Market Operations Specialist - New York
* Salary: Up to $157,250 + lucrative bonus + benefits
About the Company
Our client is building a world-class, institutional-grade trading venue in partnership with leading global financial institutions.
Operating at the frontier of capital markets, technology, and data, the platform enables institutional participants to trade on structured event contracts within a regulated, electronic marketplace. The business combines market structure, clearing infrastructure, and advanced systems engineering to deliver meaningful, real-time information discovery at scale.
This is an opportunity to join a high-impact team at an early stage and play a central role in building a regulated trading and clearing operation from the ground up.
The Role
The Market Operations Specialist is a senior, hands-on role responsible for maintaining a fair and orderly market while providing expert real-time operational and technical support to institutional trading clients and internal stakeholders.
You will work directly with:
- Institutional trading firms
- Futures commission merchants (FCMs)
- Clearing banks
- Engineers and technology teams
- Product, compliance, and regulatory stakeholders
- Senior leadership
This role requires resourcefulness, adaptability, and the ability to methodically diagnose and resolve complex issues in time-sensitive, high-visibility environments.
You will operate both independently and collaboratively, acting as a key escalation point across trading, clearing, and operational workflows.
The role is hybrid but strongly in-office leaning, reflecting the pace, collaboration, and early-stage build of the Belfast team.
Key Responsibilities
* Develop deep expertise in trading systems, order types, market functionality, and external connectivity
* Provide advanced technical and operational support to market participants regarding trading, clearing, and data services
* Monitor system integrity and maintain control of the trading environment
* Coordinate communications and escalation of critical system issues with engineering teams
* Maintain listed contracts, ensuring accurate product specifications, trading parameters, and settlement terms
* Maintain and enhance user-facing technical documentation (e.g., FIX specifications, connectivity guides)
* Perform log analysis and packet capture reviews to diagnose latency, execution, and trade integrity issues
* Oversee daily settlement processes, including cash movements and payment instructions
* Perform reconciliations across trade executions, collateral, and settlements, resolving breaks promptly
* Manage the end-to-end clearing lifecycle including positions, margin, collateral, and delivery processing
* Design, build, and maintain automation scripts to improve operational efficiency
* Execute and refine operational procedures
* Collaborate cross-functionally with Technology Operations, Product, QA, Sales, Compliance, and Regulation
Essential Criteria
* Bachelor's degree (ideally in economics, finance, computer science, mathematics, or information systems) or equivalent professional experience
* 5+ years' experience in trade support, middle-office operations, quantitative trade consulting, compliance, or systems/DevOps roles within an institutional trading or exchange environment
* Proven experience supporting front- or mid-office trading operations in electronic markets
* Strong understanding of electronic trading systems, matching engine mechanics, and market connectivity concepts
* Experience with trading, clearing, and settlement workflows
* Basic Python scripting experience to automate operational processes
* Experience using SQL or Python to query and interpret large operational datasets
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills
* High attention to detail and strong analytical discipline
* Comfortable working flexible, event-driven schedules including on-call support
Desirable (Not Essential)
* Experience in exchange-listed derivatives trading, clearing, or settlement
* Familiarity with FIX Protocol (log analysis, certification, onboarding)
* Experience applying complex queries to large datasets
* Familiarity with automation scheduling tools (e.g., Rundeck)
* Exposure to latency analysis, connectivity troubleshooting, or packet-level diagnostics
Why Join
* Be part of a high-impact team building a global regulated trading venue from the ground up
* Join a well-capitalised, institutionally backed platform with experienced leadership
* Play a key role in establishing and shaping the Belfast operations function
* Gain exposure across trading, clearing, technology, and regulatory environments
* Competitive compensation, bonus structure, and long-term career development
* A culture focused on professionalism, collaboration, operational excellence, and sustainable performance
About Phil Gamble:
Phil Gamble has over 21 years of experience in the Tech recruitment industry, successfully delivering on senior engineering leadership roles across the US, UK, and Ireland. He takes a personalised approach to understanding candidates and supporting their long-term career goals.
Recent LinkedIn Testimonials:
"I had the pleasure of working with Phil from OCHO during my recent search for a senior leadership role, and I can’t recommend him highly enough. From the outset, Phil demonstrated a deep understanding of the industry and landscape. He took the time to truly understand my career goals and aspirations.
What stood out most was Phil’s genuine unwavering support and availability throughout the entire process. He was always just a call or message away, ready to offer guidance, answer questions, and provide valuable insights that ensured I was well prepared for each step of the interview process. His professionalism, sincerity, and genuine care made what can often be a stressful experience feel smooth and empowering.
Thanks to Phil’s expertise and dedication, I secured a role that aligns perfectly with my experience and ambitions. I’m incredibly grateful for his support and would wholeheartedly recommend Phil and the team at OCHO to any senior professional seeking their next opportunity.
