Software Engineer, Research – Cumberland Systematic

DRW; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive employee benefits

401(k) with discretionary employer match

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

A leading trading firm based in Chicago is seeking a Software Engineer to develop full-stack solutions for global trading operations. Candidates should have strong Python experience and be able to manage complex data systems. The role involves collaboration with quantitative researchers to enhance trading strategies, requiring initiative and independence. This position offers a competitive salary range and a comprehensive benefits package, including discretionary bonuses and extensive insurance options.

Qualifications

• Candidates should have strong initiative and proven experience independently driving projects to completion.
• Built complex systems in modern Python that are maintainable and safely refactorable.
• A working knowledge of type safety and type systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, document, and maintain software and infrastructure needed for quantitative financial research.
• Accelerate the research lifecycle from data engineering to feature generation and analysis.
• Provide on‑call support as needed.

Skills

Python experience

Managing large, evolving timeseries data

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Strong internal motivation

Job description

Software Engineer, Research – Cumberland Systematic

Chicago

DRW is a diversified trading firm with over 3 decades of experience bringing sophisticated technology and exceptional people together to operate in markets around the world. We value autonomy and the ability to quickly pivot to capture opportunities, so we operate using our own capital and trading at our own risk.

Headquartered in Chicago with offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, we trade a variety of asset classes including Fixed Income, ETFs, Equities, FX, Commodities and Energy across all major global markets. We have also leveraged our expertise and technology to expand into three non-traditional strategies: real estate, venture capital and cryptoassets.

We operate with respect, curiosity and open minds. The people who thrive here share our belief that it’s not just what we do that matters–it's how we do it. DRW is a place of high expectations, integrity, innovation and a willingness to challenge consensus.

Cumberland Systematic is a multi-asset trading team focused on mid and high-frequency fully systematic strategies in the delta one space. We trade 24/7 globally with our team located primarily in Chicago and London.

We are looking for a Software Engineer to join our team. You will work with other software engineers to design and develop the full stack needed to enable a global trading operation with high availability requirements. You will be expected to design and develop integrations with data vendors, blockchain infrastructure, data management solutions, and libraries for managing and analyzing data. The team’s existing systems are written in Python and C++.

Candidates should have strong initiative and proven experience independently driving projects to completion. We work from high-level requirements and engineers are expected to gain an intimate understanding of the business and work directly with quantitative researchers on a daily basis.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, document, and maintain software and infrastructure needed for quantitative financial research
• Accelerate the research lifecycle from data engineering to feature generation and analysis
• Integrate with diverse data sources such as blockchains, exchanges, and data vendors
• Test at the unit, functional, and integration levels
• Work within a small team as well as independently with a strong user focus
• Provide on‑call support as needed

Qualifications

• Python experience gained through professional experience
• Built complex systems in modern Python that are maintainable and safely refactorable
• Hands‑on experience managing large, evolving timeseries data
• A working knowledge of type safety and type systems
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong internal motivation and a continual desire to learn

Bonus Points

• Contributions to open‑source crypto projects
• Production experience running full or archive blockchain nodes at scale
• Collaborated with quantitative researchers
• A working knowledge of high‑level machine learning concepts and lifecycle
• Experience with functional programming and immutable design principles
• Practical knowledge of major blockchain types and clients

The annual base salary range for this position is $175,000 to $225,000 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, 401(k) (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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As set forth in DRW’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.