Trader Risk Specialist
Topstep · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $70,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Monitor live accounts, execute escalations.
- Investigate trading activity and analyze data.
- Enforce risk parameters and educate traders.
- Collaborate on risk systems and profiling.
- Support daily funded operations.
About the role
Trader Risk Specialist
The Trader Risk Specialist supports the Risk Department across simulated and live futures environments by executing escalation protocols, conducting trading investigations, and enforcing risk parameters to protect firm capital. The functions of this role include monitoring of live funded accounts, trading investigations, data analysis, and trader engagement — with the opportunity to grow into a defined specialization over time.
The ideal candidate brings hands-on futures market knowledge, analytical rigor, and the composure to make sound decisions under time pressure. You'll be expected to think critically, act decisively, and contribute to a team that is building an enterprise-grade risk system from the ground up.
Key Responsibilities
- Monitor live funded accounts using T4 Front-End Risk Monitoring and internal dashboards; support the broader Risk coverage team.
- Verify automated liquidations and coordinate manual intervention with the Trade Desk when needed.
- Execute escalation protocols for margin breaches, loss limit triggers, and system failures.
- Participate in scheduled Risk Watch calls during end-of-day margin windows and market close sequences.
- Conduct trading investigations, including pattern analysis, odd-trade detection, and gamification review.
- Analyze trader data using Sigma, internal dashboards, and spreadsheets to identify risk trends and behavioral patterns.
- Contribute to risk scoring frameworks and collaborate with Research & Analytics on trader profiling.
- Report risk metrics, investigation outcomes, and emerging trends to the Manager of Risk.
- Enforce and educate traders on Topstep rules via phone and chat; handle complex inquiries professionally.
- Support daily funded operations, including off-boarding, payouts, account monitoring, and abbreviated holiday trading hours.
Required Qualifications
- 3+ years of professional experience in the trading or financial services industry.
- Advanced knowledge of futures markets, including margin mechanics (initial, maintenance, day-trade), contract specifications, and settlement processes.
- Experience working with professional financial institutions, FCMs, or trading platforms.
- Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets, including data manipulation, pivot tables, and formula-driven analysis.
- Strong sense of accountability, integrity, and ethics.
- Self-motivated and capable of making sound, time-sensitive decisions under pressure.
- Exceptional attention to detail with minimal data or process errors.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to diffuse high-tension situations professionally.
- Willingness to provide occasional support outside standard business hours during high-impact market events or critical escalations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with risk monitoring platforms (T4, CQG, TT, or equivalent).
- Experience with SQL, BI/visualization tools (Sigma, Looker, Tableau), or Snowflake.
- Experience with CRM systems (Intercom or similar).
- Knowledge of Topstep products and services.
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, or a related field preferred. Equivalent professional experience in futures risk management, brokerage operations, or trading will be considered.
Company Culture & Perks
Topstep is an engaging working environment which ranges from fully remote to hybrid. We foster a culture of collaboration with cameras on during meetings and a robust Slack environment for communication.
- Seven Company-paid Holidays and generous Family Leave.
- Paid time off is front-loaded.
- Competitive 401(k) matching, health, dental, and vision insurance is offered for full time employees.
- Vacations are encouraged with a bonus for taking 5 consecutive days.
- Employee referrals are bonused.
- Topstep offers a food and groceries budget and contributes towards health and wellness.
Salary Range
$31.25 - $36.05 per hour
Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
The compensation offered will take into account internal compensation structure and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.
Key skills/competency
- Futures Markets
- Risk Management
- Trading Investigations
- Data Analysis
- Escalation Protocols
- Financial Services
- Excel Proficiency
- Trader Engagement
- Margin Mechanics
- Risk Monitoring Platforms
Skills & topics
- Trader Risk Specialist
- Futures Markets
- Risk Management
- Trading Investigations
- Data Analysis
- Financial Services
- Excel
- Margin Mechanics
- Risk Monitoring
- FCM
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight futures market experience and analytical skills.
- Showcase analytical skills: Emphasize proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets for data analysis.
- Demonstrate risk awareness: Detail experience with margin mechanics and financial risk.
- Prepare for technical questions: Review futures markets, trading platforms, and data analysis tools.
- Emphasize communication: Highlight ability to engage traders and diffuse tense situations.
Technical preparation
Master futures market mechanics and trading platforms.,Practice advanced Excel for data manipulation.,Study risk monitoring tools and techniques.,Review SQL and BI tools if applicable.
Behavioral questions
Describe a time you made a quick decision.,How do you handle high-pressure situations?,Give an example of attention to detail.,How do you enforce rules professionally?
Frequently asked questions
- What are the typical working hours for a Trader Risk Specialist at Topstep?
- While standard business hours apply, the Trader Risk Specialist role requires occasional support outside these hours during high-impact market events or critical escalations. This flexibility ensures continuous risk management during volatile periods.
- What is the expected career growth for a Trader Risk Specialist at Topstep?
- This role offers the opportunity to grow into a defined specialization within the Risk Department over time. Your contributions to building an enterprise-grade risk system from the ground up can lead to significant career development.
- What are the key technical skills required for the Trader Risk Specialist role at Topstep?
- Key technical skills include advanced knowledge of futures markets (margin mechanics, contract specs), intermediate to advanced Excel/Google Sheets proficiency, and familiarity with risk monitoring platforms like T4, CQG, or TT. Experience with SQL and BI tools is preferred.
- How does Topstep approach team collaboration and company culture for remote/hybrid roles?
- Topstep fosters a collaborative culture with a robust Slack environment for communication and encourages cameras on during meetings, even for remote and hybrid team members, ensuring strong team cohesion.
- What kind of trading investigations will a Trader Risk Specialist conduct at Topstep?
- Trader Risk Specialists conduct investigations including pattern analysis, odd-trade detection, and gamification reviews to ensure adherence to Topstep rules and protect firm capital.
- How does Topstep support employee well-being and work-life balance?
- Topstep supports work-life balance through generous family leave, front-loaded paid time off, encouraged vacations with a bonus, and contributions towards health and wellness, including a food and groceries budget.
- What compensation can I expect as a Trader Risk Specialist at Topstep?
- The base salary range is $31.25 - $36.05 per hour, with eligibility for a performance-based bonus. The final offer depends on factors like geographic region, experience, and skills.