This is just my perspective but there isn't a clearly defined rulebook for what the 'front office quant' roles are called, how they are positioned, what the qualifications are and what they involve on a day to day basis. My team has four 'quantitative analysts' none of us do the same job, none of us have the same background but from an outside perspective we'd most likely be referred to as front office quants.IMO you are asking for a clear cut, black and white answer for a question that simply doesn't have one. Different places have different structures and even within the same company you may see numerous different structures split by asset groups, functional teams etc etc.

QuoteOriginally posted by: HansiThis is just my perspective but there isn't a clearly defined rulebook for what the 'front office quant' roles are called, how they are positioned, what the qualifications are and what they involve on a day to day basis. My team has four 'quantitative analysts' none of us do the same job, none of us have the same background but from an outside perspective we'd most likely be referred to as front office quants.IMO you are asking for a clear cut, black and white answer for a question that simply doesn't have one. Different places have different structures and even within the same company you may see numerous different structures split by asset groups, functional teams etc etc.Thanks that helps,so where would the guys with strong c++ skills but also strong PhD level stochastic calculus, pricing and hedging skills (i.e. over and above what a MFE grad would have) in a major bank be found, most but not all of the time?

QuoteOriginally posted by: flashCrashThanks that helps,so where would the guys with strong c++ skills but also strong PhD level stochastic calculus, pricing and hedging skills (i.e. over and above what a MFE grad would have) in a major bank be found, most but not all of the time?Could be anything really, there is no rule that says people with that background should be in a specific role or function.

I think it is more about your personality as Hansi imply, if you have the right skills, you are able to choose between more jobs ...Many people have all you said and decided to go in trading as they wanted to be dealing themselves.