FPGA Engineer

Optiver; Illinois; On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match up to 50%

Health, dental, vision, life coverage

25 paid vacation days

Job summary

Optiver is seeking a Hardware Engineer to design and implement high-speed hardware solutions that power our trading systems in the United States. You will collaborate with traders and software engineers to translate complex problems into robust, high-performance hardware architectures.

The role emphasizes FPGA/ASIC development, RTL design, and system integration, with a focus on delivering results quickly in a dynamic financial markets environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CE, EE, CS, or related field.
• Experience designing, coding, testing, and verifying FPGAs and/or ASICs.
• Experience coding in VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog and C/C++.
• Experience with RTL synthesis and timing/area constraints.
• Experience with digital simulators and self-checking test benches.
• Experience with 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 FPGAs interface with cutting edge server hardware.
• Manage relationships with 3rd party vendors.

Skills

VHDL

Verilog

SystemVerilog

C/C++

RTL synthesis

Test benches

Post-silicon bring-up

Software collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CE/EE/CS

Tools

RTL simulators

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 add to the stability of the market, not detract 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 stabilizing the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritize 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.

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