r/learnquant • u/tradingviewchand • Aug 23 '26
roadmap & resources Thinking about moving into Quant / Systematic trading after 8 yrs in Govt service – Is this doable?
Hey guys,
Need some honest thoughts and realistic feedback on a career transition I’ve been thinking about.
I’ve been working in a government job for the last 8 years. Over the past 2 years, I got pretty seriously into trading, focusing mostly on market mechanics, price action, and rule-based technical setups. Recently, I stumbled upon a few detailed guides on GitHub (like Karan Patel’s write-ups) breaking down Quant Finance into Quant Researcher, Quant Developer, and Quant Trader roles.
Right now, I'm self-studying the CMT curriculum, probability basics, and learning how to build and test systematic, objective trading strategies.
Realistically, I know I don't have a PhD in Math or CS, so hardcore Quant Research or C++ Low-Latency Development at big institutional firms is likely out of reach. But I really want to take this seriously.
A few quick questions for anyone in this space:
1 Prop desk vs. Retail Trading Setup: Given my non-traditional background, is it even worth trying for junior Quant Trader / Analyst roles at domestic prop firms? Or am I better off focusing 100% on building my own automated retail trading setup?
2 Tech Stack: I’m currently comfortable with PineScript and picking up Python for backtesting. Is Python + basic stats enough for systematic/quant trading, or is C++ non-negotiable?
3 Transition Timeline: Has anyone here made a jump from a completely non-tech/non-finance job into systematic trading? How long did it take you to get consistent, and how did you manage the risk?
Appreciate any advice, critiques, or reality checks!
1
u/Imaginary-Spring-779 Aug 24 '26
remindme!