When does Citadel post internships?

Last cycle Citadel and Citadel Securities posted the next summer's internships in early summer, about a year ahead, with no stated deadline. Review is rolling and most offers are reported to be settled by mid-fall, so apply soon after postings appear.

What is the difference between Citadel and Citadel Securities internships?

Citadel is a hedge fund and Citadel Securities is a market maker. Both hire quant research and software engineering interns. Quantitative trading internships sit mainly at Citadel Securities, and fundamental investing through the Citadel Associate Program is on the Citadel side.

Can freshmen and sophomores apply to Citadel?

First- and second-year students are directed to Discover Citadel and Citadel Securities, a two-day program held in several global cities. Datathons are another route for undergraduates within the stated graduation window.

What is the Citadel intern interview process?

Candidates report an online assessment covering coding and probability, one or two technical video interviews, and then a multi-interview final round. The quant research and trading tracks weigh math and probability more heavily than the software track.

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Summer 2027 recruiting

Citadel internships: when they open and how to apply

Two firms, one campus presence. Citadel is a hedge fund and Citadel Securities is a separate market maker, but they recruit students through shared events. Quant research and software engineering internships exist at both; quantitative trading sits mainly at Citadel Securities and fundamental investing at Citadel. Sophomores go through the joint Discover program instead of the main postings.

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Internships and programs at Citadel

The early-career programs it runs for students and recent graduates, by the names it uses for them.

Discover Citadel and Citadel Securities: A two-day program for first- and second-year undergraduates, run jointly by both firms in cities including New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sydney; the US edition has been held in New York in the spring. Participants learn about quantitative research, software engineering, and trading roles through panels, intellectual competitions, and mock interviews.
Quantitative Trader Intern (Citadel Securities): Citadel Securities' trading internship for students strong in fast quantitative reasoning, game theory, and risk. Interns work on the market-making side of the business, which is where most quant trading at the Citadel group lives.
Quantitative Research and Software Engineering Internships: Citadel and Citadel Securities each post their own quant research and software engineering internships, so the same title can appear twice with a different team focus. Citadel Securities work leans toward market-making strategies and low-latency systems; Citadel work supports the hedge fund's investment strategies.
Citadel Associate Program: Citadel's pathway into fundamental equities investing, separate from the quant tracks. Each fall it also runs an Intercollegiate Stock Pitch Competition in New York, where teams of two to four undergraduates pitch a long or short idea to Citadel investors, with travel and lodging covered.
Datathons: Joint Citadel and Citadel Securities data science competitions run with Correlation One, including a Women's Datathon and a Summer Invitational Datathon. They are open to undergraduates at US and Canadian universities within a stated graduation window and come with recruiting access at both firms.

When Citadel posts internships

Citadel and Citadel Securities are among the earliest recruiters in any industry. Last cycle, US quant research, trading, and software engineering internships went live in early summer, about a year before the internship, with no published deadline. Review is rolling, and most offers are reported to be signed by mid-fall.

The joint programs run on their own calendars. Discover takes applications from first- and second-years ahead of its spring sessions. The Women's Datathon closed applications in January for an in-person event in early February, and the stock pitch competition runs in October.

Who can apply

Main internship postings target students in the penultimate year of a bachelor's, master's, or PhD in computer science, math, physics, statistics, engineering, and similar subjects, with some trading roles also open to economics students. Discover is limited to first- and second-years within a graduation window listed on each posting.

Datathons require undergraduates at universities in the US or Canada within a stated graduation range. Internships are offered in several US and international offices; each posting names the location and which firm it belongs to.

The interview process

The process starts with an online assessment mixing coding, math, and probability, then one or two technical video interviews, then several back-to-back final interviews. Quant research candidates report deeper statistics and probability; trading candidates get more mental math and market-making scenarios.

Because the two firms hire separately, you may be interviewing for one entity even if you met them at a shared event. Recruiters will tell you which firm and team you are being considered for. Ask early.

Tips for applying to Citadel

Check which firm each posting belongs to before you apply. A Citadel Securities quant trader role and a Citadel investing role have different interviews and different day jobs.
First- and second-years should go for Discover. That is the path the firms built for you.
Datathons are a real recruiting channel for data-minded students. A strong finish counts as part of your application.
Postings go up in early summer. Waiting until the school year starts puts you behind.

Citadel internship questions

When does Citadel post internships?: Last cycle Citadel and Citadel Securities posted the next summer's internships in early summer, about a year ahead, with no stated deadline. Review is rolling and most offers are reported to be settled by mid-fall, so apply soon after postings appear.
What is the difference between Citadel and Citadel Securities internships?: Citadel is a hedge fund and Citadel Securities is a market maker. Both hire quant research and software engineering interns. Quantitative trading internships sit mainly at Citadel Securities, and fundamental investing through the Citadel Associate Program is on the Citadel side.
Can freshmen and sophomores apply to Citadel?: First- and second-year students are directed to Discover Citadel and Citadel Securities, a two-day program held in several global cities. Datathons are another route for undergraduates within the stated graduation window.
What is the Citadel intern interview process?: Candidates report an online assessment covering coding and probability, one or two technical video interviews, and then a multi-interview final round. The quant research and trading tracks weigh math and probability more heavily than the software track.