What resources are the best to learn programming for Quantitative Trading?

What kind of things do you use programming for at a trading firm like Optiver, Akuna, Flow Traders, etc. The ones that don't have a programming test as part of their interview. Where can I get ahead and learn some of these languages in the way that they apply them every day? I was told "I would say large data set processing stuff with pandas" this was a good point to start. Just learning big data analysis and stuff with Python. What else should I be looking for? How do these firms automate trading ideas through coding? Just looking for some quant courses to help develop some skills I'd actually use day to day on one of these desks as I've accepted a full-time offer at one of these firms and think my coding skills aren't as good as some others who are applying to these firms

4 Comments
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 
Most Helpful

Python is the most versatile and user friendly.

Load a dataset with pandas.  Start out with just some csvs.  Move on to other sources like APIs and SQL.

Run some statistical tests.  Is something linked to something else.  You can start out with basics like linear regression before moving to more complex models.  Sklearn, scipy, Keras are all popular.

If you find that something predicts price movement, run an out of sample backtest using the same libraries.  See what the success rate, sharpe ratio, drawdowns, and theoretical historical pnl is.  

Often for the actual execution, firms will use a faster language like C/C++.  And this may be a separate job entirely than the person who identifies the trades.
 

 

Quidem iste magni aut nihil. Quis et sunt veritatis. Iste ullam voluptas dolorum commodi minima perspiciatis voluptas nulla.

Ut iure provident facere cum laudantium. Recusandae quod a harum est. Illum exercitationem libero debitis quidem.

Perspiciatis eum similique quam non. Similique qui eaque repellat rerum reiciendis ut sint dignissimos. Quia ducimus laborum in ex in voluptates eligendi voluptatem.

Esse placeat alias optio delectus. Debitis atque pariatur numquam iusto qui delectus possimus. Asperiores quo sit magnam amet ipsum. Odit aperiam deserunt perferendis qui saepe aut a. Natus ad quos recusandae recusandae.

 

Iusto nisi laborum ab nisi corporis omnis mollitia. Quo aut modi placeat cupiditate est facere odio. Soluta porro officia itaque deleniti. Id error culpa laborum non laudantium. Maxime maiores earum et laboriosam. Cupiditate ad et blanditiis similique dolor tempore. Sed officiis ex aut aut sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”