Field-Programmable Gate Arrays Engineer

L.Knighton; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Unknown Chicago FPGA Firm is seeking a hands-on FPGA engineer in Chicago to join a small, elite team building and maintaining the firm’s core hardware stack that powers trading performance. You will work on PCIe interfaces, low-latency trading infrastructure, and end-to-end hardware design and verification.

The role demands strong RTL design (VHDL/Verilog), proven FPGA verification experience, and comfort in a fast-paced, highly technical environment.

Qualifications

• Strong FPGA RTL design experience (VHDL/Verilog).
• Strong FPGA verification experience (testbenches, simulation).
• Experience with high-speed datapaths, Ethernet, and/or PCIe.
• Comfort in a low-latency, performance-critical environment.
• Ability to thrive in a small, fast-moving team with ownership.

Responsibilities

• Design and verification of end-to-end hardware stack for trading infrastructure.
• Develop PCIe interfaces and low-latency components.
• Collaborate with a tight-knit team of senior FPGA engineers embedded in the Chicago trading community.

Skills

RTL design

FPGA verification

PCIe

low-latency systems

Tools

ModelSim

HDL simulators

Job description

An established, 15+ year HFT firm in Chicago is hiring their 5th FPGA engineer. You'll join a small, highly respected team of senior FPGA engineers building and maintaining the firm's core hardware stack, working directly on the systems that drive the firm's trading performance.

This is a hands-on role in a fast-paced, high-performance environment where FPGA work has a direct, measurable impact on the business.

What You'll Work On

• PCIe interfaces and low-latency trading infrastructure
• End-to-end hardware stack: design, implementation, and verification
• Close collaboration with a tight-knit team of senior FPGA engineers embedded in the Chicago trading community

What We're Looking For

• Strong FPGA design experience (RTL development in VHDL or Verilog)
• Strong FPGA verification experience (testbenches, simulation, functional verification)
• Experience with high-speed datapaths, Ethernet, and/or PCIe
• Comfort working in a low-latency, performance-critical environment
• Ability to thrive in a small, fast-moving team where ownership is high and the environment is highly technical

Why This Role

• Work alongside some of the most respected senior FPGA engineers in the Chicago trading space
• Direct exposure to cutting-edge, low-latency hardware infrastructure
• High-impact, high-visibility role within an established and successful firm
• Small team, real ownership, no bureaucracy