iSAM
iSAM Tensor - Portfolio Researcher

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iSAM is an innovative, financial technology firm specialising in quantitative trading, comprised of iSAM Funds and iSAM Securities.
iSAM Securities, regulated by the FCA, SFC, and CIMA registered, is a leading algorithmic trading firm and trusted electronic market maker, providing liquidity, technology and prime services to institutional clients and trading venues globally. The firm offers full-service prime brokerage and execution via its cutting-edge proprietary technology, as well as market-leading analytics, cleared through the group’s bank Prime Brokers.
iSAM Funds is an alternative asset manager specialising in systematic investing. Each strategy is unique, provides a specialist quantitative approach and is designed to deliver highly diversifying absolute returns for institutional portfolios.
About the role
iSAM Tensor is a brand-new business unit (founded in August 2026) with the remit to build a new systematic, multi-strategy trading platform that will start trading in December 2026. The Tensor team is responsible for every aspect of the platform, from data to strategy development to portfolio construction to execution to production monitoring, ensuring the system is stable, scalable and robust. They take an idea from inception to production. As we grow the platform and onboard additional strategies and asset classes, we are looking for a portfolio researcher to join our London team. This is a key hire for the team, giving the successful candidate the opportunity to join a new systematic trading business at the beginning. This is a hands-on position in an intentionally flat structure within a collaborative team where you will be directly responsible for iSAM Tensor’s portfolio construction. You will work with developers and researchers across the firm to drive our success.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Responsibilities
- Hands-on day-to-day responsibility of iSAM Tensor’s portfolio and risk management.
- Work closely with the development team to build a suite of portfolio analytics and monitoring infrastructure to ensure the smooth running of the platform.
- Work closely with researchers to enable the smooth onboarding of new strategies.
- Pro-actively find ways to improve all aspects of the platform.
- Support the platform in production on a support rota once certified.
Qualifications
- PhD in a quantitative discipline such as mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering, computer science, economics or finance.
- A minimum of 3 years working within a quant research team of a systematic trading business.
- Strong hands-on Python programming skills with the ability to conduct independent research and build robust analytical tools.
- Strong understanding of statistics, probability, portfolio construction and risk management.
- Ability to connect empirical research with practical investment implementation, including transaction costs, capacity, risk and live performance considerations.


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Qualifications (preferred):
- Experience trading macro asset classes (futures, FX, interest-rate swaps).
- Experience with portfolio optimisation techniques.
Personal Attributes
- You are a smart, intellectually curious, self-driven professional with a high attention to detail and a willingness to learn.
- You have strong communication skills and can clearly explain complex research.
- You enjoy working in a collaborative environment directly with colleagues from multiple backgrounds and areas of expertise.
- You are comfortable working at the coal face of a fast-paced trading environment.
- You take pride in and ownership of your work, care about quality and continuously strive for improvement, both individually and for the wider team.
- You are excited about how (and pro-actively research new ways that) AI could transform the operation of a systematic trading business.
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