Chief Technology Officer / Prop Trading Infrastructure / Ultra-Low Latency / Woodridge IL

A growing proprietary trading firm is seeking a hands-on Chief Technology Officer to lead the development and operation of its trading technology platform. This individual will be responsible for building and scaling the infrastructure that powers low-latency trading strategies across global markets.

Working closely with trading, research, and operations teams, the CTO will guide both the technical architecture and engineering organization, while also remaining directly involved in system design and implementation. The ideal candidate has deep experience in electronic trading environments, particularly within high-frequency or proprietary trading firms. Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of experience working in electronic trading, HFT, or proprietary trading technology
• Proven track record building Direct Market Access (DMA) infrastructure
• Experience supporting futures and equities trading systems
• Deep understanding of exchange connectivity and colocation environments
• Strong programming experience in C++, Java, Rust, or similar high-performance languages
• Experience leading and scaling engineering or infrastructure teams
• Strong knowledge of market microstructure and order lifecycle management
• Experience designing real-time risk management systems

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience working with listed derivatives or index-based products
• Familiarity with smart order routing and fragmented market structures
• Experience with FPGA acceleration or hardware optimization
• Background developing market data distribution or normalization systems
• Experience managing relationships with exchanges, brokers, and market data providers
• Knowledge of trading system resiliency, monitoring, and disaster recovery

What You Will Be Doing Tech Breakdown

• C++ / Java / Rust
• Low-latency trading systems
• Exchange connectivity and DMA
• Colocation infrastructure
• Market data systems
• Real-time risk monitoring

Daily Responsibilities

• Architect and oversee the firm’s low-latency trading platform
• Build and maintain exchange connectivity across multiple global venues
• Lead development of order management, routing, and market data systems
• Improve system performance through latency optimization and infrastructure tuning
• Manage colocation deployments, cross-connects, and exchange data center environments
• Partner with trading and research teams to support strategy execution and performance
• Establish engineering best practices, deployment processes, and operational safeguards
• Implement pre-trade and post-trade risk control
• Ensure infrastructure meets regulatory and exchange requirements
• Research and evaluate new data engineering tools and best practices

The Offer You will receive the following benefits:

• Competitive base salary and bonus structure
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• On-site fitness and recreational facilities

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis now and in the future.

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