Bridgewater Trading Associate from HFT

I currently work at a high frequency trading firm (think Optiver, DRW, IMC, Akuna, CTC, etc.) as a trader on the index options desk. I've been with the firm since July 2019. My job is mostly a mix of automation and data analysis, especially around non-electronic flow driven trading strategies. I mostly do pure project work as opposed to live trading/operational stuff, but I've worked on research projects that have had solid PnL impact. Academic background in Stats and Econ from Berkeley. My base salary is $100k and I'm expecting a bonus in the $50-$150k range (probably more towards the top end since it's been a good year and my mid-year review was strong). 


As the title suggests, I have the opportunity to interview with Bridgewater for a Trading Associate position (I already passed the Hirevue). I was wondering if anyone on this forum had experience with either the Bridgewater interview process or the role. 

In particular, I am wondering:

1) How much of the "Trading Associate" role at Bridgewater is coding/automation/short term alpha research/other value added "project based work"? This is the kind of stuff I like and I think I'm good at. I have less interest in being a "human API" or handling mundane operational tasks, though I'd be happy to chip in when necessary. It seems like current "Trading Associates" at Bridgewater have a wide range of technical backgrounds - definitely possible that the role could be different for different people. 

2) What is the Bridgewater culture really like? Are media depictions accurate? 

3) How is comp progression/job security/internal "prestige" in the Trading role? How feasible is it to move into Research?


Thanks!



 

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