D.E. Shaw

Founded in 1988 over a small bookstore in downtown New York City, the D. E. Shaw group began with six employees and $28 million in capital and quickly became a pioneer in computational finance. In the early days of exposed pipes and extension cords, tripping on a cable could take out our whole trading system. Today, the firm has more than 3,000 people around the globe and an institutional-grade (and trip-proof) infrastructure, but we still value creativity, entrepreneurship, and the spirit of discovery. The firm prizes a culture of collaboration across disciplines, geographies, and investment strategies. Experienced leadership and talented minds chart our course. Analytical rigor, an open exploration of ideas, and a relentless pursuit of excellence drive us forward. The D. E. Shaw group is led by a seven-person Executive Committee, whose members have worked together for more than 15 years. This collaborative leadership model sets us apart and reflects our core principles. At the firm’s foundation are five core principles that define our values and guide our decisions. These concepts are part of our DNA. The quality of our staff is largely responsible for the firm’s success and reputation, and is one of the main reasons that exceptional people are interested in working here. We don’t compromise when it comes to recruiting and developing world-class talent. We give special attention to candidates with extraordinary raw ability and long-term potential. We have an inviolable policy of maintaining the highest ethical and legal standards and treating colleagues with respect and professionalism. This policy protects our reputation; more importantly, it’s simply the right thing to do. In conducting our business, we consider not only the letter, but also the spirit of the law. Our culture is based on a collaborative environment in which individuals and groups work together to advance their mutual interests and those of the firm. Employees and groups are valued for their collective contributions to our overall success. We place an extraordinarily high value on systematic analysis and precise communication. We take an unusually rigorous and disciplined approach to the processes of planning, evaluation, forecasting, and decision-making, and we believe this has contributed materially to our success over the years. Our employees—who they are and the perspectives they bring—drive our creativity, productivity, and success. Meet Jay, Counsel: “In a thirty minute conversation, you wouldn’t think you’d get into that much detail, but we did.” Meet Josh, Quantitative Analyst: “I thought I’d try this out for a year, and fifteen years later I’m still sitting here.” Meet Marianna, Portfolio Manager: “It’s really exciting to come and help build a business at an institution like this one. There’s so much support from all different parts of the firm.” Meet Zack, Investor Relations: “What you know coming in is much less important than what you’re willing to learn once you get here.” Meet Jay, Counsel: “We’re comfortable in our nerdiness, and the firm kind of encourages it.” Meet Zack, Investor Relations: “My fellow employees are relentlessly rational. At the end of the day, what matters most is that they get things right.” Meet Marianna, Portfolio Manager: “I think working in this city is the best thing you can do for being in this industry and being a mom, because there’s a huge support network.” Hear our interns reflect on their memorable summer experience: “The pace of learning has been super fast, and that’s a part I enjoy a lot about being here.” Hear our interns reflect on their memorable summer experience:“It’s not about how much you know going into the internship… it’s how much you develop.” Hear our interns reflect on their memorable summer experience:“Everyone is so curious, thoughtful, and intellectual.”