Business Analyst

Clearwater Analytics; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Clearwater Analytics is hiring a Subject Matter Expert to shape the future of our order execution platform and become the go-to authority on trading concepts, including FIX protocol, electronic execution, broker and venue connectivity, and trader workflows. You will work closely with engineers, product teams, and clients to translate domain knowledge into well-designed, thoroughly tested product features.

Collaborating with cross-functional teams, you will review requirements, design documents,

Qualifications

• Degree in finance, economics, or related field, or equivalent professional experience on a buy-side or sell-side trading desk.
• Strong foundation in trading and execution concepts with demonstrated experience working with the FIX protocol, broker and venue connectivity, and buy-side trader workflows.
• Proven ability to work independently on complex, ambiguous problems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; comfortable leading client-facing conversations.
• Collaborative working style across cross-functional teams.
• Systems-level thinking — you understand how decisions in one area ripple across a platform, and you take ownership of getting ahead of those risks.

Responsibilities

• Research complex trading workflows, FIX protocol behavior, and broker/venue integration requirements to propose and implement effective product solutions.
• Partner with engineering and product teams on feature design, ensuring domain considerations are built in from the start.
• Review requirements, design documents, and scope materials, providing substantive feedback across the development lifecycle.
• Develop, maintain, and execute test plans — defining edge cases, analyzing data inputs, and validating feature behavior.
• Log defects, retest, and verify fixes through resolution.
• Contribute to client conversations as a domain authority.
• Produce white papers and internal communications on methodology.
• Collaborate with software engineers to implement new broker and venue staging connections, FIX protocol enhancements, and execution workflow changes.
• Monitor shifts in your domain, anticipate downstream impacts of product changes, and identify opportunities for product expansion.
• Mentor junior team members and help build the team's collective depth of knowledge.

Skills

Trading concepts

FIX protocol

Client-facing communication

Independent problem solving

Education

Finance or Economics degree

Tools

FIX engines

OMS/EMS platforms

Job description

About The Role

Clearwater is hiring a Subject Matter Expert to help shape the future of our order execution (OEMS) platform. You will be a go-to authority on trading concepts, including the FIX protocol, electronic execution, broker and venue connectivity, trader workflows, and transaction cost analysis — translating that expertise into well-designed, thoroughly tested product features. Working closely with engineers, product teams, and clients, you will make a meaningful impact both internally and in the market.

What You Will Do

Product & Domain Expertise

• Research complex trading workflows, FIX protocol behavior, and broker/venue integration requirements to propose and implement effective product solutions.
• Partner with engineering and product teams on feature design, ensuring domain considerations are built in from the start.
• Review requirements, design documents, and scope materials, providing substantive feedback across the development lifecycle.

Quality & Validation

• Develop, maintain, and execute test plans — defining edge cases, analyzing data inputs, and validating feature behavior.
• Log defects, retest, and verify fixes through resolution.

External Voice & Thought Leadership

• Contribute to client conversations as a domain authority.
• Produce white papers and internal communications on methodology.
• Collaborate with software engineers to implement new broker and venue staging connections, FIX protocol enhancements, and execution workflow changes.

Strategy & Mentorship

• Monitor shifts in your domain, anticipate downstream impacts of product changes, and identify opportunities for product expansion.
• Mentor junior team members and help build the team's collective depth of knowledge.

What We’re Looking For

We welcome candidates from a range of backgrounds. What matters most is a strong foundation in trading and execution and the ability to translate domain knowledge into clear, actionable guidance for technical and non-technical audiences.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in finance, economics, or a related field — or equivalent professional experience on a buy-side or sell-side trading desk.
• Strong foundation in trading and execution concepts with demonstrated experience working with the FIX protocol, broker and venue connectivity, and buy-side trader workflows.
• Proven ability to work independently on complex, ambiguous problems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; comfortable leading client-facing conversations.
• Collaborative working style across cross-functional teams.
• Systems-level thinking — you understand how decisions in one area ripple across a platform, and you take ownership of getting ahead of those risks.

Nice to Have

• Experience writing white papers, methodology documentation, or other thought leadership content.
• Familiarity with OMS/EMS platforms, FIX engines, or buy/sell-side trading desk operations.
• Experience mentoring colleagues or leading cross-functional initiatives.

What We Offer

At Clearwater, you'll work on meaningful, domain-rich problems at the intersection of finance and technology. You'll join a collaborative team that values expertise, continuous learning, and proactive thinking.

Pay: $85,000 - $120,000. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, other job-related qualifications/skills, and geographic location (to account for comparative cost of living). The Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.

Benefits include: health, vision, dental insurance; 401(k); PTO; parental leave; medical leave; STD/LTD insurance benefits.

Clearwater Analytics is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.