Graduate FPGA Engineer, Chicago)

About the Role

As an FPGA Engineer, you’ll 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 have in-depth insight into a problem before developing the solution.

Key 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.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• 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 to 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 for writing clean code, well-architected systems, and continuous improvement.
• A collaborative teammate comfortable working with developers, traders, and business teams.

Onboarding

• First eight weeks: Participate in Optiver’s comprehensive Global Academy, covering trading theory and Optiver’s tech stack.
• Paired with a dedicated mentor.

What You’ll Get

• The 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 and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more.

Base Salary Range: $200,000—$200,000 USD

This position will also be eligible for a discretionary bonus and Optiver’s benefits package.