Senior Equities Trader and Options / Derivatives Specialist

What You'll Do

The Senior Trader - Equities is a senior member of the Americas Equity Trading Desk responsible for executing equity and equity-related orders across markets while delivering best execution outcomes aligned with client mandates and regulatory standards.

This individual will play a leadership role in advancing the firm's trading capabilities across broker strategy, execution analytics, trading technology, and options strategy.

Success requires advanced market structure knowledge, strong judgment in sourcing liquidity across cash equities and derivatives, and seamless collaboration with portfolio managers and key partners.

Position Overview

We're looking for a Senior Trader to join our Americas Equities team. In this role, you will partner with portfolio management teams to ensure the efficient execution of common stock and derivatives transactions.

· Partner closely with analysts and portfolio managers to successfully implement trades (cash equites and options) within portfolio parameters set by portfolio managers

· Stay abreast of general economic and financial market events/trends. Monitor market conditions, liquidity opportunities, pertinent news for firm's holdings, and proactively establish an ongoing dialog with portfolio managers and the firm's investment staff

· Position yourself as a trusted internal advisor who drives incremental value through actionable insights, including proactive collaboration with portfolio managers on options strategy development and execution

· Maximize exposure to favorable liquidity. Minimize adverse impact from order footprint. Mitigate exposure to predatory participants. Maintain anonymity in the marketplace

· Proactively develop, foster, and maintain professional and positive relationships with industry partners, including brokers, vendors, regulators, and industry peers, to facilitate innovative and productive relationships

· Leverage and strengthen Principal's reputation with strategic broker relationships

· Initiate and support a globally harmonized investment team structure with persistent communication and interaction with the other regional desks

· Operate with an innovative mindset to advance workflow efficiencies, data sources, improve access to liquidity, enhance reporting capabilities and technology evolution within the framework of the trading desk, and the firm's initiatives

· Drive continuous improvement in order routing, venue selection, and algo performance

· Support evolution toward an "algo meritocracy" model across brokers

Principal Asset Management is the global investment solutions business for Principal Financial Group® (Nasdaq: PFG), managing about $740 billion in assets and over 60 years of experience.

Who You Are

· 8+ years of experience as an Equities Trader

· Possess these key competencies:

• Judgment under pressure in fast-moving markets

• Analytical rigor with a data-driven mindset

• Collaboration across global teams

• Accountability for execution outcomes

• Innovation in trading strategies and workflows

· Experience in trading Options

· Proficiency in trading systems and platforms such as Charles River, Triton, and Bloomberg

· Proficiency across trading channels, including high-touch, algorithmic, block pools, and program trading

· Desire to be an influential collaborative contributor to enhancing the Desk's value proposition

· Experience executing large, complex equity orders that required advanced liquidity sourcing strategies

· Working knowledge of the market dynamics of various marketplaces, including the trading dynamics of large/medium/small capitalization equities

· Able to apply advanced knowledge of market structure, liquidity dynamics, and order types

· Solid understanding of TCA (Transaction Cost Analysis) and demonstrate its applications both pre- and post-trade execution

Skills That Will Help You Stand Out

· Investment management, hedge fund, or brokerage trading experience

· Proven ability to analyze complex trading needs and execute trades efficiently under market-imposed time constraints while adhering to the best execution principles

· Maintain a constant awareness of developments within markets, regulations, trading technology, and other issues relevant to the effective transaction of business

· Experience in trading Total Return Swaps

· MBA and/or CFA designation

Salary Range Information

Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

Salary Range (Non-Exempt expressed as hourly; Exempt expressed as yearly)

$179000 - $243000 / year

Salary Details

The base salary range for this role is $179,000 - $243,000 nationally.

Total compensation, including annual discretionary incentive compensation, will be aligned with market rates for top-tier candidates.

Annual total compensation will be determined based on contribution, skills, experience, and alignment with the role's responsibilities

Time Off Program

Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness. Employees don't accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.

Pension Eligible

No

Location(s)

Locations include New York City, Des Moines, Denver, Seattle, or Chicago.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.

Nonimmigrant Workers ( and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants (

Investment Code of Ethics

For Principal Asset Management positions, you'll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.

Experience Principal

At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we're imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services - and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out our careers site to learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.

Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Posting Window

We will accept applications for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date, after which the posting may remain open or be removed based upon applications received. If we choose to post the job again, we will accept additional applications for at least 1 full day following the Most Recently Posted Date. Please submit applications in a timely manner as there is no guarantee the posting will be available beyond the applicable deadline.

Original Posting Date

4/30/2026

Most Recently Posted Date

4/30/2026

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