Principal Software Engineer, Trading Systems (Chicago)

Disclaimer: Please be advised that the most accurate and up-to-date information about our open roles—including job descriptions, compensation, and benefits—can only be guaranteed on our official job board. For the latest listings and details, please visit: .JOIN US ON OUR MISSION TO BECOME THE #1 RETAIL TRADING PLATFORM IN THE WORLDWelcome to the dynamic world of NinjaTrader! As an industry-leading trading platform and futures broker, we're empowering traders to take control of their financial destiny. How do we do it? We provide cutting-edge products and services that enhance the trading journey. Whether a seasoned pro or just starting out, NinjaTrader equips traders with award-winning software and brokerage services to navigate the world's leading financial markets with confidence. Our growth story is nothing short of exhilarating. Since 2003, NinjaTrader has been dedicated to understanding and supporting traders on their journey toward trading triumph. Through those efforts, our user base has grown to over 2 million users and we have become the number one rated futures brokerage worldwide. But we're not stopping there. We're constantly evolving, pushing boundaries, and modernizing the futures industry. Our commitment to innovation means users will always have access to dynamic tools, real-time support, and a community of like-minded traders. So, why work at NinjaTrader? Here, you're not just part of a team; you're part of a movement. We empower employees to reach new heights in their careers by providing a dynamic culture focused on social connection, professional development, and employee recognition initiatives. Sounds too good to be true? Take it from our employees. Join us as we redefine what's possible in trading, advocate for our customers, and continue our journey toward becoming the world's top retail-focused trading platform in the world. What you’ll do:In this pivotal role on our Trading Services team, you will design, evolve, and optimize our core trading infrastructure. You will help scale and enhance our highly scalable, low-latency trading system, ensuring it meets the highest standards of performance, scalability, and reliability. Your work will directly impact our ability to support rapid growth in the retail futures trading space.In this role you will:Design, develop, and optimize our Scala-based trading services for high-volume, low-latency, 24x7 environmentsLead architectural strategy for future-state scalability and performance optimizationMentor and guide junior engineers, promoting best practices and technical excellenceCollaborate cross-functionally with product, engineering, operations, and security teams to translate business requirements into robust and secure technical solutionsOptimize system performance, with focus on JVM tuning for Scala/Akka-based distributed systemEnhance monitoring and observability of services for real-time trade execution and operational transparencyEnsure compliance with security policies, regulatory standards, and industry best practicesWhat we look for:Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent experience)Extensive experience with high-performance, high-concurrency distributed trading systemsProven expertise in JVM and performance tuning for high-performance environmentsExperience supporting 24/7 production systems, ideally in trading environmentsDeep knowledge of networking and protocols ( WebSockets, DNS, TCP/IP)Experience with CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitHub Actions)Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills in high-pressure, real-time conditionsExcellent communication skills, capable of clearly articulating technical concepts to diverse stakeholdersExperience in functional programming languages within exchange/trading environmentsBonus Points for:Experience in low-latency, lock-free development and designStrong experience with multithreading and concurrency in high-performance environmentsFamiliarity with binary or custom trading protocolsStrong knowledge of messaging frameworks (Kafka, RabbitMQ) and network protocols (UDP, TCP)Hands-on experience implementing REST APIs, OAuth, gRPC, and Redis APIsDeep understanding of order handling/matching enginesExtensive experience with FIX or other market data/order-entry protocolsPractical hands-on experience with cloud-native technologies (Kubernetes and Docker)Solid grasp of network communications, particularly IP multicast and TCP protocols used in market data feedsCompensation:The salary range for this role will be $195,000.00 - $220,000.00 USD annually. In addition, this position will also receive an annual target bonus of up to 15%. Bonus pay at NinjaTrader is based on individual performance (50%) as well as company/team performance (50%).Salary and bonus earnings are only two components of the total compensation package offered by NinjaTrader. Additional details on our total compensation package and benefits are listed below.Our Core Benefits Include:Generous PTO7 Paid Holidays Annually + 5 Conditional Holidays Annually1 Service Day Annually401k with 3.5% Company MatchPaid Parental Bonding LeaveHealth, Vision, Dental CoverageLife and Disability Insurance Covered 100% by NinjaTraderWe are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.