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This position has closed. Northern Trust removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Senior Software Engineer - C++/Python

Northern Trust · Chicago, IL · $164,600–$288,000 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

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 C++ system you worked on where performance mattered. What did you do to make it fast?

What they are checking: Whether they have real C++ performance experience, such as memory management and profiling.

Tell me about a time you took ownership of a problem that was not strictly yours.

What they are checking: Whether they show the ownership the posting values, especially in a shared and critical system.

What would you do

A batch job that settles trades failed overnight, and operations needs it fixed by market open. Walk me through what you do.

What they are checking: Whether they can handle production pressure calmly and fix the problem without creating new risk.

An operations user describes a problem that does not match what the code seems to do. How do you work it out with them?

What they are checking: Whether they can communicate with business users and dig into the real issue together.

About the work

Explain what happens in post-trade processing, from trade capture to settlement. Where have you worked in that flow?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the back-office domain these mission-critical applications serve.

How do you decide whether a piece of logic belongs in C++, Python or SQL?

What they are checking: Whether they choose tools based on performance, maintainability and data needs rather than habit.

What common memory or concurrency bugs have you hit in C++, and how did you find them?

What they are checking: Whether they can debug the hard problems in C++ systems using sanitizers, debuggers and careful reasoning.

How do you write SQL that stays fast as trade volumes grow?

What they are checking: Whether they understand indexing, query plans and set-based thinking for large financial datasets.

How do you use AI tools like GitHub Copilot in your work, and how do you check the code they produce?

What they are checking: Whether they use AI tools productively while keeping responsibility for correctness in critical systems.

How do you test changes to financial processing code so you know you have not broken anything?

What they are checking: Whether they rely on solid unit, regression and reconciliation tests, which matter when money is involved.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northern Trust from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northern Trust.

About Northern Trust As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions. Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide. With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service. About the Role We are looking for a highly motivated Senior Software Engineer to design, build, and support mission-critical back-office post-trade processing applications. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in C++, Python, and SQL with strong problem-solving, communication, and ownership skills. You will work closely with business stakeholders, operations teams, architects, and fellow engineers to develop scalable, reliable, and high-performance solutions supporting critical financial workflows. We value engineers who embrace modern development practices and leverage AI tools such as GitHub Copilot and Claude to improve productivity, code quality, and innovation. Key Responsibilities • Design, develop, and maintain high-performance server-side applications using modern C++ and Python. • Build scalable and reliable solutions supporting reconciliation related financial workflows. • Design and optimize SQL queries, database interactions, and data processing components. • Implement engineering best practices including logging, monitoring, caching, exception handling, performance tuning, and automated testing. • Investigate and resolve complex production issues using application, database, and infrastructure diagnostics. • Participate in architecture discussions, code reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives. • Leverage AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot and Claude to enhance development efficiency and software quality. • Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of technical excellence and collaboration. Required Qualifications • 12+ years of software development experience building enterprise applications. • Strong expertise in modern C++ (C++11/14/17/20 preferred). • Solid experience with Python for automation, tooling, and application development. • Strong SQL and database performance tuning skills. • Experience designing scalable, maintainable, and resilient distributed systems. • Strong Linux and Windows troubleshooting and administration skills. • Experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and modern software development practices. • Excellent debugging, analytical, and problem-solving skills. • Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with both technical and business teams. Preferred Qualifications • Experience in financial services, capital markets, or post-trade processing systems. • Familiarity with Azure cloud services, monitoring, and observability tools. • Experience with messaging platforms such as Kafka, MQ, or event-driven architectures. • Knowledge of microservices, containerization, and modern application architectures. • Experience using AI-powered developer tools such as GitHub Copilot, Claude, or similar technologies. What Makes You a Great Fit • Strong ownership mindset with excellent execution skills. • Able to quickly understand complex business and technical concepts. • Exceptional troubleshooting and root-cause analysis capabilities. • Continuously learning new technologies, frameworks, and engineering practices. • Collaborative team player with strong mentoring and communication skills. • Comfortable working in fast-paced environments supporting critical business systems. • Passionate about delivering reliable, maintainable, and high-quality software. Salary Range: $164,600 - 288,000 USD Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component. Work Authorization Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa). Working with Us As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve. Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities. Reasonable Accommodation Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at MyHRHelp@ntrs.com , or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.