Two Sigma Careers & Jobs

Details

Industries: Asset Management

About Us

Two Sigma careers span quantitative research, software engineering, and data science at one of the top quant investment firms in the world. New graduate researchers earn $300,000–$500,000+ total compensation and engineers earn $200,000–$350,000+, with the firm consistently ranked alongside Jane Street, Citadel, and D.E. Shaw as a top destination in quantitative finance.

Two Sigma is a financial sciences company that applies data analysis, engineering, and rigorous scientific inquiry to investing. Founded in 2001 and headquartered at 100 Avenue of the Americas in New York City, Two Sigma manages capital across quantitative strategies in equities, fixed income, futures, and commodities. The firm employs over 2,000 people across offices in New York, Houston, London, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.

Two Sigma is frequently mentioned alongside Jane Street, Citadel, and D.E. Shaw as one of the top destinations in quantitative finance for engineers and researchers.

About Two Sigma

Two Sigma approaches markets the way scientists approach experiments — forming hypotheses, gathering data, testing rigorously, and iterating. More than half of its employees come from outside the finance industry. The firm explicitly states that a background in finance is not required; quantitative ability and intellectual curiosity are what matter.

The firm invests heavily in employee development, offering over 200 internal learning classes per year, sponsored attendance at professional conferences, five dedicated learning days annually, and tuition reimbursement.

Types of Roles at Two Sigma

Quantitative ResearchResearchers formulate hypotheses about market behavior, test them against proprietary and alternative datasets — including satellite imagery, NLP-derived sentiment, and transaction-level data — and build models that inform trading decisions. Two Sigma expects researchers to write production-quality code, not just prototype. Browse open quantitative analyst jobs on Wall Street Careers.

Software EngineeringEngineers make up the largest share of Two Sigma's employee base. The firm builds tools, infrastructure, and systems that enable its quantitative strategies to scale, covering everything from trading systems and distributed computing to data pipelines. See open finance software engineer jobs.

Data ScienceData scientists work with unusually broad datasets — not just financial data but alternative data of many kinds — finding patterns and signals and translating them into actionable investment insights.

Investment & Client SolutionsThese roles deliver Two Sigma's investment services to institutional clients including pension funds, endowments, and sovereign wealth funds. Candidates typically come from finance or economics backgrounds with strong quantitative and communication skills.

Business & OperationsTwo Sigma hires across legal, compliance, human resources, finance, and operations — all benefiting from the same intellectually rigorous environment as technical roles.

Compensation at Two Sigma

Two Sigma is among the highest-paying employers in quantitative finance. Compensation is structured around base salary plus a significant discretionary annual bonus. Senior roles may also include deferred compensation.

Software Engineer, New Graduate: $165,000–$250,000 base; total compensation typically $200,000–$350,000+Quantitative Researcher, New Graduate: $300,000–$500,000+ total compensationQuantitative Researcher, Experienced: $321,000–$736,000+ total compensationSummer Intern: $4,900–$5,500 per week depending on degree level

Compensation is primarily cash-based rather than equity-heavy, which differs from large technology companies. Discretionary bonuses can represent a substantial portion of total pay at senior levels.

How Two Sigma Hires

Two Sigma recruits heavily from top mathematics, computer science, statistics, and physics programs. The interview process for quantitative research and engineering roles involves coding assessments, probability and statistics problems, and discussion of past research or projects. The firm values candidates who can articulate their reasoning clearly and connect quantitative thinking to real-world problems.

Summer internship applications typically open in the fall for the following summer. Full-time roles are posted on a rolling basis year-round.

Office Locations

New York City — Global headquarters, 100 Avenue of the AmericasHouston — Significant technology and research presenceLondon — European operationsHong Kong — Asia-PacificTokyo — Asia-Pacific

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Two Sigma do?Two Sigma is a quantitative investment management firm that uses data science, engineering, and statistical modeling to develop and execute trading strategies across global financial markets. It manages capital on behalf of institutional clients as well as proprietary capital.

Do I need a finance background to work at Two Sigma?No. Two Sigma explicitly states that more than half of its employees come from outside finance. Strong quantitative skills and programming ability are the primary requirements for most technical roles.

Does Two Sigma hire experienced professionals?Yes. Two Sigma hires both recent graduates and experienced professionals across quantitative research, engineering, data science, and business functions. Experienced research hires typically come from academia, other quantitative funds, or technology companies.

Is Two Sigma a hedge fund?Two Sigma is an investment management firm that operates quantitative hedge funds and other investment vehicles. It manages outside capital from institutional clients, which distinguishes it from purely proprietary trading firms like Jane Street.