Quantitative Trading Strategist / Trading Systems Lead for Small-Cap Momentum Trading Bot Review

We are looking for an experienced Quantitative Trading Strategist / Trading Systems Lead or Senior Algorithmic Trading Developer with quant strategy experience to review an existing small-cap momentum trading bot. This is not a coding implementation role at this stage. We are looking for an independent reviewer who can analyze the bot’s backtesting results, scoring model, gate logic, tactical trigger logic, entry/exit rules, and trading workflow, then provide a clear written report with developer-ready recommendations. The full scope of work will be provided as a PDF. Project Background We have an existing small-cap momentum trading bot designed to scan U.S. equities, identify potential gappers and momentum candidates, score them using a structured 0–100 model, and prepare them for dry-run / paper-trading validation. The system includes: • Hard gates and soft gates • Wheelhouse / Just Outside Wheelhouse classification • One soft-failure rule in certain conditions • 0–100 scoring model • Structure, Momentum, Tactical Trigger, and Context scoring • Tactical Trigger confirmation before entry • Buy/no-buy decision logic • Exit and risk-management logic • Backtesting and timestamped replay results We now need a qualified trading systems expert to review whether the system is realistic, properly structured, and capable of identifying the type of small-cap momentum setups we are targeting. Main Goal The main question we need answered is: Even if the bot is built correctly according to the current rules, how should the strategy, scoring model, gates, entries, exits, and decision logic evolve to become smarter, more adaptive, and more effective in real market conditions? What You Will Review You will review: • Backtesting results • Decision trace files • Trade results • Scoring model • Hard gate and soft gate logic • Wheelhouse / Just Outside Wheelhouse rules • Tactical Trigger / candlestick logic • Entry logic • Exit and risk-management logic • Missed opportunities • False positives • Time-of-day behavior • Market-regime behavior • Whether the system is too restrictive or not restrictive enough • Whether the score threshold is realistic • Whether the bot is identifying valid small-cap momentum opportunities early enough Important Clarification This role is for an independent report and strategy review only. You will not be modifying the production code directly. The current developer will handle code changes after your review. Your job is to provide a clear, practical, developer-ready report that explains what should change, why it should change, and how it should be tested. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate has real experience with: • Intraday equity trading systems • Small-cap momentum trading • Gap-and-go strategies • High relative volume / low float stocks • VWAP, EMA, ORB / ORH / ORL logic • Candlestick-based tactical entries • Backtesting and timestamped replay • Trade-entry optimization • Exit and risk-management logic • False-positive and missed-opportunity analysis • Translating trading strategy findings into developer-ready requirements We are not looking for someone who only gives vague trading opinions. We need someone who can review real backtesting evidence and produce a clear, practical report. Expected Deliverables Deliverables should include: 1. Backtesting Review Report 2. Top red flags from the backtest 3. Missed-opportunity analysis 4. False-positive analysis 5. Scoring model review 6. Gate logic review 7. Tactical Trigger review 8. Entry logic recommendations 9. Exit / risk-management recommendations 10. Market-regime and time-of-day recommendations 11. Developer-ready change list 12. Priority ranking of recommended changes The final report should clearly explain: • What is working • What is not working • What may be too restrictive • What may be too loose • Whether the current 85/100 threshold is realistic • Whether different entry profiles are needed • Whether exits are protecting capital properly • Whether the bot is missing good setups • Whether it is accepting poor setups • What changes should be made first First Milestone For the first milestone, we would like a 10–15 hour review. The goal of the first milestone is not to solve everything. The goal is to determine whether you can quickly identify the real issues and provide a useful, practical report. If the first milestone is successful, we may extend the work. Required Application Response Please do not send a generic proposal. In your response, please answer the following: 1. What experience do you have with small-cap momentum, gap-and-go, low-float, or high-relative-volume trading systems? 2. Have you reviewed backtesting or timestamped replay results before? Please describe. 3. Have you worked with VWAP, EMA, ORB / ORH / ORL, candlestick triggers, or tactical entry logic? 4. What would you look at first if a bot is not trading even when the score threshold is lowered? 5. What are examples of prior strategy reviews, backtest reviews, trading system reports, or developer-ready recommendations you have produced? Please provide redacted examples if available. 6. How would you determine whether the issue is scoring, gates, tactical triggers, data timing, execution readiness, or a broader strategy issue? 7. Are you comfortable providing a written report only, without directly modifying the production code? 8. What would you need from us to complete a strong first review? Screening Requirement Please include the phrase “decision trace review” at the top of your proposal so we know you read the full posting. What We Are Not Looking For We are not looking for: • A general Python developer only • Someone to rebuild the bot from scratch • Someone to directly modify production code at this stage • Someone who only provides broad trading opinions • Someone who cannot explain their review process • Someone who cannot provide examples of prior work • Someone who wants to tune thresholds without evidence