FPGA Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match up to 50%

Comprehensive health coverage

25 paid vacation days

Extensive office perks including meals and social events

Job summary

Optiver is seeking a Hardware Engineer in Chicago who will own all aspects of the development process, collaborating with traders and software engineers to solve complex trading problems. This role requires strong skills in FPGA and ASIC design, coding in multiple languages, and digital simulation.

Excellent compensation packages including health benefits and a supportive work environment are offered. Candidates must hold a relevant degree and have experience in the hardware design process.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CE, EE, CS, or a related technical field.
• Experience with digital simulators and self‑checking test benches.
• Experience supporting post‑silicon bring‑up and debugging a plus.

Responsibilities

• Accelerate network infrastructure and trading system components with high‑speed hardware designs.
• Research new low‑latency techniques and platforms for integration.
• Work in a multidisciplinary team of traders, software developers, and infrastructure engineers.

Skills

Experience designing, coding, testing, and verifying FPGAs and/or ASICs

Ability to work closely with software developers

Experience coding in VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, C or C++

Experience with RTL synthesis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science

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, engineering simple, well‑architected solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our traders. Our passion is to solve problems that 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, contributing to market stability rather than detracting 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 third‑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 a 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 and 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 over 100 exchanges worldwide.

Optiver Chicago’s culture parallels the energetic city we’re immersed in. Home to the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago has established itself as the trading capital of the U.S. Active on leading U.S. exchanges, Optiver’s Chicago office trades a wide range of products from listed derivatives to cash equities, ETFs, bonds, and foreign exchange.

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.

Base Salary Range: $200,000—$200,000 USD.