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FPGA Engineer

Optiver · Chicago, IL · Hardware

Posted Oct 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a low-latency hardware system you designed and owned. What latency did you hit, and how did you measure it?

What they are checking: Whether they have shipped real low-latency designs and measure performance carefully instead of guessing.

Tell me about a new technique or platform you researched and brought into production.

What they are checking: Whether they can research new low-latency methods and judge whether they are worth integrating.

Optiver values simple, well-architected solutions. Tell me about a time you made a design simpler instead of adding features.

What they are checking: Whether they value simplicity and can resist overengineering, which keeps systems reliable and fast to change.

What would you do

A trader tells you the hardware system missed some opportunities yesterday. How do you investigate?

What they are checking: Whether they work from evidence like captures and logs and partner with traders to find the real cause.

About the work

How do you shave nanoseconds off a path that already meets timing?

What they are checking: Whether they know advanced latency techniques like reducing logic levels, placement and choosing what to precompute.

Walk me through how you would design a market data feed handler in an FPGA.

What they are checking: Whether they understand exchange protocols, parsing and order book updates at hardware speed.

How do you trade off latency against flexibility when traders want to change strategy parameters often?

What they are checking: Whether they can design systems that stay fast but still let traders adjust behavior without a rebuild.

How do you make sure a hardware trading system fails safely?

What they are checking: Whether they build in risk checks and kill switches, since a bad system can harm the firm and the market.

What is your approach to verification for a design that will trade real money?

What they are checking: Whether they use thorough verification like constrained random testing and replaying real market data.

How do you split work between hardware and software in a trading system?

What they are checking: Whether they can decide what belongs in hardware for speed and what belongs in software for flexibility.

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The full job description

As published by 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. 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 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.   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.    Base Salary Range $200,000 — $200,000 USD

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