Software Engineer - Data Engineering

Akuna Capital Llc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 117,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Akuna Capital in Chicago seeks a Software Engineer for the Data Engineering team to design, build, and maintain data systems and pipelines. You’ll work across Trading, Quant, and Business Operations to enable trusted data, analytics, and research workflows.

The role emphasizes developing batch and streaming pipelines in a hybrid cloud, mentoring peers, and delivering high-impact data solutions with a focus on data quality and SLA adherence.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Math, or equivalent technical field.
• 5+ years of professional experience developing software applications.
• Java/Scala experience required – Python experience a significant plus.
• Highly motivated and ownership of high-impact projects.
• Experience with data platforms and technologies such as Delta Lake, Spark, Kubernetes, Kafka, ClickHouse, and/or Presto/Trino.
• Recent hands-on AWS Cloud development, deployment and monitoring.
• Experience with Agile teams, GitOps and CI/CD practices.
• Ability to react quickly to changing market conditions and solve math/coding problems.

Responsibilities

• Work within a growing Data Engineering division supporting data at Akuna.
• Drive design and expansion of the data platform across diverse data sources.
• Collaborate with Trading, Quant, Technology & Business Operations to define and deliver high-impact projects.
• Build and deploy batch and streaming data pipelines in a hybrid cloud using Kubernetes/EKS, Kafka/MSK and Databricks/Spark.
• Mentor junior engineers in software and data engineering best practices.
• Produce clean, well-tested, documented code for mission-critical applications.
• Create automated data validation tests ensuring data quality, availability, and SLA adherence.
• Push the organization beyond current tech stack to scale data capabilities.

Skills

Java/Scala experience

Python experience

5+ years experience

AWS cloud development

GitOps & CI/CD

Data platforms: Delta Lake / Spark / K

Kubernetes / Kafka / ClickHouse / Pres

Communication & problem solving

Financial data experience a plus

Education

BS/MS/PhD in CS/Engineering/Math or related field

Tools

Delta Lake

Spark

Kubernetes

Kafka

ClickHouse

Presto/Trino

Job description

About Akuna:

Akuna Capital is an innovative trading firm with a strong focus on collaboration, cutting-edge technology, data driven solutions, and automation. We specialize in providing liquidity as an options market-maker – meaning we are committed to providing competitive quotes that we are willing to both buy and sell. To do this successfully, we design and implement our own low latency technologies, trading strategies, and mathematical models.

Our Founding Partners first conceptualized Akuna in their hometown of Sydney. They opened the firm’s first office in 2011 in the heart of the derivatives industry and the options capital of the world – Chicago. Today, Akuna is proud to operate from additional offices in Sydney, Shanghai, London and Singapore.

What you’ll do as a Software Engineer on the Data Engineering team at Akuna:

We are a data-driven organization, leveraging our data as a key competitive advantage essential to our success. The Akuna Data Engineering team is composed of world-class talent responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the systems, applications, and infrastructure needed to collect, store, process, manage, and query Akuna’s data assets. The Akuna Data Engineering team plays a crucial role in ensuring that trustworthy data is available, reliable, and accessible to support various data-driven initiatives within Akuna’s Quant, Trading, and Business Operations business units.

In this role, you will:

• Work within a growing Data Engineering division supporting the strategic role of data at Akuna
• Drive the ongoing design and expansion of our data platform across a wide variety of data sources, supporting an array of streaming, operational and research workflows
• Work closely with Trading, Quant, Technology & Business Operations teams throughout the firm to identify how data is produced and consumed, helping to define and deliver high impact projects
• Build and deploy batch and streaming pipelines to collect and transform our rapidly growing Big Data set within our hybrid cloud architecture utilizing Kubernetes/EKS, Kafka/MSK and Databricks/Spark.
• Mentor junior engineers in software and data engineering best practices
• Produce clean, well-tested, and documented code with a clear design to support mission critical applications
• Build automated data validation test suites that ensure that data is processed and published in accordance with well-defined Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) pertaining to data quality, data availability and data correctness
• Challenge the status quo and help push our organization forward, as we grow beyond the limits of our current tech stack

Qualities that make great candidates:

• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Math, or equivalent technical field
• 5+ years of professional experience developing software applications
• Java/Scala experience required – Python experience a significant plus
• Highly motivated and willing to take ownership of high-impact projects upon arrival
• Prior hands-on experience with data platforms and technologies such as Delta Lake, Spark, Kubernetes, Kafka, ClickHouse, and/or Presto/Trino
• Experience building large-scale batch and streaming pipelines with strict SLA and data quality requirements
• Must possess excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse data sets and frameworks across multiple domains – financial data experience not required, but a strong plus
• Recent hands‑on experience with AWS Cloud development, deployment and monitoring necessary
• Demonstrated experience working on an Agile team employing software engineering best practices, such as GitOps and CI/CD, to deliver complex software projects
• 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

Please note that level/title will be determined upon the conclusion of the interview process. If you are a current student or recent graduate, please take a look at our Entry Level and Intern positions.

In addition to technical skillsets, Akuna values the unique perspectives people can bring to the table to collaboratively solve complex problems and drive Akuna forward. We want everyone to feel empowered to apply. We welcome your application and encourage you to take the first steps toward your future with us!

In accordance with Illinois Equal Pay Act, the minimum base salary starts at $130,000. Exact compensation offered may vary based on many factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and skill set. This role is also eligible for a discretionary performance bonus as part of the total compensation package and includes a comprehensive benefits package that may encompass employer-paid medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, paid time off, and other benefits. The minimum base salary herein was determined in good faith by Akuna Capital LLC.