YOUR EDGE STARTS HERE
Launch your career in trading, quant research and engineering.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
IMC Launchpad is a highly selective three-day program taking place in October, for ambitious first- and second-year STEM students who want to test their thinking, sharpen their technical skills, and experience life inside one of the world’s leading trading firms.
Hosted in-person at our Sydney office, the program brings together exceptional students across trading, quantitative research, and engineering. Across three intensive days, you will take on trading simulations, tackle technical challenges and projects, collaborate with our traders, researchers, and engineers. You will also receive one-on-one mentoring that gives you a clear view of the work, pace, and culture at IMC.
Launchpad is not just a discovery program. It is a genuine opportunity to show how you think, how you solve problems, and the value you could bring. Join this competitive program and give yourself the chance to be fast-tracked to a 2027/28 Summer Internship offer.
- Applications open: Early June 2026
- Applications close: Mid July 2026
Selection is highly competitive; places are limited, and offers are made on a rolling basis. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
Two streams. One program.
Launchpad runs across two technical streams: Trading and Quant Research, and Engineering. Both streams share the same intensive structure, collaborative environment and potential fast track pathway. The difference is the technical focus and the teams you will work alongside.
Trading & Quant Research
Work at the intersection of markets, mathematics, and real-time decision-making. Participate in IMC's in-house trading simulations, build quantitative strategies, and get a genuine feel for what life on a trading desk looks like.
This stream will challenge your analytical reasoning, probability instincts, communication, and ability to adapt when conditions change.
Engineering
Dive into the technology stack that powers one of the world's leading trading firms. Dive into engineering workshops. Work alongside engineers who operate at the frontier of trading technology and explore how the systems behind global markets are designed, tested, and optimised.
This stream will challenge your programming fundamentals, technical judgement, systems thinking, and ability to turn ideas into reliable solutions.
WHO IS IT FOR
Launchpad is designed for high-achieving students who love hard problems. You don’t need to have any prior work experience — we care about how you think, not what you already know.
Across both streams, we look for people who thrive on intellectual challenge. People who take ownership, communicate clearly, and are driven to win collaboratively. At IMC, your contributions create a meaningful impact from day one.
We value diversity of thought and encourage applications from students of all backgrounds.
You’ll tackle complex problems that matter in real time
- Academic focus: Maths, statistics, physics, finance, economics, actuarial science or equivalent
- Skills: Strong analytical and quantitative reasoning
- Requirements: High Distinction average or equivalent preferred, Australian working rights
- Study: Studying at an Australian or New Zealand university
- Graduating in 2028/29
Our Technology teams build the systems that power global markets
- Academic focus: Computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or equivalent
- Skills: Strong programming fundamentals (Python, C++, or Java)
- Requirements: High Distinction average or equivalent preferred, Australian working rights
- Study: Studying at an Australian or New Zealand university
- Graduating in 2028/29
WHY ATTEND
Real problems. Real performance.
Year on year, participants tell us Launchpad exceeds every comparable program. Launchpad is built around doing. You will work on practical challenges alongside people from IMC’s trading, research and engineering teams. This is an intensive, merit-based experience with real stakes and a clear purpose: to see how you perform when the problem is difficult, the pace is fast, and the answer is not obvious.
Brilliance, amplified.
At IMC, traders, researchers and engineers work as one collective intellect. Ideas move quickly. Disciplines overlap. People challenge each other, sharpen each other and build better answers together. Launchpad gives you a firsthand look at how that collaboration works and how your own thinking can multiply when it is tested by brilliant people around you.
A direct pathway to our internship program.
Standout performers are fast-tracked to receive an offer for IMC’s 2026/27 Summer Internship Program across trading, quant research, and engineering. We build careers for the long term, and Launchpad is designed to help exceptional students take that first step.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
What to expect in these three days
The program is built around doing, not observing. You'll leave with new technical skills, a clearer picture of what a career at IMC looks like, and for the best performers, an offer for our 2027/28 internship program.
- Trading simulations: Apply maths and probability to real-world scenarios using IMC's in-house simulation platform. Build and test trading strategies in a live competitive environment.
- Technical workshops: Develop your coding skills through hands-on workshops designed for your stream.
- One-on-one mentorship and buddy program: A dedicated trader, researcher, or engineer will support you before and during the program.
- Career pathway sessions: Understand what progression from Launchpad to Internship to Graduate Traineeship looks like in practice.
- Social and culture: Immerse yourself in our culture through dedicated networking sessions, connecting with your peers and IMC-ers, and enjoy fun social activities throughout the program.
