Futures Strategy Research Trial — NQ/ES Backtesting (MotiveWave) — Path to Larger Project

Generate your own original hypothesis for a mechanical NQ/ES futures strategy using order-flow/indicator data — you choose the angle, I'm not handing you one. Backtest it properly using in-sample/out-of-sample and walk-forward methodology, then deploy it on my MotiveWave simulated account and begin live forward testing. I understand a short trial won't produce a statistically meaningful number of real-time trades — that's expected and fine. What I'm evaluating is: the quality and originality of your hypothesis, the rigor of your backtesting process, and your ability to get it running cleanly live in simulation. If this goes well, we move directly into extended forward testing and the full project below as a second, larger engagement. Long-term potential: Once we develop a genuinely profitable strategy together and continue working past this initial project, I want to discuss an ongoing profit-share arrangement with you, in addition to standard payment for development work, to be negotiated separately once we've established a working relationship. This is not part of the current trial or initial project compensation. --- FULL PROJECT VISION (beyond this trial) I trade NQ and ES futures on the MotiveWave platform and am looking for a skilled strategy researcher/developer to help me discover, build, rigorously validate, and understand a fully mechanical trading system — from the ground up. I do not have an existing strategy; the research and discovery work is the core of this project, not just implementation. I am not a programmer, so clear communication and patient teaching are just as important to me as technical skill. I want to end this project able to run, monitor, and understand the system myself — not just receive a black box. What I have available: - Platform: MotiveWave (Professional/Order Flow edition), including native Back Test, Optimize, and Walk Forward tools, plus a simulated trading account for live forward testing - Indicator packages: OrderFlow Labs (delta, absorption/exhaustion detection, liquidity zones, VWAP Pro, job pivots, VRange, etc.) and Mind Unbound Trading (custom order-flow reversal signals and zones for ES/NQ) - Markets: primarily NQ, ES is also fine - Openness to other indicators or data if your research points there — I'm not wedded to any specific tool, only to a rigorous, honest process - Open to buying any necessary backtesting software or programs required to make your job easier Full scope (after the trial): 1. Research & Discovery — Systematically explore indicator, delta, and order-flow signal combinations for NQ/ES to identify candidates with genuine statistical edge. Disciplined methodology throughout, with real safeguards against overfitting and data-mining bias. Document what didn't work, not just the eventual candidate. 2. Formalization & Coding — Turn the selected candidate(s) into precise mechanical rules (entries, exits, stops, position sizing) and code them in MotiveWave (Java SDK, or Strategy Builder if fully compatible). 3. Backtesting & Walk-Forward Validation — Full backtest, optimization, and walk-forward testing with realistic execution assumptions (commissions, slippage, bid/ask fills). Written report covering performance across market regimes, drawdown, and honest limitations. 4. Forward Testing — Extended live testing on my MotiveWave simulated account, with pass/fail criteria agreed in advance. Regular progress updates throughout. 5. Teaching & Handoff — 3-5 live screen-share sessions teaching me to run, monitor, and troubleshoot the strategy myself, plus plain-language documentation. What I'm looking for in a candidate: - Genuine quantitative/strategy research experience — describe your process for avoiding overfitting and curve-fitting specifically - MotiveWave SDK (Java) experience preferred; strong general algo-trading/backtesting experience with willingness to learn MotiveWave is also fine - Futures market or at least financial market understanding (preferably experience), ideally NQ/ES or similar index futures - Comfortable teaching non-technical concepts patiently - Strong spoken and written English — this involves regular live conversation, not async ticket work Structure & payment for the full project (once trial is complete): Milestone-based, fixed-price per phase, with clear agreement upfront that all strategy logic and code delivered belongs to me outright. Please apply with a short note on how you'd approach avoiding overfitting in a project like this — generic proposals will be deprioritized.