Staff Software Engineer, Trading Services (Scala)

NinjaTrader; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

401k with company match

Life and Disability Insurance

Paid holidays

Job summary

NinjaTrader, a leading trading platform, seeks a Staff Software Engineer to evolve our high-throughput trading services. You will design and implement Scala/Akka-based backend systems deployed on Kubernetes, with emphasis on low latency and reliability in a cloud environment.

You will own architecture, deployments, and collaboration with product teams to deliver robust trading applications, data feeds integration, and real-time observability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in CS/Software Eng or related field.
• 8+ years in software development with reactive, distributed near real-time apps.
• 5+ years in Scala backend development.
• Familiarity with functional programming principles.
• Experience with Kubernetes and cloud services (GCP) focusing on scalability and high availability.
• Familiarity with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins or GitHub Actions.
• Strong observability and debugging skills for cloud/web technologies.
• Deep understanding of modern distributed systems and core protocols.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain Scala/Akka-based trading system on Kubernetes in the cloud.
• Architect, deploy, and manage backend services for scalability and reliability.
• Enhance services architecture for modularity and maintainability.
• Develop distributed systems for high-performance, low-latency trading platforms.
• Implement robust monitoring and logging for real-time performance tracking.
• Integrate backend systems with market data feeds for timely data.
• Collaborate with other teams and product managers to deliver end-to-end solutions.

Skills

Scala

Kubernetes

Distributed systems

CI/CD

Observability

Cloud services

Networking TCP/IP

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree

Tools

Google Cloud Platform

Jenkins

GitHub Actions

Akka

Job description

Staff Software Engineer, Trading Services - Scala

Chicago or Remote*

Disclaimer: Please be advised that the most accurate and up-to-date information about our open roles—including job descriptions, compensation, and benefits—can only be guaranteed on our official job board. For the latest listings and details, please visit: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ninjatrader .

JOIN US ON OUR MISSION TO BECOME THE #1 RETAIL TRADING PLATFORM IN THE WORLD

Welcome to the dynamic world of NinjaTrader! As an industry-leading trading platform and futures broker, we're empowering traders to take control of their financial destiny. How do we do it? We provide cutting-edge products and services that enhance the trading journey. Whether a seasoned pro or just starting out, NinjaTrader equips traders with award-winning software and brokerage services to navigate the world's leading financial markets with confidence.

Our growth story is nothing short of exhilarating. Since 2003, NinjaTrader has been dedicated to understanding and supporting traders on their journey toward trading triumph. Through those efforts, our user base has grown to over 2 million users and we have become the number one rated futures brokerage worldwide.

But we're not stopping there. We're constantly evolving, pushing boundaries, and modernizing the futures industry. Our commitment to innovation means users will always have access to dynamic tools, real-time support, and a community of like-minded traders.

So, why work at NinjaTrader? Here, you're not just part of a team; you're part of a movement. We empower employees to reach new heights in their careers by providing a dynamic culture focused on social connection, professional development, and employee recognition initiatives. Sounds too good to be true? Take it from our employees.

Join us as we redefine what's possible in trading, advocate for our customers, and continue our journey toward becoming the world's top retail-focused trading platform in the world.

What you'll do:

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Staff Software Engineer to join our Trading Services team. In this pivotal role, you will help evolve our advanced trading system. As a senior engineer on the team, your work will have a profound impact on our core high-throughput, low-latency trading application, directly influencing our business's bottom line.

In this role you will:

• Design, develop, and maintain our Scala and Akka-based trading system deployed on Kubernetes in the cloud
• Architect, deploy, and manage backend services in a Kubernetes environment to ensure scalability, availability, and resilience
• Implement and enhance our services architecture for trading applications, promoting modularity and maintainability
• Develop distributed systems to support the high-performance and low-latency requirements of trading platforms
• Implement robust monitoring and logging solutions to track and analyze backend system performance in real time
• Integrate backend systems with market data feeds, ensuring accurate and timely data for trading activities
• Collaborate with other engineering teams and Product Managers to deliver end-to-end customer solutions

What you'll need:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
• 8+ years of software development experience with reactive, message-driven, distributed near real-time applications, preferably in a high-performance, low-latency environment
• 5+ years of professional experience with Scala (or similar JVM-based languages) backend software development
• Familiarity with functional programming principles
• Experience with Kubernetes and cloud services (e.g., Google Cloud Platform), with a focus on scalability and high availability
• Familiarity with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or equivalent
• Exceptional troubleshooting, debugging, and diagnostic skills for cloud and web-based technologies using industry-standard observability tooling and frameworks
• Deep understanding of modern distributed systems and the ability to troubleshoot HTTP/HTTPS, WebSockets, TLS, DNS, TCP/IP, and similar protocols
• Dependable team player with a strong work ethic, exceptional accuracy, and analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on performance analysis and optimization
• Ability to take full ownership of projects (design, implement, test, deploy, maintain, and iterate), with a focus on delivering high-quality production software
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, collaborates effectively, seeks feedback, and strives for continual improvement

Compensation:

• The salary range for this role will be $150,000.00 - $200,000.00 USD. In addition, this position will also receive an annual target bonus of 12 %. Bonus pay at NinjaTrader is based on individual performance (50%) as well as company/team performance (50%).
• Salary and bonus earnings are only two components of the total compensation package offered by NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader offers a 401K plan through ADP under which the company will match up to 3.5% of employee contributions. Annual paid time off allowance accrues at a rate of23 days per yearplus seven paid holidays.

Location:

This role is based in Chicago, IL.* We follow a hybrid work schedule: In-office Tuesday through Thursday, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays. In addition to these weekly remote days, we offer:

20 additional flex remote days annually

5 Company Wide Office-Optional weeks tied to major holidays

*There may be remote flexibility for exceptional candidates in the following states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois (outside the Chicago area), Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin.

Our Core Benefits Include:

• Generous PTO
• 7 Paid Holidays Annually + 5 Conditional Holidays Annually
• 1 Service Day Annually
• 401k with 3.5% Company Match
• Life and Disability Insurance Covered 100% by NinjaTrader

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

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As set forth in NinjaTrader’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

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