FPGA Engineer

Optiver; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Global compensation package

Profit-sharing program

401(k) match up to 50%

Comprehensive health coverage

Generous vacation

Office perks and events

Job summary

Optiver is seeking Hardware Engineers to build hardware-based trading systems, tackling low‑latency and high‑bandwidth challenges. You’ll own the development process from ideation to implementation and collaborate with traders and software engineers to create impactful, rapid solutions.

The Austin office serves as the innovation nucleus, focusing on quantitative research and hardware engineering initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CE, EE, CS, or related technical field.
• Experience designing, coding, testing, and verifying FPGAs and/or ASICs.
• Experience coding in VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog as well as C or C++.
• Experience with RTL synthesis, writing timing, area, and other relevant constraints.
• Experience with digital simulators and self‑checking test benches.
• Experience supporting post‑silicon bring‑up and debugging a plus.
• Ability to work closely with software developers to rapidly deliver integrated systems.

Responsibilities

• Accelerate network infrastructure and trading system components with high speed hardware designs.
• Research new low‑latency techniques and platforms and identify opportunities for integration with our trading system.
• Work in a multidisciplinary team of traders, software developers, and infrastructure engineers.
• Leverage the best hardware available or build in‑house versions to ensure our FPGAs can interface with cutting‑edge server hardware.
• Manage relationships with 3rd party vendors.

Skills

FPGAs/ASICs design

VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog

C/C++ programming

RTL synthesis & timing constraints

Digital simulators / test benches

Post-silicon bring-up

collaboration with software teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CE/EE/CS or related field

Job description

At Optiver we pride ourselves on being real engineers, not just coders. Our engineers work closely with traders to identify the business problems we face and determine how they should be solved. We apply a disciplined and scientific approach. We engineer simple, well-architected solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our traders. Our passion is to solve problems which really matter to the business, and we take pride in the quality of our solutions.

Hardware Engineers at Optiver build hardware-based trading systems ranging from low latency algorithms to high bandwidth computation. They are responsible for owning all aspects of the development process from ideation to implementation, creating bespoke solutions to our complex trading problems. Their systems have little room for failure which adds to the stability of the market, not detracts from it. Working in close collaboration with software engineers and traders, hardware engineers deeply understand our trading problems and create dynamic, well-architected systems that make an impact in a matter of days and weeks rather than months and years.

What you’ll do:

• Accelerate network infrastructure and trading system components with high speed hardware designs.
• Research new low‑latency techniques and platforms and identify opportunities for integration with our trading system.
• Work in a multidisciplinary team of traders, software developers, and infrastructure engineers.
• Leverage the best hardware available or build in‑house versions to ensure our FPGAs can interface with cutting‑edge server hardware.
• Manage relationships with 3rd party vendors.

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem‑solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high‑performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best‑in‑class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A highly competitive compensation package
• Global profit‑sharing pool and performance‑based bonus structure
• 401(k) match up to 50%
• Comprehensive health, mental, dental, vision, disability, and life coverage
• 25 paid vacation days alongside market holidays
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more

Who you are:

• A Bachelor’s degree in CE, EE, CS, or related technical field.
• Experience designing, coding, testing, and verifying FPGAs and/or ASICs.
• Experience coding in VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog as well as C or C++.
• Experience with RTL synthesis, writing timing, area, and other relevant constraints.
• Experience with digital simulators and self‑checking test benches.
• Experience supporting post‑silicon bring‑up and debugging a plus.
• Ability to work closely with software developers to rapidly deliver integrated systems.

Who we are:

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Based in ‘The Domain’ neighbourhood, Optiver’s Austin office serves as the firm’s innovation nucleus, with a strong focus on quantitative research, software and hardware engineering initiatives. With tech innovation an integral part of our core business, the booming city proved an ideal backdrop for our heavy investment into machine learning, research infrastructure and big data computing. What’s more, with world‑class music, food and art scenes, as well as countless scenic outdoor activities, the quality of life for Austin Optiverians is second to none.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.