Performance Engineer

Jobot; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 200,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobot is seeking a Performance Engineer in Chicago, IL, to optimize a real‑time trading engine. You will drive end‑to‑end performance, from software to hardware, and collaborate across Trading, Quant, and Technology teams.

Ideal candidates have strong C++ or Python skills, a track record of low-latency optimization, and experience tuning OS, networking, or accelerators. We offer a high‑impact role in a market‑leading financial tech environment.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science, Math, Physics, or Engineering.
• Strong C++ or Python programming background with proven performance/scalability.
• Experience tuning OS, compilers, networking, I/O subsystems or accelerators.
• Exposure to statistical methods and performance testing tools.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement trading engine performance improvements with benchmarking.
• Evaluate new devices and analyze latency and throughput.
• Develop tools for benchmarking software and hardware.
• Assist with performance troubleshooting across teams.

Skills

C++

Python

Education

BS/MS/PhD in technical field

Job description

Performance Engineer | C++ & Python | Low-Latency Optimizations | Systems, Hardware & Network Tuning

This Jobot Job is hosted by: Jim Quirk

Salary: $200,000 - $260,000 per year

We are a premier, technology-driven firm operating at the intersection of complex software engineering and global financial markets. Our team thrives on solving high-stakes, real-time challenges where milliseconds matter. We foster a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary culture that empowers engineers to take full ownership of end-to-end performance—from low-level software optimization to cutting-edge hardware implementation.

Why join us?

Optimize Beyond the Code: You will drive a holistic approach to performance, engineering solutions across software, hardware, operating systems, networks, and physical infrastructure

Job Details

We are seeking to grow our Performance Engineering Team, which is focused on a rigorous and holistic approach to improving software, hardware, and strategy performance. This team is responsible for maintaining and increasing our competitiveness at the various exchanges the firm does business with around the globe. As a member of this multidisciplinary team, you will be responsible for investigating new opportunities for optimizations and bringing these ideas to fruition. This can be achieved through software optimizations, analysis of hardware, orchestration of physical installations, analysis of exchange-specific protocols, or building tools for gauging the firm\'s performance. In this role, you will: Contribute to the design and implementation of our trading engine by increasing its performance with projects such as benchmarking systems, evaluating new devices, latency, and throughput analysis. Develop tools and applications for benchmarking new devices and software. Assist with performance troubleshooting and identify key opportunities for improvement. Use a data-driven approach to collaborate with relevant Trading, Quant, and Technology teams to expand and improve our systems, footprint, and latency across different strategies and exchanges. Review and analyze how we leverage our proprietary systems, identifying potential bottlenecks and considering how we can improve our technology stack to better our trading success.

Qualities that make great candidates: BS/MS/PhD in a technical field (Computer Science, Math, Physics, Engineering). Strong C++ or Python programming background with demonstrated experience developing performant, scalable applications. Experience analyzing and tuning operating systems, compilers, networking, I/O subsystems, or accelerators. Exposure to statistical and experimental methods and tools for testing performance. Highly collaborative in nature with excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work on cross-functional teams including Trading, Development, IT, and Quant. The ability to react quickly and accurately to rapidly changing market conditions, including the ability to quickly and accurately respond and/or solve math and coding problems, are essential functions of the role.

Interested in hearing more?

Jobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Jobot also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is Jobot\’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Sometimes Jobot is required to perform background checks with your authorization. Jobot will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with any applicable federal, state, or local law regarding criminal backgrounds, including but not limited to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Information collected and processed as part of your Jobot candidate profile, and any job applications, resumes, or other information you choose to submit is subject to Jobot\'s Privacy Policy, as well as the Jobot California Worker Privacy Notice and Jobot Notice Regarding Automated Employment Decision Tools which are available at jobot.com/legal.

By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Jobot, and/or its agents and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy here: jobot.com/privacy-policy

Want to learn more about this role and Jobot? Click our Jobot logo and follow our LinkedIn page!