MENA Equities Quantitative Researcher at Winton (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
Winton· Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates·
Job description
About Winton
Winton is a research-based investment management company with a specialist focus on statistical and mathematical inference in financial markets. The firm researches and trades quantitative investment strategies, which are implemented systematically via thousands of securities, spanning the world's major liquid asset classes. Founded in 1997 by David Harding, Winton today manages assets for some of the world’s largest institutional investors.
We employ ambitious professionals who want to work collaboratively at the leading edge of investment management.
We are seeking a highly motivated quantitative researcher to join our Investment Management & Research group, focussing on MENA Equities. You will play a key role in researching, developing and operating our equities strategies in the region, partnering with portfolio managers, researchers, and technology to build and optimise the full strategy lifecycle – from research and back testing to live trading and risk management.
You will spend an initial period of approximately 6 months working in our London office before relocating to our office in Abu Dhabi.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Conduct in-depth research to identify alpha-generating strategies in MENA equity markets
- Research and back test systematic trading signals
- Collaborate closely with portfolio managers, researchers and technologists to develop trading infrastructure and strategies
- Monitor, analyse and report on strategy performance
What we are looking for:
- 3+ years of experience working in a systematic equity trading environment
- Proficiency in data analysis and programming, preferably using Python and key libraries such as Pandas and NumPy
- Exceptional understanding of signal research and portfolio construction
- Strong communication skills with the ability to work in a distributed and collaborative research environment.
Equal Opportunity Workplace
We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.
Why work at Winton
- Culture: Collaborative, intellectually rigorous, and detail-oriented. The firm values “careful and considered decision-making” and open, supportive learning. Teams work across the stack and with business users directly, removing the need for product managers.
- Work environment: In-person focused office environment designed to maximise collaboration and creativity. Hybrid-cloud tech stack.
- Benefits: Comprehensive benefits programme for employees and families; compensation scheme that rewards excellence; 43% of employees are shareholders.
- Engineering culture: Technology teams are responsible for the core infrastructure of investment strategies. They host regular Tech Talks, sponsor conference attendance, and support upskilling through training and courses. Developers work closely with business users, fostering strong long-term relationships.
- Tenure and stability: Average employee tenure of 8 years, indicating strong retention and a stable, supportive environment winton.com.
- Recruitment process: Transparent and supportive—application, phone interview, technical assessment/case study, video/onsite interviews, then offer. The process is designed to let candidates showcase abilities rather than pass arbitrary tests.