
We value our people and encourage everyone to grow professionally. If you think this opportunity is right for you, we encourage you to apply!
Roles & Responsibilities
Options Market Making, Calibration & Smile Modeling
Develop and own the quantitative infrastructure for quoting and risk managing vanilla and exotic options, including:
Real-time volatility surfaces
Greeks engines
Market-making and execution algorithms
Lead implementation of arbitrage-free volatility smile and skew models, including:
Smile parameterisation techniques e.g. SVI, SABR, and Fengler’s arbitrage-free smoothing approaches
Local volatility models Dupire local volatility for smile-consistent pricing and delta-hedging
Mixed local/stochastic volatility models for capturing dynamic skew behaviour under stressed conditions
Build robust model calibration pipelines to liquid market instruments (e.g. vanilla options, forwards, futures) ensuring:
Fast convergence
Numerical stability
No calendar, butterfly, or vertical spread arbitrage
Extend volatility modelling to handle long-dated exotic derivatives
American barriers, Asian accumulators, spread options, TARFs
Currency-denominated option structures with quanto and correlation features
Term Structure & Correlation Modelling
Develop multi-factor forward curve models for commodities and currencies:
Gabillon Two-Factor Model for capturing commodity forward curve dynamics
Schwartz-Smith or CIR++ extensions for interest rate and inflation-linked exposure
Model and estimate cross-asset correlations, particularly between:
Commodities (oil, palm, soy, energy, etc.)
Currencies (USD, CNY, MYR, INR, etc.)
Freight and storage costs
Integrate correlation modeling into:
Structured products
Portfolio VaR / CVaR frameworks
Basis risk hedging strategies
Real Assets & Physical Optionality
Build stochastic optimization and valuation frameworks for:
Crushing/refining spreads (e.g. soybean crush, palm kernel crush)
Storage and logistics assets as American swing options
Real-time asset monetization tools using Monte Carlo simulation, real options valuation, and basis path modeling
Incorporate physical constraints (capacity, delivery time, transport) into derivatives-driven optimization
Ideal Candidate
PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field (Mathematics, Financial Engineering, Physics, Computer Science)
Background in commodities markets (energy, agri, metals)
Experience building physical-real optionality models
Exposure to algorithmic quoting engines and real-time market data feeds
Understanding of machine learning techniques for market regime switching or signal generation
10+ years of experience in:
Quantitative research for derivatives trading or market making
Building volatility surfaces, smile models, and calibration tools
Exotic option pricing in commodity, currency, or hybrid markets
To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your interest for this role.

SD Guthrie Berhad is one of the world’s leading producers of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO), representing approximately 12% of the global market share (as of 31 December 2022). We are listed on Bursa Malaysia (KLSE: SDG) with a market capitalisation of RM29.39 billion (US$6.24 billion) as of 31 May 2024. Supported by a large institutional base, we are a strategic company of Permodalan Nasional Berhad, Malaysia’s largest unit trust company and our major shareholder.
For posts before June 2024, visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/sdplantation/.