Cicada Foundation

Hi everyone! We decided not to limit ourselves to China, so here we go: Quantitative Researcher (Asia Markets HFT) Responsibilities • Research, develop, and optimize high-frequency trading strategies across Asian financial markets. • Analyze tick-level market data, limit order book dynamics, execution quality, and market microstructure. • Design predictive models and alpha signals using statistical methods and machine learning. • Collaborate closely with quantitative traders and software engineers to develop and deploy production-ready strategies. • Monitor live strategy performance and continuously improve execution efficiency. • Conduct research on exchange-specific behavior, liquidity patterns, and participant activity across Asian exchanges. Requirements • Hands-on experience researching or trading one or more Asian markets, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, or Taiwan. • Strong background in quantitative research, mathematics, statistics, computer science, physics, or another quantitative discipline. • Proven experience developing systematic or high-frequency trading strategies. • Strong C++ programming skills. • Deep understanding of electronic trading and market microstructure. • Experience working with tick-level market data and large historical datasets. • Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. • Experience with futures, equities, options, or other exchange-traded instruments in Asian markets. Nice to Have • Experience with exchanges such as SHFE, DCE, CZCE, CFFEX, SSE, SZSE, HKEX, SGX, JPX, OSE, TSE, KRX, or TWSE. • Experience with exchange connectivity, market data feeds, or vendor APIs used across Asia. • Experience building and supporting production HFT systems. • Familiarity with market-specific trading rules, session structures, and execution characteristics across Asian exchanges. What We Offer • Competitive compensation with performance-based bonuses. • Direct impact on live trading strategies. • Access to large-scale proprietary datasets and cutting-edge low-latency infrastructure. • Flat organizational structure with rapid decision-making. • Opportunity to work on some of the most challenging and fast-growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region. 📩 Interested? Reach out directly or send your background via private message.

📺 Fun fact: Cicada is on YouTube. If you've ever wondered what we're building, who's building it, and what happens behind the scenes, this is where you'll find it. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@cicada_mm/ New videos are on the way 👀

Hey! We’re now reviewing candidates for a Quant Trader role. Who is this for? - You have a developed or near-production crypto strategy (market-making is a strong plus), - but you lack the infrastructure, capital, or technical backing to properly deploy and scale it. What we provide: • Top-tier infrastructure to run and scale your strategies • Dedicated capital allocation • Fixed salary + profit share • A professional team of engineers and quants to help bring your strategy to production and optimize performance 📩 Interested? Reach out or share your background via private messages. If you know someone who fits the description and are open to introducing us - we’re happy to discuss a referral bonus for you as well 😉

CLOSED VACANCY Quantitative Researcher / Risk & Portfolio Manager We are seeking a quant to work on optimizing a trading algorithm portfolio and allocating capital between strategies. The primary focus is building and developing an allocation framework that takes into account risk, exposure, and the contribution of each strategy to the overall portfolio performance. This isn't the only task of the role, but it is a key one: how capital is distributed between strategies and how weights are adjusted directly impacts the final PnL and trading stability. Vacancy: ENG | RU

CLOSED VACANCY Hey mates! We are hiring 😎 Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) – VARA Scope This is on-site position based in our JLT office in Dubai We are only considering candidates with prior crypto industry experience and direct exposure to working with VARA-related processes or regulations Core Responsibilities Transaction Monitoring: Review and disposition alerts via Chainalysis (KYT), including blockchain risk analysis and escalation of suspicious activity. High-Risk Client Onboarding & KYC: Conduct Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) and approve/reject high-risk clients. Manage the full KYC/CDD lifecycle, ensuring robust UBO verification and risk assessment at all stages. Screening: Perform IEMS, EOCN, and global sanctions screening (UN/OFAC/EU), including investigation and escalation of matches. Suspicious Activity Reporting: File STRs/SARs with the UAE FIU via goAML in a timely manner. Travel Rule Compliance: Ensure collection, transmission, and monitoring of required transfer data for virtual asset transfers. AML Program Ownership & Governance Program Ownership: Take full ownership of the AML/CFT program, ensuring it is fit-for-purpose and evolves with the business model. Policy Governance: Design, implement, and maintain internal policies, procedures, and controls in strict alignment with VARA’s Compliance & Risk Management Rulebook and UAE Federal Laws. Risk Management: Conduct business-wide ML/TF risk assessments and ongoing monitoring of the firm’s risk profile. Regulatory Interaction & Reporting VARA Inspections & Audits: Serve as the primary point of contact and lead coordinator for VARA onsite inspections and thematic reviews. Regulatory Reporting: Manage all regulatory reporting beyond STRs, including the submission of VASP monthly/quarterly reports and other disclosures required by VARA. Liaison: Act as the official liaison with the UAE FIU and support all formal interactions with regulatory bodies. Testing & Oversight Independent Testing: Coordinate and facilitate independent AML audits (internal or external) to validate the effectiveness of the control environment. Counterparty Due Diligence: Perform comprehensive VASP and counterparty due diligence to mitigate ecosystem risks. Training & Records: Deliver specialized AML training to all staff and maintain meticulous, audit-ready records. Reporting Line: Functional reporting into the Head of Compliance, with a direct escalation path to the CEO and Board of Directors. 📩 Interested? Reach out or share your background via private messages.

CLOSED VACANCY 🚨 Public Service Announcement (a.k.a. mild panic) 🚨 Our C++ algo devs are doing great… a little too great. So great, in fact, that they’ve optimized themselves into having no free time left. As a result, we’re officially on the hunt for more C++ Algorithm Developers to join the team. What you'll do: -Create and optimize trading bots for existing strategies -Maintain and monitor active trading systems in real time -Work with internal API and market data feeds What we're looking for: -Experience developing trading robots or strategies -Experience working in crypto funds or crypto markets -Understanding of cryptocurrency markets: liquidity, orders, volatility -Strong knowledge of C++ and the structure of multithreaded applications -Ability to work with large volumes Data Terms: -Remote work from anywhere in the world -Flexible schedule -Team of professionals with experience at top industry companies -Compensation for equipment and tools 📩 Interested? Reach out or share your background via private messages.

CLOSED VACANCY Most roles in algorithmic trading are about execution. This one is about building real edge. We’re hiring Algorithmic Traders across seniority levels — from strong mid-level profiles to senior and lead quants — to work on systematic crypto strategies. This is not a typical hire. It’s a role where you: • Deploy and scale your own strategies in live markets • Work directly with market microstructure, order books and execution • Contribute to market-making and proprietary trading • Help shape trading systems, infrastructure and research direction • Collaborate with a team of quants, engineers and traders to build real alpha We’re looking for people with real, hands-on experience: • Quant research or strategy development in crypto • Production-level systems (not just backtests) • Strong C++ and solid data skills • Deep understanding of CEX markets Nice to have: • Python for research and prototyping • Experience with HFT / low-latency systems • Understanding of on-chain / DEX infrastructure We’re open to different levels — but we care about one thing: your ability to build, deploy and iterate on real strategies. If that sounds like you — apply via our page or send your CV to hr@cicada.ae

We’ve just launched a new verification tool to help our external partners confirm they’re communicating with an official representative of our team. 🔗 You can check it here: https://www.cicada-mm.com/verify If you ever feel unsure whether someone actually represents us, we recommend using this tool to verify before proceeding. Please note: the directory includes only team members who interact with external parties (e.g. business, partnerships, support, hr, etc.). Internal roles are not listed.

We took a closer look at our team and here’s a quick snapshot. 📸 The median age is 30, with a wide range from early 20s to late 40s. 🚀 At the same time, the core of the team sits in the 26–35 range a strong mix of energy and experience. We are a geographically diverse, distributed team with roots in Eastern Europe and a growing presence in the UAE and beyond. 🌍 This international setup allows us to combine deep technical traditions with a global mindset. 🤝 What’s especially interesting is the diversity of roles: 📈 Sales 💻 Core Engineering (C++ / Python) ⛓️ Crypto-focused teams (DeFi / OTC) It’s a balanced mix where different skill sets come together to build and scale things that matter. 🧱 Overall, it feels like a team that combines solid experience with fresh perspectives and keeps moving forward. ✨

CLOSED VACANCY Hey! Is anyone willing to develop trading bots? 🤯 Quantitative Developer (C++) What you'll do: -Create and optimize trading bots for existing strategies -Maintain and monitor active trading systems in real time -Work with internal API and market data feeds What we're looking for: -Experience developing trading robots or strategies -Experience working in crypto funds or crypto markets -Understanding of cryptocurrency markets: liquidity, orders, volatility -Strong knowledge of C++ and the structure of multithreaded applications -Ability to work with large volumes Data Terms: -Remote work from anywhere in the world -Flexible schedule -Team of professionals with experience at top industry companies -Compensation for equipment and tools 📩 Interested? Reach out or share your background via private messages. This is a vacancy for a team with only Russian-speaking developers. Knowledge of Russian at B2 is required.

Hey! We’re now reviewing candidates for a Quant Trader role. Who is this for? - You have a developed or near-production crypto strategy (market-making is a strong plus), - but you lack the infrastructure, capital, or technical backing to properly deploy and scale it. What we provide: • Top-tier infrastructure to run and scale your strategies • Dedicated capital allocation • Fixed salary + profit share • A professional team of engineers and quants to help bring your strategy to production and optimize performance 📩 Interested? Reach out or share your background via private messages. If you know someone who fits the description and are open to introducing us - we’re happy to discuss a referral bonus for you as well 😉

CLOSED VACANCY We’ve slightly edited the description 😎 CISO / DevSecOps Engineer We are looking for a CISO with strong DevSecOps expertise who can build the Information Security function from scratch: architecture, team, processes, practices, and controls. This role will also lead the company through licensing and regulatory supervision, primarily with VARA (UAE). This is a hands-on role combining strategic leadership with practical implementation. Project Technology Stack *Cloud:** AWS (EC2, RDS/PostgreSQL, Redis) *Containerization & Orchestration: Kubernetes *IaC:** Terraform, Ansible *CI/CD: GitLab CI *Secrets Management: Vault *Access / Zero Trust: Teleport *Programming Languages: Python, C++ Key Responsibilities 1. Governance, Risk & Compliance * Build the Information Security function and operating model from the ground up * Prepare, support, and defend VARA licensing and manage interactions with regulators * Develop and implement security policies, standards, and procedures * Maintain the risk register, manage risks, and track remediation * Prepare for and support audits and regulatory reviews (VARA, ISO 27001, and similar) 2. Identity & Access Management (IAM) * Design and implement centralized IAM * Define and enforce RBAC / least privilege principles * Implement SSO, MFA, and Zero Trust (Teleport) * Establish access provisioning, revocation, and periodic access reviews * Audit privileged access and monitor for anomalous behavior 3. DevSecOps & Application Security * Embed security into the SDLC in close collaboration with the Head of Development * Implement DevSecOps practices, including: * SAST / DAST / SCA * IaC security scanning (tfsec, checkov, and similar tools) * Conduct threat modeling and application architecture reviews * Manage secrets and protect intellectual property * Control third-party dependencies and external services 4. Infrastructure & Cloud Security * Harden AWS, Linux, and Kubernetes environments * Design secure network architecture and segmentation * Implement patch management and baseline configurations * Collaborate closely with the Head of Infrastructure & Networks * Monitor and maintain cloud security posture 5. Monitoring, Incidents & SOC * Design and implement SIEM * Build a SOC (processes and tooling) * Lead incident response and develop IR playbooks * Continuously improve detection and response capabilities Requirements * 5–7+ years of experience in Information Security, DevSecOps, or Security Engineering * Hands-on experience with licensing and regulatory compliance * Proven track record of building security functions and processes from scratch * Strong expertise in: * DevSecOps and secure SDLC * Cloud and Kubernetes security * IAM / RBAC / Zero Trust * Practical experience with: * AWS, Linux, Kubernetes * Terraform, Ansible * GitLab CI * Vault, Teleport * Solid understanding of OWASP, secure architecture, and threat modeling * Experience implementing SIEM and incident response * Ability to communicate effectively with business stakeholders and regulators, not only engineers Nice to Have * Hands-on experience with VARA, FinTech, Crypto, or VASP environments * SIEM platforms: Wazuh / ELK / OpenSearch / Loki * Compliance frameworks: ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR * Experience building and scaling security teams What We Offer * Opportunity to build Information Security from scratch, without legacy systems or bureaucracy * Real influence over architecture, processes, and the product * Direct collaboration with regulators and top management * Remote-first working model * Growth path to Head of Security / CISO with full domain ownership 📩 Interested? Reach out or share your background via private messages.

CLOSED VACANCY If you’ve already survived Visa, Mastercard, compliance, and regulators - we should talk 🚀 CTO - Neobank / Payments Platform 🌍 Location: Worldwide (remote) 🕓 Working time zone: UTC+4 💰 Compensation: reflects seniority, impact, and execution. This is a core leadership role. What you’ll be doing: • Lead the end-to-end technical launch of a neobank / payment platform • Design, own, and evolve the overall system architecture • Make key technology, infrastructure, and vendor decisions • Work closely with product, compliance, legal, and external partners • Build, lead, and scale a high-performing engineering team • Ensure security, reliability, scalability, and regulatory readiness from day one What we expect from you: • Prior experience as CTO / Head of Engineering in a neobank, fintech, or payments company • Hands-on experience launching payment products or neobanks in EU, UAE, or similar regulated markets • Deep understanding of payment flows and infrastructure: – acquiring & issuing – card schemes (Visa / Mastercard) – PSPs, payment gateways, acquiring banks – settlement, reconciliation, chargebacks • Strong understanding of core banking systems and ledger architecture • Proven experience operating under strict regulatory and compliance constraints (KYC/KYB, AML, PCI DSS) Tech stack expectations: • Java / Kotlin as primary backend languages • Go is a strong plus • Experience building high-load, low-latency distributed systems • API-first architecture and complex third-party integrations • Cloud-native mindset (AWS / GCP / Azure) • Strong focus on observability, fault tolerance, and security Nice to have: • Experience working with EMI / sponsor banks • Exposure to licensing processes and regulators (EBA, FCA, DFSA, etc.) • Multi-region launches (EU, MENA, APAC) • Experience with crypto-friendly or hybrid fiat/crypto platforms This role is for someone who has already launched and scaled real fintech products, not just designed them. 📩 Interested? Reach out or share your background via private messages.

CLOSED VACANCY We thought about it and figured it would be cool to help others make some money too 🙂 🚀 Head of Launchpad / Launchpad Lead Format: Remote, full-time Compensation: compensation reflects your skills and impact - the more value you create, the more you earn. Location: Worldwide Project: Cicada Launchpad — a Web3 launchpad within the Cicada ecosystem. Responsibilities: • Building and developing the launchpad as a product • Project selection (screening, due diligence, tokenomics analysis, negotiations with projects on terms) • Structuring launch terms (allocation, vesting, pricing, mechanics) • Communicating with developers regarding bug fixes and product improvements • Promoting the launchpad on X (in collaboration with the Cicada media team) • Participating in the launchpad monetization strategy • Preparing for a potential launch of the launchpad’s own token Requirements: Minimum 2 years of experience in Web3, including: • 1+ year in launchpads / VC / incubation / investments / token advisory • Experience with AMO CRM / Trello • Experience working with pitch decks / investment memos • Ability to build and analyze tokenomics models • Strong understanding of what a launchpad is, what a TGE is, and how a project TGE is conducted • Experience working with CEXs (listings), IDO mechanics, and KOL / community-driven launches 📩 Interested? Reach out or send your CV at channel private messages

Why Cicada? The name Cicada comes from the legendary Cicada 3301 - an internet mystery that attracted some of the smartest people on the planet: hackers, engineers, cryptographers, and deep problem-solvers. The idea was simple (and very us): find the best minds, wherever they are, and challenge them. That’s pretty much what we do too. We look for top-tier specialists around the world, people who enjoy hard problems, think differently, and don’t do “average”. Plus, cicada's are known for staying underground for years and then suddenly showing up loud and confident. Feels familiar 😄 So yeah - that’s why we’re Cicada.

CLOSED VACANCY 😎 When vibe coders hackers fear you and regulators nod approvingly - this job might be for you. 🚀 Senior DevSecOps Engineer / Head Of Security Remote About the project: • ~100 VMs, multiple Kubernetes clusters • AWS (EC2, RDS/PostgreSQL, Redis) • IaC: Terraform, Ansible • Secrets management: Vault • CI/CD: GitLab • Access control: Teleport • Preparation for VARA (UAE) licensing Responsibilities: • Design and evolution of security architecture • Hardening of AWS / Linux / Kubernetes • Zero Trust implementation (Teleport) • DevSecOps implementation: • SAST / DAST / SCA • IaC security (tfsec, checkov) • SIEM setup and security monitoring • Participation in product security reviews • Development of security policies • Interaction with VARA regulator Requirements: • 3+ years as DevSecOps / Security Engineer • Hands-on experience with AWS, Kubernetes, Linux • Terraform, Ansible, GitLab CI • Vault, Teleport • Understanding of OWASP and Zero Trust principles • Experience implementing security best practices Nice to have: • Experience with VARA / FinTech projects • SIEM tools (Wazuh / ELK / OpenSearch / Loki) • Compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, SOC 2) What we offer: • Real influence on system architecture • Minimal bureaucracy • Opportunity to build security from scratch • Growth path to Head of Security / CISO 🛡️ Because in crypto, speed matters - but security decides who survives. 📩 Interested? Reach out or send your CV at channel private messages

CLOSED VACANCY Hello folks! Let’s start with our most demanding role. 🚀 Algorithmic Trader / Quantitative Researcher 🌍 Location: Worldwide (remote) 🕓 Working time zone: UTC+4 💰 Compensation reflects your skills and impact - the more value you create, the more you earn. What you’ll be doing • develop, test, and optimize algorithmic trading strategies • work on market making and proprietary trading • manage and improve trading systems in production • collaborate with quants, developers, and traders • turn research and data into real PnL Who we’re looking for • experience in crypto quant research or trading strategy development • background in one or more of: – quant research – trading bots / strategy development – trading platforms or execution infrastructure • strong C++ skills • experience deploying strategies to production • hands-on experience with CEX markets • solid understanding of order books & execution logic • strong data skills Nice to have • Python (analysis & rapid prototyping) • on-chain infrastructure / DEX interaction • RFQ, colocation, HFT infrastructure • low-latency or distributed systems 📩 Interested? Reach out or send your CV

Stay connected with Cicada 🔔 Follow us on social media for: • open roles & hiring updates • company news and launches • research and market insights • updates from Cicada Capital and Cicada MM 👉 LinkedIn - Cicada Capital: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cicada-capital-ae/ 👉 LinkedIn - Cicada MM: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cicada-mm/ 👉 X (Twitter) - Cicada MM: https://x.com/cicada_mm 👉 TGC - Cicada MM: @cicada_mm_channel More updates soon.