Optiver is looking for an experienced Marketing Manager to join our Brand & Marketing team. This role leads marketing initiatives for priority audiences in the US while contributing to global content efforts.

You’ll operate independently, bring structure to complex work, and collaborate closely with recruiters, business stakeholders and marketers across regions to deliver high-quality, tailored marketing solutions. You’ll play a key role in scaling content and ensuring it reaches the right audiences effectively. 

This role is based on-site in our Chicago office. 

What you’ll do 

As a marketing manager, your key responsibilities include: 

• Lead initiatives for priority audiences in the US, including developing marketing plans tailored to specific markets, audiences, or hiring needs
• Work closely with recruiters and business stakeholders to understand objectives, shape the right approach, and deliver effective solutions
• Adapt and translate content across channels and formats, including digital and events
• Own the planning and execution of content and social media activations, ensuring consistent, high-quality output across channels
• Manage and scale content production by partnering with internal stakeholders and external freelancers to deliver blogs, social posts, and thought leadership
• Define measures of success for organic social and content initiatives, track performance, and use insights to continuously improve results

What you’ll get 

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets. 

In addition, you’ll receive: 

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries 
• Highly competitive compensation package including 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 

Who you are 

• 5+ years of experience leading marketing or digital initiatives end to end, from planning through execution
• Comfortable engaging stakeholders and tailoring solutions to different needs, including working with external freelancers and agencies
• Strong experience with organic social media, including content planning and performance analysis 
• Experience delivering work across channels, with an understanding of channel-specific best practices and how to adapt content accordingly
• Exposure to conferences or events, with experience supporting content, campaigns, or on-site activation
• Highly organized, with strong prioritization and project management skills
• Clear and effective written and verbal communicator  
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience 

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

As a Graduate Quantitative Researcher, you will develop, refine and implement algorithmic trading strategies that shape the future of electronic trading. Working alongside a research team of mathematicians, scientists and technologists, you will leverage vast data sets to construct complex models to predict market movements. With your expertise in statistics and exceptional analytical and research skills, you will develop innovative solutions that are foundational to Optiver’s trading strategies.

This opportunity is also available in our New York City and Austin offices.

What you’ll do:

Your onboarding

You will participate in Optiver’s comprehensive Global Academy and be equipped with the knowledge needed to make an impact the moment you join your team. The comprehensive training covers trading theory and Optiver’s tech stack to hone your skills for your role. In addition, you will be paired with a dedicated mentor who will empower you to take ownership of your work and make a difference.

Your responsibilities

As a Quantitative Researcher, you will have the opportunity to contribute to several key areas:

• Using statistical models and machine learning to develop trading algorithms.
• Leveraging big data technologies to analyze high-frequency trading strategies, market microstructure and financial instruments to identify trading opportunities.
• Building stochastic models to determine the fair value of financial derivatives.
• Combining quantitative analysis and high-performance implementation to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of pricing engines and libraries.

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle the toughest problems in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• A performance-based bonus structure unmatched anywhere in the industry. We combine our profits across desks, teams and offices into a global profit pool.
• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries.
• Ownership over initiatives that directly solve business problems.
• 401(k) match up to 50% and fully paid health insurance.
• 25 paid vacation days alongside market holidays.
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more.

Who you are:

• PhD in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, or a related STEM field, with outstanding academic achievements
• Expected to graduate by mid-2026 and available to start full-time employment upon graduation
• Solid foundation in mathematics, probability, and statistics
• Excellent research, analytical, and modeling skills
• Independent research experience
• Proficiency in any programming language
• Experience in machine learning, with practical applications in time-series analysis and pattern recognition
• Strong interest in working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Fluent in English with strong written and verbal communication skills

Who we are: 

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Optiver is supportive of US immigration sponsorship for this role.

*We accept one application per role per year. If you have previously applied to this position during this season and have been unsuccessful, you can reapply once the next recruitment season begins in 2026.

Senior Trading Automation Specialist 

Location: Chicago    |    Department: Trading    |    Level: Senior 

About the Role

Optiver is seeking a Senior Trading Automation Specialist to join the team responsible for the daily operations, automation, and continuous improvement of our market making activity in Chicago. This is a high-impact role that sits at the intersection of trading, technology, and operational excellence. 

You will drive the strategic vision for how we scale our operations through automation, ensure the integrity and reliability of our core market making systems and strategies, and serve as a key partner to traders, researchers, and engineers across the firm. You will be expected to take full ownership of critical workstreams and deliver results with minimal oversight. 

This role requires someone who can operate at both a strategic and tactical level — comfortable shaping the long-term roadmap for trading automation while also rolling up their sleeves to solve problems in real time on the trading floor. 

What You'll Do 

Automation & Strategic Improvement 

• Define, drive and implement the automation roadmap for trading, identifying high-impact opportunities to eliminate manual processes and scale the business
• Design, implement, and maintain automated workflows, data pipelines, and reporting infrastructure
• Collaborate with Quantitative Traders, Quantitative Researchers, and Software Engineers to translate operational insights into system improvements 

Operational Excellence 

• Act as an escalation point for critical operational decisions and incidents
• Lead post-mortem processes, driving root-cause analysis and preventive measures
• Own end-to-end reliability of core trading automation systems
• Identify and resolve operational risks proactively 

What You'll Get 

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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 

Who You Are 

Required 

• 5+ years of experience in trading operations, trading technology, quantitative finance, or a closely related field
• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field (Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related); advanced degree preferred
• Strong programming skills in Python, SQL, or similar languages, with a track record of building automation and tooling
• Deep understanding of electronic trading systems, market microstructure, and the operational mechanics of market making
• Excellent analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving abilities
• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across trading, technology, and risk functions 

Preferred 

• Demonstrated leadership experience, including mentoring team members and driving cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced environment 
• Experience at a market making firm, proprietary trading firm, or quantitative hedge fund
• Track record of driving large-scale process automation or operational transformation initiatives 

Who We Are 

Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 70+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates. 

Optiver Chicago’s culture parallels the energetic city we’re immersed in. Home to the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago has established itself as the trading capital of the US. Active on leading US exchanges, Optiver’s Chicago office trades a wide range of products from listed derivatives to cash equities, ETFs, bonds and foreign exchange. 

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics. 

Below is the expected base salary for this position. This is a good-faith estimate of the base pay scale for this position and offers will ultimately be determined based on experience, education, skill set, and performance in the interview process. This position will also be eligible for a discretionary bonus (if determined by Optiver) and Optiver’s benefits package with the benefits listed above. 

Optiver is looking for an experienced Production Software Engineer to join our team responsible for all infrastructure, systems, tooling and workflows that enable our engineers to deploy, operate and observe our vast network of highly specialized and performance-sensitive trading systems. This team occupies a wide intersection of stakeholders across the business from operations to development, specifically focusing on scaling up change, increasing robustness, and reducing friction. Your contributions have the potential to directly enable a faster and safer innovation cycle for Optiver.

What you’ll do:

Our Production Software Engineers develop solutions using a mix of third party and in-house technologies, owning their changes end-to-end, including understanding the business problem, design, implementation, testing, deployment and monitoring. You will work closely with your team to support them on delivery where you see fit, such as requirements, architecture or implementation.

What you'll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• 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

Who you are:

You’re a systems-minded engineer who thrives at the intersection of software, infrastructure, and operations. You’re passionate about enabling fast, safe change — and understand the value of clear standards, scalable workflows, and high-trust automation in a production context.

• You must have:
  • Extensive experience in software engineering, particularly designing and delivering systems at scale
  • Deep knowledge of software systems, operating environments, and how distributed applications run in production
  • A strong improvement mindset, with the ability to simplify complex systems and reduce operational friction

• • Proficiency in Python
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, configuration management tools, and modern web frameworks
  • Experience working in trading or other high-performance, low-latency environments

Who we are:

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilizing the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritize safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Role Overview

The Head of Accounting will lead the firm’s technical accounting and policy function, ensuring high-quality financial reporting under US GAAP and IFRS and strong US regulatory accounting outcomes. This role partners closely with Finance leadership, Risk, Legal/Compliance, and the business to translate complex transactions into clear accounting conclusions, scalable policies, and audit-ready execution. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with strong judgment, speed, and the ability to lead through ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Accounting & Policy Leadership

• Own the firm’s technical accounting agenda, including research, interpretation, and application of US GAAP and IFRS to complex transactions and new products.
• Lead the development, maintenance, and governance of global accounting policies, memos, and position papers; ensure conclusions are well-supported and practical to operate.
• Advise on accounting impacts of business initiatives (new products, legal entity changes, intercompany arrangements), including P&L and balance sheet implications.

Financial Reporting & GAAP/IFRS Compliance

• Ensure the firm’s financial statements, disclosures, and management reporting are prepared in accordance with US GAAP and/or IFRS, with consistent application across entities and regions.
• Drive accounting judgments related to financial instruments, consolidation, revenue recognition, leases, share-based payments, and impairments (as applicable to the firm’s activity).
• Partner with external auditors on technical positions, emerging issues, and audit requests; manage discussions to timely resolution.

US Regulatory Accounting & Oversight

• Own accounting support for US regulatory reporting (e.g., broker-dealer and other regulated-entity reporting requirements), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Interpret and implement regulatory accounting guidance that affects statutory capital, net capital, and regulated entity financial statements (as applicable).
• Coordinate with Compliance and Legal on regulatory inquiries, examinations, and ongoing reporting obligations.

Controls, Governance & Process Excellence

• Establish and maintain a strong accounting control framework, including documentation, review standards, segregation of duties, and evidence retention.
• Drive continuous improvement of close and reporting processes, including automation and systems enhancements that improve accuracy and speed.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team; set clear expectations, develop talent, and create durable operating rhythms.

Stakeholder Management & Leadership

• Serve as the senior accounting advisor to Finance leadership and key stakeholders.
• Communicate complex accounting topics clearly to non-accountants and senior executives; drive decisions with a bias toward timely execution.
• Monitor and prepare for changes in accounting standards and regulatory guidance; lead implementation and change management.

Qualifications

• 12–15+ years of progressive experience in technical accounting, financial reporting, accounting advisory, or controllership within financial services or other complex environments.
• Deep expertise in US GAAP; strong working knowledge of IFRS (or vice versa), with demonstrated ability to operate in multi-reporting frameworks.
• Experience with US regulatory accounting/reporting in a regulated environment (e.g., broker-dealer, bank, asset manager, fintech with regulatory reporting), including interaction with regulators or examinations.
• Proven track record leading technical accounting projects across multiple stakeholders and driving issues to resolution.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required; CPA strongly preferred (Master’s/MBA a plus).

Skills & Attributes

• Exceptional technical depth with practical, business-oriented judgment.
• Strong leadership presence; able to influence across levels and functions.
• Execution-focused and decisive; comfortable operating in ambiguity and under tight deadlines.
• Clear communicator with strong writing skills (policy memos, position papers, audit-ready documentation).
• High ownership mindset with a strong control orientation and commitment to quality.

Senior Equity Analyst

As a Senior Equity Analyst, you’ll sit directly on the trading desk, influencing real-time decisions and shaping positions with direct P&L impact. This is not a traditional equity research role – your work will be used in live trading environments where speed, adaptability, and commercial judgement are critical.

You’ll bring strong experience owning sector coverage, along with a keen understanding of how fundamentals drive short-term price action and volatility. While we are open to candidates from any sector background, you should be comfortable applying your framework across new names and situations.

This is a high-impact role designed for analysts who thrive in fast-paced, collaborative environments – and who are eager to apply their market-making instincts, short-horizon research, and option-aware thinking to drive tangible results.

What you’ll do:

As a Senior Equity Analyst, you will:

• Leverage fundamental, event-driven, and short-term catalysts to create an orthogonal trading revenue stream expressed via the analyst book identify and evaluate trading opportunities
• Partner with traders to help optimize analyst and market making positions, directly owning risk in both the analyst and market making books
• Support market making desk with general insights that improve day-to-day trading decisions
• Perform scenario and sensitivity analyses for upcoming events and corporate developments, assessing their potential impact on both equity and volatility
• Translate research insights into actionable strategies across equities and options
• Contribute to process improvements and knowledge sharing across the analyst team, refining how fundamental insights are monetized in a market-making context
• Mentor junior analysts and support the continued growth of the equity research function

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

Who you are:

• 5+ years of experience as an equity analyst, within a market-making environment, proprietary trading firm, or event-driven / trading-oriented hedge fund
• Proven track record of owning sector coverage and generating differentiated, actionable insights
• Strong understanding of how fundamentals translate into short-term price moves and volatility
• Experience working closely with trading desks or in fast-feedback, P&L-driven environments
• Comfortable applying your research process across sectors, with the ability to quickly build conviction on new names
• Familiarity with options and volatility dynamics, or a strong interest in developing this expertise
• Highly analytical with strong problem-solving skills; thrives in fast-moving, information-rich environments
• Clear communicator who proactively shares views and collaborates effectively with traders and researchers
• Passionate about the markets, adaptable, and driven by impact and continuous learning
• Comfortable working with large data sets and building scalable, repeatable processes

Who we are

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

The Optiver Research Platform (ORP) is a vertically integrated platform team that manages both high-performance compute infrastructure and the software platform layered on top. ORP enables Optiver’s global research teams to define and execute large-scale computational problems such as simulations and model training through streamlined orchestration of complex workflows. By owning the full stack, from datacenter hardware to distributed research tooling, ORP provides the fastest possible turnaround time for experiments and continually expands Optiver’s ability to generate insights from the markets we operate in.

What you’ll do:

• Expand the Optiver Research Platform’s capabilities by building features and improving performance across service orchestration, job scheduling, cluster management, big-data processing, and other core services that business teams directly interface with.
• Build and evolve a fully managed compute & data platform layer for improved scale & reliability in Python & Rust.
• Explore cutting-edge technologies and integrate them into Optiver’s research workflows to enhance performance and allow deriving better insights.
• Collaborate globally with Optiver business teams including traders, researchers, and engineers to push their understanding of the market to new heights.

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• Experience leading large-scale engineering projects
• Strong engineering instincts and a deep understanding of computer science fundamentals
• Experience in distributed systems
• Expertise in Python is required; experience with C, C++, or Rust is a plus
• Experience working with GPUs and the CUDA ecosystem is a plus
• Ability to tackle complex technical problems at the intersection of infrastructure and research enablement
• Commitment to continuous learning and improvement in a rapidly evolving environment
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for working with global researchers and engineers
• Readiness to set technical direction, promote engineering principles, and do the right thing

Who we are:

Optiver is a global market maker driven by technology. Our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilizing the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritize safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Applicants may submit up to three application per calendar year across all open roles.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Overview:

The Automated Trading Systems (ATS) team designs and builds systematic and semi-systematic trading strategies that convert pricing and risk into real-time execution on exchange. Our systems operate across extreme scales—from nanosecond-sensitive, collocated infrastructure to large-scale simulation platforms processing terabytes of data daily with deterministic precision.
Engineers work side-by-side with traders and researchers in a tight feedback loop, where ideas move rapidly from research to production. You’ll own problems end-to-end, with the autonomy to drive improvements and direct visibility into trading outcomes.

Technology at Optiver:

At Optiver we pride ourselves on being real engineers, not just coders. Our engineers work closely with traders to identify the business problems we face and determine how they should be solved. We apply a disciplined and scientific approach. We engineer simple, well-architected solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our traders. Our passion is to solve problems which really matter to the business, and we take pride in the quality of our solutions.

What you’ll do:

• Drive improvements to our options trading systems through hands-on engineering and cross-functional collaboration
  • Trading algorithms
  • Backtesting and research infrastructure
  • Market data and execution systems
• Partner closely with traders and researchers to iterate on and deploy strategies
• Lead and contribute to large-scale, performance-critical projects
• Mentor and develop junior engineers
• Influence technical direction and contribute to strategic decisions shaping the business

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• Experience leading complex, large-scale engineering projects
• Strong computer science fundamentals and sound engineering judgment
• Proficiency in systems-level or performance-oriented programming (e.g., C, C++, Python, Linux)
• Ability to balance innovative thinking with practical execution
• A mindset of continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to set technical direction, uphold engineering standards, and take ownership of outcomes

Who we are:

Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 70+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates.

Optiver Chicago’s culture parallels the energetic city we’re immersed in. Home to the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago has established itself as the trading capital of the US. Active on leading US exchanges, Optiver’s Chicago office trades a wide range of products from listed derivatives to cash equities, ETFs, bonds and foreign exchange.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Overview:

You’ll work at the center of our interaction with retail order flow, building systems that decide how millions of orders are priced, routed, and executed in real time. This role sits directly alongside traders and researchers, owning problems end-to-end—from exchange connectivity and routing logic to pricing, risk checks, and monitoring. 

You’ll operate across the full stack, balancing performance, correctness, and adaptability in a fast-moving market environment. 

Technology at Optiver:

At Optiver we pride ourselves on being real engineers, not just coders. Our engineers work closely with traders to identify the business problems we face and determine how they should be solved. We apply a disciplined and scientific approach. We engineer simple, well-architected solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our traders. Our passion is to solve problems which really matter to the business, and we take pride in the quality of our solutions.

What you’ll do:

• Design and build real-time order routing and execution systems handling high volumes of retail flow.
• Work closely with trading and research to optimize execution quality (fill rates, slippage, speed)
• Improve resiliency, observability, and risk controls across the execution stack
• Analyze production behavior and implement data-driven improvements to routing and execution strategies
• Own systems end-to-end, from design and deployment to monitoring and iteration  

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• Experience leading complex, large-scale engineering projects
• Strong computer science fundamentals and sound engineering judgment
• Ability to balance innovative thinking with practical execution
• Proficient in systems-level programming (e.g., C, C++, Linux)
• A mindset of continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to set technical direction, uphold engineering standards, and take ownership of outcomes 

Who we are:

Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 70+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates.

Optiver Chicago’s culture parallels the energetic city we’re immersed in. Home to the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago has established itself as the trading capital of the US. Active on leading US exchanges, Optiver’s Chicago office trades a wide range of products from listed derivatives to cash equities, ETFs, bonds and foreign exchange.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Overview:

You’ll work on the systems and experiments that shape how we compete on exchanges. This role sits at the intersection of engineering, trading, and market microstructure research – focused on understanding what drives execution outcomes and turning those insights into production systems. 

You’ll collaborate with the team on the mandate is to understand exchange architecture end-to-end – from matching engines and order types to market data feeds and queue dynamics – and use that knowledge to design and evaluate new approaches to order placement and execution. 

Rather than purely optimizing for latency, this role is centered on research, experimentation, and iteration under uncertainty. You’ll explore ambiguous problems where the right answer isn’t known upfront, form hypotheses, and validate them through a combination of data analysis, simulation, and live experimentation. Working closely with researchers, you’ll continuously refine how we interact with markets based on real-world feedback.

Technology at Optiver:

At Optiver we pride ourselves on being real engineers, not just coders. Our engineers work closely with traders to identify the business problems we face and determine how they should be solved. We apply a disciplined and scientific approach. We engineer simple, well-architected solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our traders. Our passion is to solve problems which really matter to the business, and we take pride in the quality of our solutions.

What you’ll do:

• Operate in ambiguous, high-uncertainty environments, turning open-ended questions into a deep understanding of exchange microstructure
• Partner with researchers to design and run experiments that evaluate execution strategies and market behavior
• Build systems that enable rapid iteration on order placement, cancellation, and execution logic
• Translate research findings into robust production improvements
• Own the full loop: idea → experiment → analysis → implementation 

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• Experience leading complex, large-scale engineering projects
• Strong computer science fundamentals and sound engineering judgment
• Ability to balance innovative thinking with practical execution
• Proficient in systems-level programming (e.g., C, C++, Linux)
• A mindset of continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to set technical direction, uphold engineering standards, and take ownership of outcomes 

Who we are:

Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 70+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates.

Optiver Chicago’s culture parallels the energetic city we’re immersed in. Home to the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago has established itself as the trading capital of the US. Active on leading US exchanges, Optiver’s Chicago office trades a wide range of products from listed derivatives to cash equities, ETFs, bonds and foreign exchange.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

As a Senior Technical Program Manager – Infrastructure, you’ll help scale and evolve the systems that form the backbone of Optiver’s competitive advantage.

Optiver’s infrastructure is optimized for speed, reliability, and scale. You’ll partner with world-class engineers to deliver large-scale infrastructure programs - spanning data centers, hardware, and global network connectivity - ensuring we continue to operate at the cutting edge of performance.

This role demands both technical depth and execution excellence, as you’ll lead programs that enable growth while maintaining the uncompromising standards of quality and reliability that underpin every trade.

What you’ll do

In Optiver’s fast-paced environment, you will work alongside engineers and leaders to deliver multiple projects that support the firm’s strategic growth and take Optiver to the next level. 

As a Senior Technical Program Manager, your key responsibilities include: 

• Lead and coordinate delivery of large-scale infrastructure programs spanning data centers, hardware platforms, network connectivity, and foundational services.

• Partner with engineering and operations leadership to define scope, manage dependencies, and drive execution across teams.

• Build program frameworks to track progress, manage risk, and improve delivery predictability.

• Drive continuous improvement in infrastructure planning, capacity management, and process maturity.

• Ensure alignment between infrastructure, development, and trading stakeholders to support Optiver’s global growth.

Who you are

• Highly self-motivated and thrive in environments with minimal oversight. You take full ownership, show initiative, manage your own priorities effectively and keep momentum even when direction isn’t fully defined

• Hold a degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related STEM field.

• Have 5+ years of experience in engineering (IT infrastructure, hardware, or networks) and/or technical program management in a high-performance environment

• Strong technical understanding of data centers, compute, storage, and network systems.

• AI-first mindset with experience leveraging generative or agentic AI to automate workflows, improve program visibility, and enhance productivity

• Proven success leading large-scale, complex infrastructure or hardware delivery programs.

• Excellent communicator and structured problem-solver with a bias for action.

• Motivated by building and scaling the systems that power high-performance trading.

What you’ll get:  

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets. 

In addition, you’ll receive: 

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• 401(k) match up to 50% and fully paid health insurance
• 25 paid vacation days alongside market holidays
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more 

Who we are:

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe. 

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Optiver is looking for an Institutional Trader to join our Trading Team. As one of the key faces of our organization, you will translate market intricacies into strategic trades, driving profitability and expanding our trading counterparties utilizing your strong interpersonal skills. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of our institutional business.

What you’ll do:

Institutional traders often take on the largest and most impactful trades across the landscape. Every day presents them with new interactions, experiences and situations to navigate. In this role, you will also:

• Represent Optiver by managing current and building new relationships with external counterparties
• Interpret large flows to inform trading strategies
• Identify new market opportunities in order to diversify our strategies and maximize team success
• Collaborate with our internal sales and trading desks to make real-time contributions to trading and pricing decisions

What you’ll get:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree (required)
• Have 2-5 years of experience trading Index and/or Equity Derivatives at a Bank or Propriety Trading Firm
• Expertise in trading and position management around market flows
• Have a deep understanding of the market landscape and industry dynamics, allowing for the identification of innovative growth prospects
• Excellent communicator with experience building and maintaining external relationships in your prior roles
• Competitive attitude and dedication to constantly improve in a team environment  
• Strong mathematical and quantitative background
• Legal authorization to work in the US 

Who we are:

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Optiver Chicago is seeking a seasoned Data Architect to support and advance the data capabilities of our local research team and contribute to our broader Lakehouse architecture vision. In this role, you'll work with cutting-edge tools like Databricks, Apache Spark, and Delta Lake, translating experimental research workflows into scalable, production-grade systems.

As a critical engineering presence in Chicago, you'll directly influence local data strategy while collaborating with our Global Research and Data Platform teams. Your work will drive real-time insights, enable predictive analytics, and power decision-making across the trading lifecycle.

This role combines hands-on data engineering, cross-regional collaboration, and platform innovation—all within a high-performance, data-driven environment.

What you’ll do:

• Design, build, and maintain reliable ETL/ELT pipelines using Spark, Structured Streaming, Databricks, and our in-house high-performance tools
• Optimize and productionize research workflows with a strong focus on scalability, resilience, and performance tuning
• Collaborate with power users to develop and share reusable patterns, templates, and onboarding pathways
• Define, document, and enforce data engineering best practices
• Mentor junior engineers and drive a culture of continuous learning and DataOps excellence

What You’ll Get

• Immediate impact on the data systems powering world-class research and real-time trading decisions.
• A unique opportunity to shape Lakehouse engineering in the United States and influence global data architecture.
• High autonomy to own complex workflows and template “how-to” solutions across teams.
• Close collaboration with quant researchers and traders to unlock predictive insights and trading alpha.
• Partnership with best-in-class engineers across Chicago, Amsterdam, and Sydney.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• 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

Who you are:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in data engineering, delivering robust pipelines at scale
• Advanced Python skills and deep experience with Apache Spark and the Databricks platform
• Familiarity with Delta Lake, streaming data systems (e.g., Kafka), and distributed compute environments
• Solid understanding of cloud-native data architectures (preferably AWS) and infrastructure cost optimization principles
• Proficiency in relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL) and modern orchestration tools
• Bonus: Experience with system-level languages (e.g., C++, Rust) and exposure to MLOps or MLflow
• Proven ability to lead projects independently and deliver outcomes in fast-paced environments
• Clear communicator who collaborates well with researchers, traders, and engineers alike
• Enthusiastic mentor and strong advocate for engineering rigor and platform scalability
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline

Who we are:

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilizing the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritize safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

The Optiver Research Platform (ORP) is a vertically integrated platform team that manages both high-performance compute infrastructure and the software platform layered on top. ORP enables Optiver’s global research teams to define and execute large-scale computational problems such as simulations and model training through streamlined orchestration of complex workflows. By owning the full stack, from datacenter hardware to distributed research tooling, ORP provides the fastest possible turnaround time for experiments and continually expands Optiver’s ability to generate insights from the markets we operate in.

What you’ll do:

• Expand the Optiver Research Platform’s capabilities by building features and improving performance across service orchestration, job scheduling, cluster management, big-data processing, and other core services that business teams directly interface with.
• Build and evolve a fully managed compute & data platform layer for improved scale & reliability in Python & Rust.
• Explore cutting-edge technologies and integrate them into Optiver’s research workflows to enhance performance and allow deriving better insights.
• Collaborate globally with Optiver business teams including traders, researchers, and engineers to push their understanding of the market to new heights.

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• Experience leading large-scale engineering projects
• Strong engineering instincts and a deep understanding of computer science fundamentals
• Experience in distributed systems
• Expertise in Python is required; experience with C, C++, or Rust is a plus
• Experience working with GPUs and the CUDA ecosystem is a plus
• Ability to tackle complex technical problems at the intersection of infrastructure and research enablement
• Commitment to continuous learning and improvement in a rapidly evolving environment
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for working with global researchers and engineers
• Readiness to set technical direction, promote engineering principles, and do the right thing

Who we are:

Optiver is a global market maker driven by technology. Our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilizing the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritize safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Applicants may submit up to three application per calendar year across all open roles.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Overview:

You’ll build the infrastructure and workflows that power systematic and semi-systematic trading at scale. Sitting at the intersection of research and engineering, this role enables large-scale experimentation, high-fidelity backtesting, and data-driven strategy development. 

You’ll partner closely with traders and researchers to turn ideas into measurable experiments—designing robust backtests, iterating quickly, and uncovering signal in complex datasets. The systems you build will be critical to exploring new trading strategies, refining execution logic, and supporting advanced techniques including machine learning. 

This is a highly experimental environment where progress depends on speed, correctness, and the ability to ask—and answer—the right questions.

Technology at Optiver:

At Optiver we pride ourselves on being real engineers, not just coders. Our engineers work closely with traders to identify the business problems we face and determine how they should be solved. We apply a disciplined and scientific approach. We engineer simple, well-architected solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our traders. Our passion is to solve problems which really matter to the business, and we take pride in the quality of our solutions.

What you’ll do:

• Build and scale high-performance backtesting and simulation infrastructure 
• Design workflows that enable rapid experimentation and hypothesis testing  
• Translate trading ideas into testable models, signals, and research pipelines  
• Ensure realism and correctness in simulations (e.g., market microstructure, latency, data quality)  
• Develop tools to analyze performance, explain behavior, and guide iteration  
• Improve the speed, reliability, and usability of the research platform  
• Own the full lifecycle from idea → backtest → analysis → production  

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• Experience leading complex, large-scale engineering projects
• Strong computer science fundamentals and sound engineering judgment
• Ability to balance innovative thinking with practical execution
• Proficiency in systems-level programming (e.g., C, C++, Linux)
• A mindset of continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to set technical direction, uphold engineering standards, and take ownership of outcomes 

Who we are:

Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 70+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates.

Optiver Chicago’s culture parallels the energetic city we’re immersed in. Home to the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago has established itself as the trading capital of the US. Active on leading US exchanges, Optiver’s Chicago office trades a wide range of products from listed derivatives to cash equities, ETFs, bonds and foreign exchange.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

As a Graduate Quantitative Researcher, you will develop, refine and implement algorithmic trading strategies that shape the future of electronic trading. Working alongside a research team of mathematicians, scientists and technologists, you will leverage vast data sets to construct complex models to predict market movements. With your expertise in statistics and exceptional analytical and research skills, you will develop innovative solutions that are foundational to Optiver’s trading strategies.

This opportunity is also available in our Chicago and New York City offices.

What you’ll do:

Your onboarding

You will participate in Optiver’s comprehensive Global Academy and be equipped with the knowledge needed to make an impact the moment you join your team. The comprehensive training covers trading theory and Optiver’s tech stack to hone your skills for your role. In addition, you will be paired with a dedicated mentor who will empower you to take ownership of your work and make a difference.

Your responsibilities

As a Quantitative Researcher, you will have the opportunity to contribute to several key areas:

• Using statistical models and machine learning to develop trading algorithms.
• Leveraging big data technologies to analyze high-frequency trading strategies, market microstructure and financial instruments to identify trading opportunities.
• Building stochastic models to determine the fair value of financial derivatives.
• Combining quantitative analysis and high-performance implementation to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of pricing engines and libraries.

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle the toughest problems in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• A performance-based bonus structure unmatched anywhere in the industry. We combine our profits across desks, teams and offices into a global profit pool.
• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries.
• Ownership over initiatives that directly solve business problems.
• 401(k) match up to 50% and fully paid health insurance.
• 25 paid vacation days alongside market holidays.
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more.

Who you are:

• PhD in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, or a related STEM field, with outstanding academic achievements
• Expected to graduate by mid-2026 and available to start full-time employment upon graduation
• Solid foundation in mathematics, probability, and statistics
• Excellent research, analytical, and modeling skills
• Independent research experience
• Proficiency in any programming language
• Experience in machine learning, with practical applications in time-series analysis and pattern recognition
• Strong interest in working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Fluent in English with strong written and verbal communication skills

Who we are: 

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Optiver is supportive of US immigration sponsorship for this role.

*We accept one application per role per year. If you have previously applied to this position during this season and have been unsuccessful, you can reapply once the next recruitment season begins in 2026.

Overview:

You’ll work directly with traders to solve the core problems that drive our trading. This role is fully embedded on the desk, owning systems and workflows end-to-end across the stack—from real-time trading infrastructure to internal tools and analytics. 

Unlike more specialized roles, you’ll operate across a wide range of challenges: building new trading logic, improving existing systems, developing tools to support decision-making, and scaling infrastructure as strategies evolve. The problems are fast-moving and often ambiguous, requiring close collaboration with traders and a strong sense of ownership. 

This is a high-impact role where your work directly influences trading performance, and where success comes from quickly understanding problems, building solutions, and iterating in production.

Technology at Optiver:

At Optiver we pride ourselves on being real engineers, not just coders. Our engineers work closely with traders to identify the business problems we face and determine how they should be solved. We apply a disciplined and scientific approach. We engineer simple, well-architected solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our traders. Our passion is to solve problems which really matter to the business, and we take pride in the quality of our solutions.

What you’ll do:

• Work side-by-side with traders to identify, prioritize, and solve high-impact problems
• Build and maintain systems across the stack, including trading logic, infrastructure, and internal tooling
• Rapidly prototype and iterate on solutions based on live feedback from the desk
• Take ownership of problems end-to-end: idea → design → implementation → production → iteration
• Operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment where priorities evolve quickly 

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• Experience leading complex, large-scale engineering projects
• Strong computer science fundamentals and sound engineering judgment
• Ability to balance innovative thinking with practical execution
• Proficient in systems-level programming (e.g., C, C++, Linux)
• A mindset of continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to set technical direction, uphold engineering standards, and take ownership of outcomes 

Who we are:

Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 70+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates.

Optiver Chicago’s culture parallels the energetic city we’re immersed in. Home to the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago has established itself as the trading capital of the US. Active on leading US exchanges, Optiver’s Chicago office trades a wide range of products from listed derivatives to cash equities, ETFs, bonds and foreign exchange.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

As a Graduate Quantitative Researcher, you will develop, refine and implement algorithmic trading strategies that shape the future of electronic trading. Working alongside a research team of mathematicians, scientists and technologists, you will leverage vast data sets to construct complex models to predict market movements. With your expertise in statistics and exceptional analytical and research skills, you will develop innovative solutions that are foundational to Optiver’s trading strategies.

This opportunity is also available in our Chicago and Austin offices.

What you’ll do:

Your onboarding

You will participate in Optiver’s comprehensive Global Academy and be equipped with the knowledge needed to make an impact the moment you join your team. The comprehensive training covers trading theory and Optiver’s tech stack to hone your skills for your role. In addition, you will be paired with a dedicated mentor who will empower you to take ownership of your work and make a difference.

Your responsibilities

As a Quantitative Researcher, you will have the opportunity to contribute to several key areas:

• Using statistical models and machine learning to develop trading algorithms.
• Leveraging big data technologies to analyze high-frequency trading strategies, market microstructure and financial instruments to identify trading opportunities.
• Building stochastic models to determine the fair value of financial derivatives.
• Combining quantitative analysis and high-performance implementation to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of pricing engines and libraries.

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle the toughest problems in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• A performance-based bonus structure unmatched anywhere in the industry. We combine our profits across desks, teams and offices into a global profit pool.
• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries.
• Ownership over initiatives that directly solve business problems.
• 401(k) match up to 50% and fully paid health insurance.
• 25 paid vacation days alongside market holidays.
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more.

Who you are:

• PhD in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, or a related STEM field, with outstanding academic achievements
• Expected to graduate by mid-2026 and available to start full-time employment upon graduation
• Solid foundation in mathematics, probability, and statistics
• Excellent research, analytical, and modeling skills
• Independent research experience
• Proficiency in any programming language
• Experience in machine learning, with practical applications in time-series analysis and pattern recognition
• Strong interest in working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Fluent in English with strong written and verbal communication skills

Who we are: 

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Optiver is supportive of US immigration sponsorship for this role.

*We accept one application per role per year. If you have previously applied to this position during this season and have been unsuccessful, you can reapply once the next recruitment season begins in 2026.

Optiver is seeking Quantitative Researchers to join our High-Frequency Trading (HFT) Team, where we run fully automated trading strategies powered by Machine Learning. As part of this high-impact, collaborative team, you’ll play a key role in developing, improving, and executing trading strategies, directly shaping our research and execution pipeline.

What you'll do:

• Conduct alpha, signal, and feature research, developing models to enhance predictions and improve trading algorithms
• Collaborate with peers to review research, solve complex problems, and refine trading strategies
• Optimize research workflows to increase efficiency and effectiveness
• Contribute to strategic discussions, helping shape the future direction of the business

What you'll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• 2+ years of quantitative research experience on a successful futures/equities trading team
• Proven track record of developing profitable trading strategies, with strong analytical and mathematical skills
• Experience in computationally intensive research
• BS, MS, and/or PhD in a quantitative or technical field
• Proficiency in programming languages (C++, C, Python, Java)
• A highly collaborative team player, valuing diverse perspectives and building strong partnerships
• A self-starter who takes initiative, sets ambitious goals, and proactively identifies opportunities for impact

Who we are:
At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Optiver Chicago is seeking a seasoned Data Engineer to support and advance the data capabilities of our local research team and contribute to our broader Lakehouse architecture vision. In this role, you'll work with cutting-edge tools like Databricks, Apache Spark, and Delta Lake, translating experimental research workflows into scalable, production-grade systems.

As a critical engineering presence in Chicago, you'll directly influence local data strategy while collaborating with our Global Research and Data Platform teams. Your work will drive real-time insights, enable predictive analytics, and power decision-making across the trading lifecycle.

This role combines hands-on data engineering, cross-regional collaboration, and platform innovation—all within a high-performance, data-driven environment.

What you’ll do:

• Design, build, and maintain reliable ETL/ELT pipelines using Spark, Structured Streaming, Databricks, and our in-house high-performance tools
• Optimize and productionize research workflows with a strong focus on scalability, resilience, and performance tuning
• Collaborate with power users to develop and share reusable patterns, templates, and onboarding pathways
• Define, document, and enforce data engineering best practices
• Mentor junior engineers and drive a culture of continuous learning and DataOps excellence

What You’ll Get

• Immediate impact on the data systems powering world-class research and real-time trading decisions.
• A unique opportunity to shape Lakehouse engineering in the United States and influence global data architecture.
• High autonomy to own complex workflows and template “how-to” solutions across teams.
• Close collaboration with quant researchers and traders to unlock predictive insights and trading alpha.
• Partnership with best-in-class engineers across Chicago, Amsterdam, and Sydney.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• 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

Who you are:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in data engineering, delivering robust pipelines at scale
• Advanced Python skills and deep experience with Apache Spark and the Databricks platform
• Familiarity with Delta Lake, streaming data systems (e.g., Kafka), and distributed compute environments
• Solid understanding of cloud-native data architectures (preferably AWS) and infrastructure cost optimization principles
• Proficiency in relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL) and modern orchestration tools
• Bonus: Experience with system-level languages (e.g., C++, Rust) and exposure to MLOps or MLflow
• Proven ability to lead projects independently and deliver outcomes in fast-paced environments
• Clear communicator who collaborates well with researchers, traders, and engineers alike
• Enthusiastic mentor and strong advocate for engineering rigor and platform scalability
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline

Who we are:

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilizing the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritize safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

At Optiver we pride ourselves on being real engineers, not just coders. Our engineers work closely with traders to identify the business problems we face and determine how they should be solved. We apply a disciplined and scientific approach. We engineer simple, well-architected solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our traders. Our passion is to solve problems which really matter to the business, and we take pride in the quality of our solutions.

Hardware Engineers at Optiver build hardware-based trading systems ranging from low latency algorithms to high bandwidth computation. They are responsible for owning all aspects of the development process from ideation to implementation creating bespoke solutions to our complex trading problems. Their systems have little room for failure which add to the stability of the market, not detract from it. Working in close collaboration with software engineers and traders, hardware engineers deeply understand our trading problems and create dynamic, well-architected systems that make an impact in a matter of days and weeks rather than months and years.

What you’ll do: 

• 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.
• Work 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.
• Manage relationships with 3rd party vendors.

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• A Bachelor’s degree in CE, EE, CS, or related technical field.
• Experience designing, coding, testing, and verifying FPGAs and/or ASICs.
• Experience coding in VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog as well as C or C++.
• Experience with RTL synthesis, writing timing, area, and other relevant constraints.
• Experience with digital simulators and self-checking test benches.
• Experience supporting post-silicon bring-up and debugging a plus.
• Ability to work closely with software developers to rapidly deliver integrated systems.

Who we are:

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency, and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Optiver Chicago’s culture parallels the energetic city we’re immersed in. Home to the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago has established itself as the trading capital of the US. Active on leading US exchanges, Optiver’s Chicago office trades a wide range of products from listed derivatives to cash equities, ETFs, bonds and foreign exchange

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Optiver is seeking Quantitative Researchers to join our High-Frequency Trading (HFT) Team, where we run fully automated trading strategies powered by Machine Learning. As part of this high-impact, collaborative team, you’ll play a key role in developing, improving, and executing trading strategies, directly shaping our research and execution pipeline.

What you'll do:

• Conduct alpha, signal, and feature research, developing models to enhance predictions and improve trading algorithms
• Collaborate with peers to review research, solve complex problems, and refine trading strategies
• Optimize research workflows to increase efficiency and effectiveness
• Contribute to strategic discussions, helping shape the future direction of the business

What you'll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• 2+ years of quantitative research experience on a successful futures/equities trading team
• Proven track record of developing profitable trading strategies, with strong analytical and mathematical skills
• Experience in computationally intensive research
• BS, MS, and/or PhD in a quantitative or technical field
• Proficiency in programming languages (C++, C, Python, Java)
• A highly collaborative team player, valuing diverse perspectives and building strong partnerships
• A self-starter who takes initiative, sets ambitious goals, and proactively identifies opportunities for impact

Who we are:
At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Optiver is growing our Systematic Volatility Trading team and looking for an exceptional Quantitative Researcher to join us in the early stages. This is a rare opportunity to help define the direction of a fully automated options trading strategy, leveraging cutting-edge research to drive performance and profitability.

What you’ll do:

• Develop and refine alpha-driven strategies for fully automated options trading
• Research and implement novel signals, models, and execution techniques to optimize trading performance
• Play a key role in shaping the future of the team

What you’ll get:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• 4-5+ years of quantitative research experience, focused on alpha generation in equity or index options
• BS, MS, and/or PhD in a quantitative or technical field
• Strong individual contributor who thrives in a fast-paced, high-ownership environment.
• Strong programming and data analysis skills (Python, C++, or similar)
• Ability to think differently, challenge assumptions, and identify unique trading opportunities
• Excited to be an early-stage team member, helping to build and scale a world-class systematic vol trading effort

Who we are:

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilizing the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritize safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Optiver is expanding its Systematic Options Trading Team and seeking exceptional Quantitative Researchers and Traders to drive its next phase of growth. You’ll join a team at the forefront of designing and optimizing our automated systems that work autonomously or alongside our operational options traders. With significant resources, cutting-edge infrastructure, and a collaborative environment, you'll help shape the direction of our trading systems and execution models.

What you’ll do

• Design, develop, and refine systematic trading strategies to optimize market reactions, order placement, and execution in order to maximize trading performance
• Utilize modelling, machine learning, and other techniques to gather insights from data in this pursuit

What you’ll get

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are

• 3+ years of index options experience focused on systematic trading
• BS, MS, or PhD in a quantitative or technical field
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills, with a track record of applying them to trading problems
• Proficient in programming (Python, C++, or similar)
• Collaborative team player with experience working across departments and partnering closely with development
• A self-starter who identifies opportunities to make an impact

Who we are:
At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Optiver is seeking Quantitative Researchers to join our High-Frequency Trading (HFT) Team, where we run fully automated trading strategies powered by Machine Learning. As part of this high-impact, collaborative team, you’ll play a key role in developing, improving, and executing trading strategies, directly shaping our research and execution pipeline.

What you'll do:

• Conduct alpha, signal, and feature research, developing models to enhance predictions and improve trading algorithms
• Collaborate with peers to review research, solve complex problems, and refine trading strategies
• Optimize research workflows to increase efficiency and effectiveness
• Contribute to strategic discussions, helping shape the future direction of the business

What you'll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• A 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

Who you are:

• 2+ years of quantitative research experience on a successful futures/equities trading team
• Proven track record of developing profitable trading strategies, with strong analytical and mathematical skills
• Experience in computationally intensive research
• BS, MS, and/or PhD in a quantitative or technical field
• Proficiency in programming languages (C++, C, Python, Java)
• A highly collaborative team player, valuing diverse perspectives and building strong partnerships
• A self-starter who takes initiative, sets ambitious goals, and proactively identifies opportunities for impact

Who we are:
At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.