Software Engineer, Research

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid/On-site)

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a high-caliber Software Engineer to join a premier global proprietary trading firm. This is an opportunity to join a specialized, multi-asset systematic trading group that operates at the intersection of traditional finance and emerging digital asset markets. You will work in a fast-paced, high-autonomy environment where you will design and implement the mission-critical infrastructure required to power 24/7 global trading operations.

Responsibilities

• System Architecture: Design, build, and maintain robust full-stack software and infrastructure supporting large-scale quantitative research and live trading.

• Data Engineering: Develop and optimize data pipelines, focusing on the ingestion, management, and analysis of massive time-series datasets.

• Integration: Build and manage complex integrations with global exchanges, financial data providers, and various blockchain protocols.

• Research Support: Partner directly with quantitative researchers to accelerate the research lifecycle, from initial feature generation to production deployment.

• Quality & Reliability: Ensure high availability of trading systems through rigorous unit, functional, and integration testing, as well as comprehensive documentation.

• Collaborative Innovation: Work within a lean, agile team to solve complex technical challenges, providing on-call support as necessary to maintain global operations.

Requirements (Must-have)

• Python Expertise: 3+ years of professional experience building maintainable, complex systems using modern Python practices and type systems.

• Blockchain Knowledge: Practical understanding of major blockchain architectures and client configurations.

• Data Management: Proven experience handling and scaling large, evolving time-series databases.

• Execution: Strong track record of taking high-level business requirements and independently driving technical projects to completion.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a focus on internal stakeholder management.

• Commitment to Excellence: A high degree of self-motivation and a continuous drive to master new technologies in a competitive landscape.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-have)

• Domain Experience: Previous collaboration with quantitative researchers or experience in a systematic trading environment.

• Open Source: Contributions to recognized open-source projects within the crypto or decentralized finance ecosystem.

• Node Infrastructure: Experience deploying and managing full or archive blockchain nodes at scale.

• Advanced Engineering: Familiarity with functional programming, immutable design principles, or machine learning lifecycles.

• Polyglot Skills: Working knowledge of C++ is a significant plus.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary:$175,000 – $225,000 (commensurate with experience).

• Bonus: Eligible for an annual discretionary performance-based bonus.

• Benefits: Comprehensive package including premium medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) with employer match; and robust disability and life insurance options.