Job Description
Job Title: Principal Network Engineer (HFT Trading Networks)
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Location: Chicago, IL or New York City, NY
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Work Model: Onsite 4 days per week
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Duration: Full-time
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Job Description:
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We are seeking a Principal Network Engineer to serve as the technical authority for our global, low-latency trading infrastructure. This role is ideal for a seasoned network engineering leader with deep expertise in designing, scaling, and optimizing highly distributed, latency-sensitive environments across data centers, colocation facilities, and cloud platforms.
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The Principal Network Engineer will be responsible for defining the long-term architecture and evolution of mission-critical trading networks, ensuring deterministic packet forwarding, exceptional reliability, and ultra-low-latency performance. This individual will operate as a hands-on technical leader, partnering with Network Engineering leadership, Infrastructure teams, and business stakeholders to drive strategic initiatives, influence architectural decisions, and establish engineering best practices.
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Direct High-Frequency Trading (HFT) industry experience is required.
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The ideal candidate possesses expert-level routing and switching knowledge, strong Python automation capabilities, experience with hybrid cloud networking, and a proven track record supporting electronic trading environments where microseconds matter. Candidates with a CCIE certification or equivalent expertise are strongly preferred.
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Key Responsibilities
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Network Architecture & Design
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- Design, engineer, and evolve highly resilient, low-latency network architectures supporting global trading operations.
- Develop deterministic, scalable network solutions across data centers, co-location facilities, exchange connectivity environments, and cloud platforms.
- Drive architectural standards and long-term strategy for network scalability, resiliency, and operational excellence.
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Advanced Routing & Infrastructure
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- Lead the design and implementation of complex routing solutions utilizing:
- BGP
- OSPF
- MPLS
- Multicast (PIM-SM/SSM)
- Traffic Engineering
- High Availability Network Architectures
- Optimize network performance, latency, jitter, and traffic flow across global environments.
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Research, Validation & Performance Engineering
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- Conduct proof-of-concept testing, lab validation, and technical evaluations of emerging technologies.
- Analyze network behavior, platform limitations, and hardware capabilities to improve exchange connectivity and trading performance.
- Validate architecture designs before production deployment to minimize operational risk.
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Project Leadership
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- Lead large-scale network transformation initiatives from design through implementation.
- Develop detailed technical designs, migration plans, implementation runbooks, and capacity planning documentation.
- Own complex technical challenges end-to-end with minimal oversight.
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Network Automation
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- Design and maintain Python-based network automation solutions for:
- Configuration management
- Change validation
- Compliance verification
- Operational efficiency
- Automated testing
- Leverage both API-driven and SSH-based automation methodologies.
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Cross-Functional Collaboration
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- Partner with Infrastructure, Security, Cloud, Application, and Trading teams to align network capabilities with business objectives.
- Support strategic planning, budgeting, and technology investment decisions related to network infrastructure.
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Technical Leadership
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- Act as a senior technical mentor across the engineering organization.
- Lead architecture reviews, establish engineering standards, and promote knowledge sharing.
- Influence technical direction without direct management responsibilities.
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Monitoring & Observability
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- Define network telemetry and observability standards.
- Utilize tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and similar platforms to improve visibility, performance monitoring, and troubleshooting.
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Documentation & Compliance
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- Develop and maintain technical standards, architecture documentation, and operational procedures.
- Contribute to audit, compliance, and regulatory documentation, including materials supporting SEC and related regulatory reviews.
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Required Qualifications
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- 10+ years of hands-on Network Engineering experience within mission-critical, low-latency environments.
- Direct experience supporting High-Frequency Trading (HFT), Electronic Trading, Market Making, Proprietary Trading, or Capital Markets infrastructure.
- Deep expertise in low-latency network design with extensive experience analyzing:
- Network latency
- Jitter
- Packet loss
- End-to-end traffic behavior
- Expert-level knowledge of:
- BGP
- OSPF
- MPLS
- Multicast Technologies
- Global Network Architecture
- Strong experience with high-performance network platforms from vendors such as:
- Cisco
- Arista
- Juniper
- Experience designing and supporting AWS networking solutions including:
- Direct Connect
- Transit Gateway
- VPC Architecture
- Route Integration
- Advanced Python programming skills for network automation and operational tooling.
- Hands-on experience with observability and telemetry platforms, including Prometheus and Grafana.
- Strong understanding of network security principles, segmentation, access controls, and Zero Trust architecture.
- Proven track record leading technical research, proof-of-concept initiatives, and large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Outstanding communication skills with the ability to explain architectural tradeoffs and technical risk to both engineers and executive leadership.
- Experience mentoring engineers and influencing engineering best practices across organizations.
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Preferred Qualifications
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- Cisco CCIE (Routing & Switching, Enterprise Infrastructure, or Data Center).
- AWS Advanced Networking Specialty Certification.
- Arista ACE, Juniper JNCIE, or equivalent advanced networking certifications.
- Experience with exchange connectivity networks and financial market infrastructure.
- Familiarity with FPGA-enabled networking, market data distribution, and ultra-low latency trading architectures.
- Exposure to regulatory and compliance requirements within financial services environments.
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