Staff Software Engineer, Execution

Who We Are
Headquartered in the historic Chicago Board of Trade, PEAK6 Capital Management is a proprietary options trading firm that has been defining the industry for more than 25 years. While many firms have come and gone, PEAK6 Capital Management has consistently delivered liquidity to the options market. We thrive due to our firm's special blend of financial acumen, ability to manage risk, and cutting-edge technology.

Our success is driven by our team of technologists, engineers, and traders who leverage proprietary tech and a data-centric approach to maintain inventory and stay ahead of the markets, so customers can, too.

We are committed to providing dependable liquidity, which is crucial for market stability, investor confidence, and efficient trading across asset classes.

About This Role
As a Staff Software Engineer, a regular day may include designing and building critical components of our trading infrastructure, optimizing market execution systems, and collaborating with traders to enhance algorithm performance. You'll work on complex systems ranging from market data processing to algorithmic trade execution while mentoring junior engineers. Staff Software Engineers regularly lead technical initiatives, participate in architecture discussions, and drive improvements across our trading technology stack, ensuring our systems maintain the performance and reliability needed in fast-paced market environments.

*Responsibilities:*

• Design and develop high-performance market execution systems for options and equities trading.
• Define, optimize, and enhance trading algorithms to improve execution quality and efficiency.
• Configure and maintain FIX gateway systems, ensuring reliable connectivity to exchanges and counterparties.
• Lead technical initiatives and contribute to architectural decisions for critical trading systems.
• Maintain and expand the team's operational excellence.
• Collaborate with product owners, traders, quantitative analysts, and operations teams to understand requirements and implement effective solutions.
• Mentor Software Engineers I and II, providing technical guidance and code reviews.
• Troubleshoot production issues with urgency and precision.
• Monitor system performance and identify opportunities for optimization.
• Contribute to continuous integration and delivery processes.
• Drive improvements in system stability, scalability, and performance.
• Participate in creation and evolution of Operational Excellence for our Execution systems.

*YOUR EXPERIENCE:*

• 7+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 2 years in the trading or finance industry.
• A strong desire to work with a team. Lone wolves need not apply.

• Strong ability to communicate effectively with traders on multiple fronts:

• Translating business requirements into technical solutions.

• Troubleshooting complex trading issues.
• Demonstrating skill in understanding the business value of systems being developed.

• Questioning assumptions to ensure optimal solutions, and explaining technical concepts in accessible terms.

• Strong proficiency in Java and Python.

• C++ experience is a big bonus.
• Experience with market execution systems, preferably in the equity and index options space.
• Knowledge of FIX protocol and experience configuring FIX gateways.
• Familiarity with trading algorithms and execution strategies.
• Experience with distributed systems and high-throughput applications.
• Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and system design.
• Ability to optimize applications for low-latency and high throughput performance.
• Experience with Linux environments and cloud native technologies.
• FINRA Series 57 license or ability to obtain within the first 60 days of employment.
• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• Demonstrated leadership in technical projects and mentoring junior engineers.

OUR REWARDS
We offer a robust package of employee perks and benefits, including healthcare benefits (medical, dental and vision, EAP), competitive PTO, 401k match, parental leave, and HSA contribution match. We also provide our employees with a paid subscription to the Calm app and offer generous external learning and tuition reimbursement benefits. As a hybrid workforce, we offer our employees the ability to work remotely up to two days a week.

Base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and office location. This position also may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus in addition to a range of health & wellness benefits, enhancing your overall compensation package.

Base Salary Range
$0-$0

PEAK6 is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other protected characteristic. Our hiring practices ensure that all qualified applicants receive fair consideration without regard to these characteristics.

PEAK6 is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace for all candidates, including those with disabilities. We are dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please contact our HR department at We will work with you to provide the necessary accommodations to ensure your full participation in our hiring process.