Hardware Engineer

Optiver Holding BV; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Global profit-sharing pool

Performance-based bonus

401(k) match up to 50%

Comprehensive health benefits

Extensive office perks

Job summary

Austin-based Optiver hardware team designs and builds high-performance trading hardware, including PCBs, FPGA firmware, and related software. You will own designs from concept through production in a multidisciplinary environment.

The role emphasizes speed, precision, and innovation, with competitive compensation, global profit-sharing, and strong benefits. You will collaborate with traders, researchers, and software teams to push system latency and throughput further.

Qualifications

• BS in electrical or computer engineering; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of industry experience.
• ECAD tools: Altium, Mentor Graphics, Cadence or equivalent.
• Proficiency in signal and power integrity SIPI best practices.
• End-to-end product development experience, concept through release.
• Expertise with PCIe Gen3-6, USB3/4, and 10/25G Ethernet.
• Experience with low speed communications (I2C, SPI, JTAG, USB).
• Experience validating high-speed interfaces using TDRs and real-time oscilloscopes.
• Python read/write proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Design, realize, test, bring up and manufacture custom hardware (PCBs).
• Schematic capture, PCB layout, simulation (Spice, Ansys SiWave HFSS).
• Write the initial bring-up code (C/Python/VHDL) for the hardware.
• Interpret Eye Diagram/BERT results and correlate lab and production measurements to simulations.
• Create test plans and engineering requirements specifications.
• Debug issues as they arise.
• Research ways to improve system performance (latency, scale, thermals) for trading needs.
• Work in a multidisciplinary team of traders, researchers, software (FPGA, firmware, application), mechanical and infra engineers.
• Own your designs from concept to production.
• Manage relationships with 3rd party vendors.

Skills

Python

Signal integrity

Power integrity

End-to-end development

PCIe Gen3-6

USB 3/4

10/25G Ethernet

I2C/SPI/JTAG/USB

Education

BS in electrical or computer engineering

Master or PhD preferred

Tools

Altium

Mentor Graphics

Cadence

Spice

Ansys SiWave

HFSS

Job description

Austin is home to Optiver's hardware research, development and manufacturing department. We build some of the world’s most competitive trading hardware using a wide variety of technologies, from fiber optics to custom silicon, from software to antennas - and everything in between.

We’re growing fast and are looking to expand our team with an experienced hardware engineer who deeply understands the complexities of designing and realizing high speed, high density systems and boards. Our systems push the limits of what’s possible, so we’re looking for creative thinkers who can oversee the big picture and who are not afraid to step out of their comfort zone and explore novel approaches.

What you'll do

• Design, realize, test, bring up and manufacture custom hardware (mostly PCBs)
• Schematic capture, PCB layout, Simulation (Spice, Ansys SiWave HFSS etc.)
• Write the initial bring up code (C/Python/ VHDL ) for the hardware
• Interpret Eye Diagram/BERT results and correlate lab and production measurements to simulations
• Create test plans and engineering requirements specifications
• Debug issues as they come up
• Research new ways of improving our system’s performance (latency, scale, thermals) and how our trading requirements can be realized
• Work in a multidisciplinary team of traders, researchers, software ( FPGA , firmware, application), mechanical and infrastructure engineers
• Own your designs from concept to production
• Manage relationships with 3rd party vendors

Who you are

Requirements:

• BS in electrical or computer engineering, Master or Ph.D. preferred
• 5+ years of industry experience
• Advanced ECAD skills for schematic and layout creation in one of the following: Altium, Mentor Graphics, Cadence or equivalent
• Proficiency in signal and power integrity SIPI best practices
• End-to-end product development experience, concept through release
• Expertise with one or more high speed interfaces, and the protocols running on top, such as: PCIe Gen3-6, USB3 /4, 10/25G Ethernet
• Experience with low speed communications both in hardware and software, such as: I2C , SPI , JTAG , USB etc
• Experience validating high speed interfaces using: TDRs, sampling and real-time oscilloscopes
• Know how to read and write Python

The following experiences are nice to have:

• Familiarity with the Ethernet ( IEEE 802.3)
• Software engineering skills such as C/C++/
• Experience supporting post-silicon bring-up and debugging

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
• 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

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.