Jobs / United States / Akuna Capital LLC
Quantitative Researcher - Prediction Markets
Akuna Capital LLC · 🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
Sponsorship verdict
Sponsorship possible
One solid signal, not two — worth applying, and worth asking about sponsorship early.
- Employer is on a government sponsor recordThe US Department of Labor certified 33 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 20 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
- The posting doesn’t mention sponsorshipSilence isn’t a refusal — ask the recruiter before investing much time.
- No salary bar for this routeH-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area. Cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b, rules effective 2026-02-27.
- What Akuna Capital LLC paid sponsored hires in similar roles2 certified filings for “Quantitative Researcher” (Statisticians) in IL: $140k–$155k, median $147k. Most were filed at wage level III (50%) — 3 lottery entries, ≈46% projected selection odds for cap-subject employers. Source: US Department of Labor LCA disclosure data (Oct 2025 – Jun 2026).
- Confirmed live todayWhen a source last listed this job as open.
US H-1B: cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level — Level I gets 1 entry, Level IV gets 4 (DHS projected selection odds ≈15% at Level I to ≈61% at Level IV). Universities and non-profit research employers are cap-exempt. The $100,000 fee for new petitions from abroad is currently blocked by a court order (appeal pending).
A verdict summarises public evidence; it is not legal advice and never a guarantee — the employer and the immigration authority decide. Sign in to factor in where you can already work.
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Sponsor Radar — Akuna Capital LLC
The US Department of Labor certified 33 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 20 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
Past sponsorship or register membership never guarantees sponsorship for this vacancy or for you. Full Sponsor Radar for Akuna Capital LLC →
About the role
Akuna Capital is an innovative trading firm with a strong focus on collaboration, cutting-edge technology, data driven solutions, and automation. We specialize in providing liquidity as an options market maker – meaning we are committed to providing competitive quotes that we are willing to both buy and sell. To do this successfully, we design and implement our own low latency technologies, trading strategies, and mathematical models. Our Founding Partners first conceptualized Akuna in their hometown of Sydney. They opened the firm’s first office in 2011 in the heart of the derivatives industry and the options capital of the world – Chicago. Today, Akuna is proud to operate from additional offices in Sydney, Shanghai, London, and Singapore . What you’ll do as a Quantitative Researcher at Akuna: Akuna's Prediction Markets team is looking to add a Quantitative Researcher focused on sports related contracts. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in developing Akuna’s sports pricing capabilities, working closely with development and trading teams to refine and deploy these models alongside our strategies. This position offers the opportunity to make a direct impact on an exciting new desk at Akuna. The ideal candidate will possess strong programming and analytical skills, a creative mindset, and a passion for sports. In this role you will: • Design and develop data capture pipelines to enable the pricing of a variety of sports contracts (match outcomes, player props, in-game events) • Develop and calibrate pricing models using historical data in service of in-play quoting of sports contracts. • Build and maintain internal tooling to facilitate all aspects of the research pipeline • Work closely with trading and development to deploy models into production trading strategies, bridging the gap from research to production with an ownership mentality Qualities that make great candidates: • Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in a technical field, such as Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Physics (or a related subject) • Proficient programming skills in Python (C++ is a plus) • 1+ years of experience in a quantitative or programming role, preferably within the trading sector. • Deep understanding of fields such as Linear Algebra, Numerical Methods, Statistics, Optimization, and Machine Learning • Strong interest in sports and quantitative modeling. We are especially interested in high agency individuals who have practical experience in financial markets and see the recent rise in prediction markets as an opportunity to ply their trade to a new domain they find more dynamic and exciting: sports. If you are a working quant and a sports data nerd, we want to hear from you! In addition to technical skillsets, Akuna values the unique perspectives people can bring to the table to collaboratively solve complex problems and drive Akuna forward. We want everyone to feel empowered to apply. We welcome your application and encourage you to take the first steps toward your future with us! In accordance with Illinois Equal Pay Act, the minimum base salary starts at $145,000. Exact compensation offered may vary based on many factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and skill set. This role is also eligible for a discretionary performance bonus as part of the total compensation package and includes a comprehensive benefits package that may encompass employer-paid medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, paid time off, and other benefits. The minimum base salary herein was determined in good faith by Akuna Capital LLC.