Operations Manager

STORMLIGHT CAPITAL; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading proprietary trading group in Chicago is seeking an Operations Manager to enhance their trading lifecycle processes. The ideal candidate will have a strong IT background with expertise in systems reliability, scripting, and team leadership. This role offers competitive compensation and the opportunity to drive significant impact in a high-performance environment.

Benefits

Bonus based on performance

Competitive salary

Flexible schedule

Home office stipend

Signing bonus

Stock options plan

Professional development stipend

Access to latest gear

Qualifications

• 3+ years of operations experience in a proprietary trading firm.
• Proven technical acumen in Linux, networking, and cloud infrastructure.
• Deep understanding of market structure, post-trade processes, and risk frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Build & refine operational infrastructure across the full trade lifecycle.
• Oversee incident response and post-mortems, ensure systems reliability.
• Mentor a small ops/IT support team and foster culture of continuous improvement.

Skills

Linux

Networking

Cloud Infrastructure

Python

Bash

SQL

Analytical Skills

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

GitLab CI

Terraform

Job description

Benefits:

Bonus based on performance

Competitive salary

Flexible schedule

Home office stipend

Signing bonus

Stock options plan

About Us

We’re a nimble, high‑performing proprietary trading group that deploys quantitative strategies in the rapidly growing event‑contract space. Our teams of researchers and engineers leverage data, technology, and market insight to generate exceptional risk‑adjusted returns—without the bureaucracy of large institutions. If you thrive on ownership, creative problem‑solving, and moving fast, you’ll feel right at home here.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for an Operations Manager with a strong IT background to design, scale, and own the mission‑critical processes that keep our trade lifecycle running smoothly. You’ll sit at the nexus of trading, quantitative research, and engineering, ensuring that systems, data, and people work together seamlessly as we grow.

What You’ll Do

Build & refine operational infrastructure across the full trade lifecycle (trade capture, clearing, settlement, PnL, and reconciliation).

Own systems reliability: coordinate with developers to maintain exchange connectivity, data feeds, and internal tools; oversee incident response and post‑mortems.

Streamline workflows: automate manual tasks using scripting languages (Python, Bash, SQL) and champion best‑practice DevOps and CI/CD approaches.

Vendor & exchange management: negotiate service agreements, manage onboarding, and monitor performance SLAs.

Risk & compliance operations: maintain controls for position limits, margin, and regulatory reporting for CFTC/SEC/FINRA (or equivalent, depending on venue).

Team leadership: mentor a small ops/IT support team; foster a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge‑sharing.

What You’ll Bring

3+ years of operations experience in a proprietary trading firm, hedge fund, market‑maker, or equivalent fintech environment.

Proven technical acumen: fluency in Linux, networking, and cloud infrastructure; scripting proficiency (Python preferred) for automation and data pipelines.

Deep understanding of market structure, post‑trade processes, and risk frameworks; familiarity with derivatives and/or event contracts is a strong plus.

A track record of driving projects from concept to production with minimal oversight.

Exceptional analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Nice‑to‑Have

DevOps tooling experience (Docker/Kubernetes, GitLab CI, Terraform, etc.).

Data‑engineering chops (ETL pipelines, time‑series databases, distributed systems).

What We Offer

Competitive compensation with meaningful P&L‑linked upside.

Flexible hours and hybrid/remote options (Chicago‑area presence preferred).

Tight‑knit culture, direct access to decision‑makers, and the ability to see your impact every day.

Professional development stipend and the latest gear of your choice.

This is a remote position.