C++ Senior Engineer - Options Market Making Execution

Chicago Trading Company; New York (NY); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

generous time off

insurance coverage

paid parental leave

free breakfast and lunch (plus healthy

snacks, of course)

wellness reimbursement

a variety of other benefits focused on

providing the best employee experience

Job summary

Chicago Trading Company (CTC) is a premier proprietary trading firm focused on options market making. We design high‑performance, low‑latency trading systems and collaborate with traders, quants, and technologists to move ideas to production.

Our teams emphasize robust architecture, testing, and maintainable code in a high‑stakes environment. We offer a hybrid workplace model with generous benefits and a commitment to innovation and diversity.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a production environment with modern C++
• Strong fundamentals in low‑level systems programming, optimization, and hardware/software co‑design
• Solid understanding of computer architecture and networking protocols
• Experience writing multithreaded and distributed systems with clean, performant code
• Ability to quickly triage issues and drive resolution
• Experience at a high‑frequency trading firm is preferred

Responsibilities

• Design and build high‑performance, low‑latency trading systems for our Options Market Making business
• Collaborate with traders, quants and technologists to move ideas from inception to production
• Partner with operations, pricing, and exchange connectivity teams to integrate solutions into trading infrastructure
• Ensure operational safety and uphold software engineering standards through thorough testing and maintainable design

Skills

C++

Low‑level systems

Multithreading

Distributed systems

Networking

Issue triage

HFT experience

Tools

Linux

Job description

Chicago Trading Company (CTC) is a premier proprietary trading firm specializing in options market making. Our collaborative culture fuels innovation in quantitative research, systematic trading strategies, and cutting-edge trading technology. For over three decades CTC has provided critical liquidity across derivatives exchanges worldwide - making them fairer, more transparent, and more efficient.

We strive to be the most innovative firm in the industry today, tomorrow, and long into the future while upholding ethical excellence. We believe that CTC makes a positive impact on the markets, the lives of our employees, and all the communities to which we belong. Started in 1995 by a team of forward-thinking Traders, we are proud to call ourselves an industry leader and keep making markets and each other better.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Design and build high-performance, low-latency trading systems that power our Options Market Making business
• Work closely with traders, quants and technologists to drive ideas from inception to production in a timely and robust manner.
• Partner with other teams such as operations, option pricing, exchange connectivity to ensure your solutions seamlessly integrate into our firmwide trading infrastructure.
• Ensure operational safety and uphold the highest standards of software engineering by thoroughly testing code, following a coherent and maintainable design and architecture, and adhering to best practices—prioritizing carefully planned, well-structured solutions over ad hoc implementations.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in a production environment using modern C++
• Deep knowledge of low level systems programming, optimization, and hardware/software co-design
• Strong fundamentals in computer architecture and networking protocols
• Experience writing multithreaded and distributed systems with an affinity for delivering clean, performant code
• Ability to quickly triage issues and drive the resolution effort through completion
• Experience working at a high frequency trading firm is preferred

Compensation

Salary Range

$200,000—$250,000 USD

Most teams at CTC, with the exception of Trading, follow a hybrid workplace model, subject to change based on business need.

Our Benefits

• generous time off
• insurance coverage
• paid parental leave
• free breakfast and lunch (plus healthy snacks, of course)
• wellness reimbursement
• a variety of other benefits focused on providing the best employee experience

(Disclaimer: interns and contractors are not eligible for benefits at CTC)

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At CTC, we aim to cultivate a workplace that celebrates diversity and each person feels included, engaged and empowered. Where each of us feels we belong. We are committed to having a diverse workforce and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. CTC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to apply for a position, please contact us at [e-mail]. Note that emails sent to this email account for non‑disability related issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Information submitted by job applicants may be subject to review and analysis by automated systems, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), as part of the recruitment process. Such systems are utilized to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our hiring procedures. Applicants are advised that any information provided may be evaluated by AI tools to ensure an equitable and thorough assessment.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is listed below. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. The discretionary bonus will be dependent upon the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and firm performance.