--- title: 'Machine Learning Research Intern - Summer 2027 - Chicago at IMC' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/machine-learning-research-intern-summer-2027-chicago-imc-chicago-kw35bbzyyz2d' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-11' --- # Machine Learning Research Intern - Summer 2027 - Chicago at IMC - **Company:** IMC - **Location:** Chicago, IL - **Posted:** 2026-07-01 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/imc/jobs/4907430101 ## Job description Our Machine Learning Internship is designed for curious, ambitious researchers who want to apply machine learning to complex, real-world problems. Over 10–12 weeks, you'll work alongside experienced researchers and mentors to develop models, analyze large-scale datasets, and contribute to research that informs IMC's trading strategies across global equities, futures, and options markets. You'll gain hands-on experience designing experiments, evaluating novel approaches, and tackling challenging problems in a collaborative, fast-paced environment where your work can have real-world impact. Throughout the program, you'll deepen your understanding of quantitative trading through a combination of classroom and on desk training, while benefiting from professional development and networking opportunities. We offer a highly competitive compensation package, including travel and accommodation. High-performing interns may be considered for a full-time Graduate Researcher position upon graduation. ## YOUR CORE RESPONSIBILITIES: - Conduct hands-on research to design, develop, and apply original machine learning algorithms, with the support to explore and innovate. - Analyze large-scale datasets, develop predictive models, and evaluate novel approaches to complex market problems - Develop your research skills through hands-on project work, mentorship, and regular feedback from experienced researchers - Enhance your understanding of quantitative trading through classroom-based instruction in options theory, market making, and related topics ## YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: - Pursuing a PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or a related quantitative field and graduating between September 2027 – July 2028 - Strong foundations in machine learning, probability, and statistics, with experience applying advanced ML techniques to solve challenging research or real-world problems - Demonstrated hands-on research experience in deep learning fundamentals such as neural network architectures, sequence modeling, training dynamics, or optimization - Proficiency in Python and modern machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, Tensorflow, and/or JAX - Demonstrated research excellence through publications, preprints, research internships, or significant research projects; publications at venues such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, or equivalent conferences are highly preferred - Must be able to start internship in-person on June 7, 2027 You may submit one application per role each year.  We strongly encourage you to focus on applying to a single role that best matches your skills and interests.  Though you may apply to multiple roles, please note that each application will be evaluated based on the specific criteria established for that particular role. If you have already applied for this position during the current recruitment season and were not selected, you may reapply when the next recruitment season begins in 2027. The Base Salary range for the role is included below. Base salary is only one component of total compensation; all full-time, permanent positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and benefits, including paid leave and insurance. Please visit [Benefits - US | IMC Trading](https://www.imc.com/us/careers/benefits) for more comprehensive information. Base Salary: $300,000 ## About Us IMC is a research-driven trading firm where quantitative modeling, machine learning, and engineering shape how modern markets are traded. A stabilizing force in markets since 1989, we provide liquidity across trading venues, delivering the best outcome in value and risk management to investors. Using our own technology and capital, we build proprietary systems and algorithms that operate across global markets. Our researchers, traders, and engineers work as a collective, combining rapid experimentation, advanced infrastructure, and real-time feedback to turn insight into execution and execution into advantage. ## About IMC ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: IMC is a global trading firm that uses cutting-edge technology, quantitative research, and advanced algorithms to provide liquidity across major asset classes and trading venues worldwide. - **Entity Type**: Private (bootstrapped) - **Headquarters**: Amsterdam, Netherlands (global headquarters); major offices in Chicago, Sydney, Mumbai, and other cities. - **Founded**: 1989 - **Founders**: Two traders (names not publicly disclosed) who met on the floor of the Amsterdam Equity Options Exchange. ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Financial Services, Proprietary Trading, Market Making, Financial Technology - **Target customers**: Institutional clients, exchanges, ETF issuers, buy-side firms, and other market participants. **B2B** focus. - **Mission or purpose statement**: To be the world’s leading trading firm, supporting fair and transparent markets by providing significant liquidity and competitive pricing. [imc.com](https://www.imc.com/eu/who-we-are) ## Products & Services - **ETF Market Making**: Acts as a Lead Market Maker (LMM) in more than 150 US exchange-traded funds (ETFs). - **Options Wholesaling**: A top-3 liquidity provider by volume traded in listed options globally, with connectivity to all OCC venues. - **Institutional Sales**: Provides off-screen trading for buy-side firms. - **Crypto Solutions**: Offers global coverage of crypto products including spot, perps, futures, and options, both on- and off-chain. - **Multi-Asset Class Trading**: Develops innovative technologies and algorithms to trade in all major asset classes on more than 120 venues globally. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (private company). - **Key Metric**: Over 2,070 employees across 10 global offices as of 2025/2026. [imc.com](https://www.imc.com/eu/who-we-are) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Privately held; no external investors disclosed. Key partners include major global exchanges and clearing houses (e.g., OCC). - **Growth Signals**: - Employee count grew from +1,900 to +2,070 in recent years. - Operates 9,000+ servers across 9 countries and processes petabytes of data daily. - Expanding into crypto and new asset classes. - Committed to being Net Zero by 2040. ## Competitive Advantages - **Technology & Infrastructure**: A world-class technology backbone with 9,000+ servers, petabytes of data processing, and early adoption of AI/ML. - **Longevity & Experience**: 36+ years of trading history and deep expertise across multiple asset classes. - **Global Scale**: 24/7 liquidity provision across 120+ trading venues in the US, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and India. - **Talent Density**: A flat, non-hierarchical culture that attracts top quant researchers, engineers, and traders from 70+ nationalities. - **Culture of Ownership**: Employees are given significant responsibility early on, with a focus on collaboration and cross-functional teamwork. ## Strategic Focus - **Quantitative Research & Tech**: Continually investing in quant research, AI, machine learning, and large-scale computing to generate alpha. - **Global Expansion**: Expanding across new markets and asset classes, including crypto. - **Sustainability**: Committed to being Net Zero by 2040 and making a positive impact through the IMC Foundations, focusing on education. - **Talent Development**: Investing heavily in graduate and intern training programs (Graduate Traineeship, Launchpad) to build the next generation of talent. ## Why Work Here - **Culture & Values**: High-performance, collaborative, and non-hierarchical. 87% of employees say "IMC is a great place to work" (+4% vs global top-10%). [imc.com](https://www.imc.com/us/who-we-are/our-culture-values) - **Work Environment**: Office-based (no remote policy indicated). Offers free catered breakfast and lunch, snacks, drinks, and Friday socials. Regular team events including an annual weekend trip. - **Compensation & Benefits**: Competitive compensation with subsidized gym memberships, ergonomic desks, and health/well-being programs. - **Learning & Development**: Extensive internal and external training programs. Graduates undergo a multi-week Graduate Traineeship (Trading School, Development School, FPGA School). - **Diversity**: Employees represent 70+ nationalities, with a strong commitment to D&I. - **Giving Back**: A share of profits is donated to non-profits, with a focus on education. Employees get volunteer time, donation matching, and grants. ## Sources 1. [IMC Homepage](https://www.imc.com/us/) 2. [IMC Careers Page](https://www.imc.com/us/careers) 3. [IMC Who We Are](https://www.imc.com/eu/who-we-are) 4. [IMC Culture & Values](https://www.imc.com/us/who-we-are/our-culture-values) 5. [IMC Recruitment Process](https://www.imc.com/us/careers/recruitment-process) ## Other roles at IMC - [Senior Campus Recruiter - Technology](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-campus-recruiter-technology-imc-sydney-zrtb8xd9ryk4) — Sydney, Australia - [Python Engineer - AI](https://feeny.ai/job/python-engineer-ai-imc-sydney-1p5jvrxqt801) — Sydney, Australia - [Performance Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/performance-engineer-imc-sydney-fa9b8r8gc3tk) — Sydney, Australia - [Information Security Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/information-security-engineer-imc-mumbai-d9a2t3w4xsrw) — Mumbai, India - [Mid Office Associate - Digital Assets](https://feeny.ai/job/mid-office-associate-digital-assets-imc-zug-bmz4fgjegd1v) — Zug, Switzerland - [Experienced Recruiter – Technology and Business Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/experienced-recruiter-technology-and-business-operations-imc-chicago-0dww3pa7m3yf) — Chicago, IL - [Office Assistant – 2 dagen per Week (Dinsdagen en Woensdagen)](https://feeny.ai/job/office-assistant-2-dagen-per-week-dinsdagen-en-woensdagen-imc-amsterdam-kw72jy9h892z) — Amsterdam, Netherlands - [Network Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/network-engineer-imc-chicago-bnt3n0b9dgem) — Chicago, IL - [Data Center Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/data-center-engineer-imc-hong-kong-zfx606bb0pzc) — Hong Kong, Hong Kong - [AMS - 2026 - Payroll Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/ams-2026-payroll-specialist-imc-amsterdam-0zrtd6fmxt8n) — Amsterdam, Netherlands