FPGA Engineer

Optiver Private Jobs; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

401(k) match up to 50%

Comprehensive health coverage

Office perks including meals and events

Job summary

Optiver Private Jobs is looking for FPGA Engineers to join their Automated Trading Systems team in Chicago. You will be responsible for designing high-speed hardware that enhances trading infrastructure and implements low-latency techniques.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree in a technical field and experience in FPGA design using VHDL. This role offers competitive compensation, including health coverage and performance bonuses.

Qualifications

• Experience designing FPGAs in VHDL or Verilog.
• Ability to work closely with software developers.
• Experience coding in VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, C, or C++.

Responsibilities

• Accelerate network infrastructure and trading system components.
• Research low-latency techniques for trading systems.
• Work in a multidisciplinary team of traders and engineers.

Skills

FPGA design in VHDL

C or C++ programming

Digital simulation and test benches

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Job description

Optiver is looking to add FPGA Engineers to its Automated Trading Systems (ATS) team. ATS solve a variety of problems with high degrees of difficulty: managing scarce bandwidth resources, responding to market events with extremely low latency, and automatically pricing diverse sets of financial instruments with near-zero error tolerance. We build systems with little room for failure which add to the stability of the market, not detract from it. These systems must be simple, flexible, and well‑architected so they can quickly be changed to meet the dynamic needs of our traders. We already have a team of great engineers, but we need more.

Optiver Hardware Engineers:

• Accelerate network infrastructure and trading system components with high speed hardware designs.
• Research new low‑latency techniques 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, ensuring our FPGAs can interface with cutting edge server hardware.

What you'll need:

• A Bachelor's degree in CE, EE, CS, or related technical field
• Experience designing FPGAs in VHDL or Verilog. We use VHDL.
• Experience coding in VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, C, or C++
• Experience with digital simulators and self‑checking test benches a plus
• Ability to work closely with software developers to rapidly deliver integrated systems.

Who we are:

Optiver is a tech‑driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 70+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates.

Based in ‘The Domain’ neighborhood, 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.

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
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more

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

Below is the expected base salary for this position. This is a good‑faith estimate of the base pay scale for this position and offers will ultimately be determined based on experience, education, skill set, and performance in the interview process. This position will also be eligible for a discretionary bonus (if determined by Optiver) and Optiver’s benefits package with the benefits listed above.

Base Salary Range

$200,000 - $200,000 USD