[flint]

What level is your degree in Math or Physics? What specialized experience do you have in programming quantitative finance applications? What specialized experienc do you have in high performance computing applications? Do you have business side experience in trading - what markets? ...So, then you know nothing of the business, nothing usefull to the developers and nothing usefull to the quant team... I'd back of the "negotion" until you have something of value to negotiate over. And it's probably not a good idea to piss off the recruiters at this point in your career - it is a very small an incestious world

[hfthrowaway]

I mentioned in the OP its a traditional fund - not a quant shop. I have some professional experience in shipping financial trading applications.

I'm not trying to score a sweet deal here - just trying to understand the market value of someone in my shoes.

My lack of experience (defined in this thread as time I've been working) does not mean there isn't a situation that can't be considered lowball. I'm not trying to maximize my income - just want to have idea and data on the pay floor and ceilings.