Trading Systems Engineer - Execution

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

Job summary

OP Recruiting is seeking a passionate Trading Systems Engineer based in Chicago, Illinois. This role combines operational support and engineering to ensure the stability and performance of trading systems. Responsibilities include real-time coverage, diagnosing production incidents, and enhancing system performance through automation.

The ideal candidate will have 2-5+ years of experience in Site Reliability Engineering and strong skills in Linux, networking, and scripting. Competitive salary range of $175,000 – $225,000 USD.

Qualifications

• 2-5+ years of experience in Site Reliability Engineering or similar.
• Strong understanding of network fundamentals.
• Demonstrated curiosity in technology through personal projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide real-time coverage for critical execution systems.
• Ensure continuity of trading operations with urgency.
• Diagnose production incidents and coordinate across teams.
• Build automation tools for efficiency.
• Conduct root cause analysis for recurring issues.

Skills

Problem solving

Linux operating systems

Network configuration

Server management

Python

Bash

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

MySQL

MongoDB

NoSQL technologies

Job description

We are looking for a multi-talented and passionate Trading Systems Engineer to join our execution development team.

In this role, you will take ownership of systems that sit directly in the critical path of live trading, handling everything from hardware and network connectivity to application performance and exchange interactions.

Role

This is not a pure support role — and it’s not purely project-based engineering either. It’s intentionally both. You will split your time between:

• Operational support of live trading systems, ensuring stability and rapid resolution of production issues. This portion of the role is fast‑paced, highly visible and requires strong troubleshooting instincts, clear communication, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. If you enjoy solving real‑time problems and seeing immediate impact from your work, this is for you.
• Project‑based engineering work, improving the reliability, performance, and automation of those same systems. The goal is simple: fewer incidents, faster recovery, more proactive monitoring, and stronger systems over time. We believe production ownership and engineering improvement go hand in hand — the best way to improve a system is to deeply understand how it behaves under real‑world pressure.

Our execution systems are fundamental to our success and require dedicated ownership to ensure continuity throughout the trading day. You will play a key role in both optimizing today’s trading and building a continuously better platform for tomorrow.

You’ll join a team of experienced engineers committed to rigorous operational excellence and continuous improvement, with a high degree of responsibility over complex, real‑time system interactions across trading and technology.

Your Core Responsibilities

• Participate in structured support rotations to provide real‑time coverage for critical execution systems
• Ensure continuity of trading operations, prioritizing and resolving system issues with urgency and composure
• Diagnose novel production incidents, often coordinating across trading, development, infrastructure, and external exchanges
• Monitor system performance and proactively identify risks before they impact trading
• Build automation tools for system orchestration and operational efficiency
• Eliminate recurring issues through root cause analysis and durable fixes
• Partner with technology and trading teams to refine and deploy system architecture
• Enhance monitoring, observability, and resiliency
• Support and optimize core market connectivity

Your Skills And Experience

• Passion for problem solving and new technologies.
• 2-5+ years of experience in Site Reliability Engineering, Systems Integration, Production Engineering, or a related role in a heavily on‑prem environment
• 2-5+ years of hands‑on experience with Linux operating systems, network configuration, and server management
• Strong understanding of network fundamentals, including routing protocols, TCP/UDP, multicast, network offload, and kernel bypass technology
• Proficiency in Python and Bash
• Demonstrated curiosity and hands‑on experimentation with technology—whether through personal projects, home labs, open source contributions, or deep‑dive exploration of operating systems and networking
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related engineering discipline (or equivalent practical experience)

Preferred Experience

• Experience with MySQL, MongoDB, and NoSQL technologies

What You’ll Gain

• Deep exposure to cutting‑edge, low‑latency trading infrastructure
• Direct impact on live trading—your work matters immediately
• Broad technical growth across hardware, networking, systems, and application layers
• Collaboration with elite traders and engineers
• Ownership and autonomy over critical systems

Salary Range

$175,000 – $225,000 USD