Head of Engineering, Algorithmic Trading Group

DRW Holdings, LLC.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 300,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group medical, pharmacy, dental and vision insurance

401k with discretionary employer match

Short and long-term disability insurance

Life and AD&D insurance

Job summary

DRW Holdings, LLC. is looking for a Head of Engineering for the Algorithmic Trading Group in Chicago. This leadership role involves guiding a team of 30 engineers in developing top-tier trading systems and implementing AI practices. Candidates should have over 10 years of experience in software engineering, with proven leadership in delivering reliable distributed systems. The annual salary ranges from $300,000 to $350,000, accompanied by a bonus and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in a senior engineering leadership role.
• Demonstrated track record of building and operating highly reliable, latency-sensitive distributed systems.
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and lead high-performing engineering teams of 20+ engineers.

Responsibilities

• Set the technical direction across the full stack, spanning low-latency trading systems and custom hardware.
• Own production reliability by setting the standards for code quality and release discipline.
• Lead, mentor, and grow the engineering team, fostering a culture of technical excellence.

Skills

Software engineering

Leadership

Distributed systems

AI coding tools

Engineering practices

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Head of Engineering, Algorithmic Trading Group

Job Location: Chicago

Employment type: Regular

Department: Technology, Trading

Targeted Start Date: Immediate

About the Role:

DRW is seeking a Head of Engineering for the Algorithmic Trading Group to lead the software and hardware engineering effort. The position oversees a collaborative technical team of approximately 30 experienced software and hardware engineers with an average tenure of 10+ years.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set the technical direction across the full stack, spanning low-latency trading systems, custom hardware, risk management infrastructure, networking, and UX - driving top performance and scalability
• Partner with trading and research teams to balance short-term revenue opportunities against long-term investments in engineering infrastructure
• Own production reliability by setting the standards for code quality, testing rigor, and release discipline, with a zero-tolerance approach to production outages
• Define the group's strategy for AI adoption, establishing best practices for efficient and safe use
• Lead, mentor, and grow the engineering team – attracting top talent and fostering a culture of technical excellence, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement

Qualifications:

• 10+ years progressive experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in a senior engineering leadership role
• Demonstrated track record of building and operating highly reliable, latency-sensitive distributed systems
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and lead high-performing engineering teams of 20+ engineers
• Strong familiarity with generative AI coding tools and autonomous agents, with a vision for how to deploy them effectively and safely across engineering workflows
• Track record of building and enforcing engineering practices that achieve near-zero defect rates in production
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field

The annual base salary range for this position is $300,000 to $350,000 depending on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and relevant skill set. The position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition, DRW offers a comprehensive suite of employee benefits including group medical, pharmacy, dental and vision insurance, 401k (with discretionary employer match), short and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance, health savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts.

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