thing I actually care about.
Built a live macro indicators tracker and autonomous trading engine over the last 6-7 months. It pulls EIA inventories, OPEC production, crack spreads, FRED macro data, and news feeds, runs them through a quantitative scoring engine, and generates directional signals with live execution connected to IBKR trading both a basket of ETFs and NYMEX crude futures. Today was its first trading day. Waiting for a crude signal to trigger a trade for futures.
Demo here (hosted locally via ngrok, a standard tunneling tool for live demos):
https://pok-unwily-larisa.ngrok-free.dev/indicators
My question for the community: is this a legitimate edge when reaching out to commodity trading houses and funds? I can spin tools like this up in days now. Curious if anyone has seen this kind of technical angle actually move the needle in hiring conversations, or if at the end of the day it still comes down to PnL and relationships.
Your technical angle could absolutely move the needle in hiring conversations, especially in the commodities space where quantitative and technical skills are becoming increasingly valuable. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s why your approach stands out:
Demonstrated Passion and Initiative: Building a live macro indicators tracker and autonomous trading engine shows not only your technical skills but also your deep interest in the markets. This kind of self-driven project is a strong signal to employers that you’re genuinely passionate about commodities trading.
Quantitative Edge: The ability to integrate macroeconomic data, news feeds, and quantitative scoring into actionable trading signals is a significant edge. Many trading houses and funds are looking for candidates who can bridge the gap between traditional trading and algorithmic/quantitative approaches.
Technical Proficiency: Your full-stack development skills and ability to spin up tools quickly are highly valuable. Firms are increasingly looking for traders who can also code, as it allows them to automate processes, analyze data more effectively, and develop proprietary tools.
Market-Relevant Application: The fact that your tool is tailored to commodities (e.g., EIA inventories, OPEC production, crack spreads) demonstrates a clear understanding of the market. This specificity makes your project more relevant and impactful compared to generic trading algorithms.
Potential to Add Value: While PnL and relationships are still critical in the industry, your ability to create tools that enhance decision-making and execution could be a differentiator. Highlighting how your tool can improve efficiency, reduce risk, or identify opportunities could resonate with hiring managers.
How to Position This in Hiring Conversations:
Final Thoughts:
Your technical skills and project are a legitimate edge, but they should complement—not replace—your ability to build relationships and demonstrate market knowledge. Networking and storytelling will still play a crucial role in breaking back into commodities. Use your project as a conversation starter and a way to differentiate yourself, but also be ready to discuss how you’ll contribute to the desk’s overall success.
Sources: WSO Python / Machine Learning Courses - NOW AVAILABLE, Prop Trading (MM) v.s. BB Sales and Trading, Refined fuels trading experience but lackluster Engineering GPA, Transferring Commodities, Credit Analyst Q&A
Sorry but don’t think this an edge in the sense that it demonstrates a value that companies want.
Physical traders will think you are way oversimplifying things and making a black box tool that will eventually blow up. Professional systematic traders will think that someone “spinning up a strategy in days” sounds naive.
It demonstrates a motivation which is positive, but is also a potential negative that you would need to control since it could sound potentially arrogant.
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