Principal Network Engineer (HFT Trading Networks)

Harvey Nash Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite 4 days per week

Job summary

Harvey Nash is seeking a Principal Network Engineer to lead a high-performance, low-latency trading network. You will define architecture across data centers, co-location facilities, and cloud platforms, and act as a hands-on technical leader in a global team.

The role requires direct HFT trade networking experience, expert routing knowledge, strong Python automation, and a track record delivering scalable, secure networks with measurable latency improvements.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on network engineering in low-latency environments.
• Direct experience with High-Frequency Trading or electronic trading infra.
• Deep expertise in BGP/OSPF/MPLS and latency analysis.
• Strong Python scripting for automation and tooling.
• Experience with AWS networking and hybrid cloud connectivity.
• CCIE certification or equivalent is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve low-latency network architectures for global trading ops.
• Lead routing solutions across data centers, co-location, exchanges and cloud.
• Drive standards and long-term strategy for resilience and performance.
• Lead complex routing deployments and high-availability networks.
• Develop and validate network automation tooling with Python.
• Collaborate with Infrastructure, Security, Cloud, and Trading teams.
• Mentor engineers and promote engineering best practices.
• Define telemetry, observability standards using Prometheus/Grafana.
• Produce architecture docs, runbooks, and compliance materials.

Skills

HFT Trading

Routing & Switching

Python automation

Hybrid Cloud Networking

CCIE preferred

BGP/OSPF/MPLS

Low-latency design

Mentoring

Observability tooling

Tools

Cisco gear

Arista gear

Juniper gear

Prometheus

Grafana

AWS Direct Connect

Transit Gateway

Job description

Job Title: Principal NetworkEngineer (HFT Trading Networks)

Location: Chicago, IL or NewYork City, NY

Work Model: Onsite 4 days per week

Duration: Full-time

Job Description

Weare seeking a Principal Network Engineer to serve as the technicalauthority for our global, low-latency trading infrastructure. This role isideal for a seasoned network engineering leader with deep expertise indesigning, scaling, and optimizing highly distributed, latency-sensitiveenvironments across data centers, colocation facilities, and cloud platforms.

ThePrincipal Network Engineer will be responsible for defining the long-termarchitecture and evolution of mission-critical trading networks, ensuringdeterministic packet forwarding, exceptional reliability, and ultra-low-latencyperformance. This individual will operate as a hands-on technical leader,partnering with Network Engineering leadership, Infrastructure teams, andbusiness stakeholders to drive strategic initiatives, influence architecturaldecisions, and establish engineering best practices.

DirectHigh-Frequency Trading (HFT) industry experience is required.

Theideal candidate possesses expert-level routing and switching knowledge, strongPython automation capabilities, experience with hybrid cloud networking, and aproven track record supporting electronic trading environments wheremicroseconds matter. Candidates with a CCIE certification or equivalentexpertise are strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

Network Architecture & Design

• Design,engineer, and evolve highly resilient, low-latency network architecturessupporting global trading operations.
• Developdeterministic, scalable network solutions across data centers, co-locationfacilities, exchange connectivity environments, and cloud platforms.
• Drivearchitectural standards and long-term strategy for network scalability,resiliency, and operational excellence.

Advanced Routing & Infrastructure

• Lead the designand implementation of complex routing solutions utilizing:
• BGP
• OSPF
• MPLS
• Multicast(PIM-SM/SSM)
• TrafficEngineering
• HighAvailability Network Architectures
• Optimize networkperformance, latency, jitter, and traffic flow across global environments.

Research, Validation & Performance Engineering

• Conductproof-of-concept testing, lab validation, and technical evaluations ofemerging technologies.
• Analyze networkbehavior, platform limitations, and hardware capabilities to improveexchange connectivity and trading performance.
• Validatearchitecture designs before production deployment to minimize operationalrisk.

Project Leadership

• Lead large-scalenetwork transformation initiatives from design through implementation.
• Develop detailedtechnical designs, migration plans, implementation runbooks, and capacityplanning documentation.
• Own complextechnical challenges end-to-end with minimal oversight.

Network Automation

• Design andmaintain Python-based network automation solutions for:
• Configurationmanagement
• Changevalidation
• Complianceverification
• Operationalefficiency
• Automatedtesting
• Leverage bothAPI-driven and SSH-based automation methodologies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner withInfrastructure, Security, Cloud, Application, and Trading teams to alignnetwork capabilities with business objectives.
• Supportstrategic planning, budgeting, and technology investment decisions relatedto network infrastructure.

Technical Leadership

• Act as a seniortechnical mentor across the engineering organization.
• Leadarchitecture reviews, establish engineering standards, and promoteknowledge sharing.
• Influencetechnical direction without direct management responsibilities.

Monitoring& Observability

• Define networktelemetry and observability standards.
• Utilize toolssuch as Prometheus, Grafana, and similar platforms to improve visibility,performance monitoring, and troubleshooting.

Documentation& Compliance

• Develop andmaintain technical standards, architecture documentation, and operationalprocedures.
• Contribute toaudit, compliance, and regulatory documentation, including materialssupporting SEC and related regulatory reviews.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years ofhands-on Network Engineering experience within mission-critical,low-latency environments.
• Directexperience supporting High-Frequency Trading (HFT), Electronic Trading,Market Making, Proprietary Trading, or Capital Markets infrastructure.
• Deep expertisein low-latency network design with extensive experience analyzing:
• Network latency
• Jitter
• Packet loss
• End-to-endtraffic behavior
• Expert-levelknowledge of:
• BGP
• OSPF
• MPLS
• MulticastTechnologies
• Global NetworkArchitecture
• Strongexperience with high-performance network platforms from vendors such as:
• Cisco
• Arista
• Juniper
• Experiencedesigning and supporting AWS networking solutions including:
• Direct Connect
• Transit Gateway
• VPCArchitecture
• RouteIntegration
• Advanced Pythonprogramming skills for network automation and operational tooling.
• Hands-onexperience with observability and telemetry platforms, includingPrometheus and Grafana.
• Strongunderstanding of network security principles, segmentation, accesscontrols, and Zero Trust architecture.
• Proven trackrecord leading technical research, proof-of-concept initiatives, andlarge-scale infrastructure projects.
• Outstandingcommunication skills with the ability to explain architectural tradeoffsand technical risk to both engineers and executive leadership.
• Experiencementoring engineers and influencing engineering best practices acrossorganizations.

PreferredQualifications

• Cisco CCIE(Routing & Switching, Enterprise Infrastructure, or Data Center).
• AWS AdvancedNetworking Specialty Certification.
• Arista ACE,Juniper JNCIE, or equivalent advanced networking certifications.
• Experience withexchange connectivity networks and financial market infrastructure.
• Familiarity withFPGA-enabled networking, market data distribution, and ultra-low latencytrading architectures.
• Exposure toregulatory and compliance requirements within financial servicesenvironments.