Head of Market Data

About the role

This role focuses on developing and implementing a unified market data strategy across various crypto and traditional markets. The Head of Market Data will be responsible for designing scalable, low-latency data architecture capable of handling tick-level, order book, and on-chain data. A key aspect involves evaluating whether to build internal data platforms or integrate external providers, ensuring the chosen solutions align with the firm's strategic objectives.

A significant part of the position involves managing relationships with crypto exchanges, data aggregators, and node providers, as well as assisting with commercial negotiations and licensing agreements. The role also emphasizes maintaining high data quality, standardizing datasets from fragmented sources, and overseeing the ingestion of real-time trading data and on-chain metrics. Establishing monitoring and alerting frameworks will be crucial for data integrity.

Success in this position means effectively managing and optimizing the global market data budget, identifying cost-saving opportunities through vendor consolidation, and partnering with engineering teams to build high-performance data pipelines. The Head of Market Data will also ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks, collaborate with trading and research teams to deliver data solutions, and lead a multidisciplinary team focused on innovation and operational excellence.

The listed salary range for this role is between $100,000 and $250,000 USD.

Skills that matter here

• market data management: This role requires extensive experience in market data management within financial trading firms to lead strategy, acquisition, and governance.
• market data vendors: The role involves deep knowledge of market data vendors, exchanges, and licensing models to manage relationships and negotiate contracts.
• trading workflows: Understanding trading workflows across various asset classes is essential to deliver relevant data solutions to trading and research teams.
• negotiating vendor contracts: Proven experience in negotiating vendor contracts and managing large budgets is necessary for cost optimization and vendor relationship management.
• low-latency data systems: Experience with low-latency data systems, market data feeds, APIs, and streaming technologies is critical for designing and maintaining data architecture.
• analytical and problem-solving skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required to ensure data quality, troubleshoot issues, and optimize data processes.

Who this role suits

• Someone with over a decade of experience specifically in market data management within a trading or financial institution.
• An individual who excels at strategic planning and execution, particularly in designing scalable data architectures.
• A professional adept at vendor relationship management, contract negotiation, and budget optimization.
• A leader capable of building and guiding a multidisciplinary team, fostering innovation and operational excellence.

From the employer

What You’ll Do:

• ### Market Data Strategy & Architecture
• Define and execute a unified market data strategy across centralized crypto exchanges (CEX), decentralized venues (DEX), and traditional markets
• Design scalable, low-latency data architecture supporting tick-level, order book, and on-chain data
• Evaluate build vs. buy decisions for internal data platforms vs. external providers
• ### Crypto Market Data & Vendor Management
• Build relationships with crypto exchanges (e.g., Binance, Coinbase, Deribit, OKX), data aggregators, and node providers
• Assist our vendor management team with commercial negotiations, licensing, and exchange agreements across both crypto and traditional markets
• ### Data Quality, Normalization & Coverage
• Ensure high-quality, normalized datasets across fragmented crypto venues (symbol mapping, schema standardization, latency benchmarking)
• Oversee ingestion of real-time order book data, trades, reference data, funding rates, and on-chain metrics
• Establish monitoring and alerting frameworks for data integrity and completeness
• ### Cost Management & Optimization
• Manage and optimize the global market data budget across crypto and traditional vendors
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through vendor consolidation, direct exchange connectivity, and internal data solutions
• Implement usage tracking and chargeback models where appropriate
• ### Infrastructure & Engineering Partnership
• Partner with engineering teams to build and maintain high-performance data pipelines, feed handlers, and distribution systems
• Support hybrid environments (on-prem + cloud) and ensure resilience, redundancy, and scalability
• Enable data access for research, backtesting, and production trading systems
• ### Regulatory & Compliance Oversight
• Ensure compliance with exchange licensing, redistribution rules, and evolving crypto regulatory frameworks
• Implement entitlement controls, audit trails, and governance policies across all data usage
• ### Stakeholder Collaboration
• Work closely with trading, quant research, risk, and portfolio management teams to deliver data solutions
• Support onboarding of new exchanges, instruments (perpetuals, options), and strategies
• Act as the firm’s subject matter expert on both crypto and cross-asset market data
• ### Leadership & Team Development
• Build and lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary team (engineers, analysts and vendor managers)
• Establish best practices for data onboarding, validation, and lifecycle management
• Foster a culture of innovation, automation, and operational excellence
• Embrace and champion the thoughtful adoption of AI to improve team performance and business outcomes.
• Leverage AI tools (e.g., generative AI, automation platforms, data copilots) to improve productivity, decision-making, and output quality in your day-to-day work.

What We’re Looking For:

• 10+ years of experience in market data management within a trading firm, hedge fund, or financial institution
• Deep knowledge of market data vendors, exchanges, and licensing models
• Strong understanding of trading workflows, asset classes (equities, futures, options, FX, fixed income), and data types (real-time, reference, historical)
• Proven experience negotiating vendor contracts and managing large budgets
• Experience with low-latency data systems, market data feeds, APIs, and streaming technologies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage both technical and business stakeholders

What We Offer:

• Competitive base salary and discretionary bonus
• Hybrid/Flexible Working Arrangements
• Flexible Time Off (paid)
• 3% 401(k) company contribution
• Company-paid health and protective benefits for employees, partners, and other dependents
• Generous paid Parental Leave
• Competitive family planning benefits for US employees
• Opportunities to learn about the Crypto industry
• Smart, entrepreneurial, and fun colleagues
• Free daily snacks and weekly breakfasts/lunches
• Employee Resource Groups
• Free coaching and counseling sessions through Headspace