Graduate FPGA Engineer (2027 Start - Chicago)

About the role

As an FPGA Engineer at Optiver, you’ll work side-by-side with teammates to build real-world applications that power a global trading firm. You’ll create solutions with nanosecond response times, highly parallelized algorithms, and customized low-level networking that solve business challenges effectively and efficiently. Collaborating closely with our business, you’ll gain in-depth insight into problems before developing solutions. Optiver is building with cutting-edge AI technology in the most competitive, data-rich landscapes in the world: financial markets. Every day brings new, exciting technical challenges to solve.

Onboarding

In the first eight weeks, you will participate in Optiver’s comprehensive Global Academy and be equipped with the knowledge needed to make an impact immediately. The training covers trading theory and Optiver’s tech stack to hone your skills. You will also be paired with a dedicated mentor who will empower you to take ownership of your work.

Responsibilities

• Accelerate network infrastructure and trading system components with high-speed hardware designs.
• Research new low-latency techniques and platforms and identify opportunities for integration with our trading system.
• Collaborate in a multidisciplinary team of traders, software developers, and infrastructure engineers.
• Leverage the best hardware available or build in-house versions to ensure our FPGAs can interface with cutting-edge server hardware.

Qualifications

• A student pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or another related field.
• On track to graduate between December 2026 and June 2027.
• Strong engineering instincts and hands-on experience in digital design with FPGAs or ASICs.
• Experienced in writing hardware in VHDL, Verilog, or System Verilog.
• Passionate about writing clean code, well-architected systems, and continuous improvement.
• A collaborative teammate comfortable working with developers, traders, and business teams.

Benefits

• Opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries.
• Highly competitive compensation package.
• Global profit-sharing pool and performance-based bonus structure.
• 401(k) match up to 50%.
• Comprehensive health, mental, dental, vision, disability, and life coverage.
• 25 paid vacation days alongside market holidays.
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch, snacks, regular social events, clubs, and sporting leagues.

Pay

Expected base salary range: $200,000 USD. This position is also eligible for a discretionary bonus and Optiver’s benefits package.

About Us

Optiver is a leading technology- and research-driven trading firm. Our teams of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and traders work side by side to develop, test, and scale ideas that shape how we understand and trade global markets. Powered by a global platform built for rapid experimentation and iteration, we combine the scientific rigor of a research institution with the pace of a technology company. Optiver is supportive of US immigration sponsorship for this role.