Principal Network Engineer

Job Title: Principal Network Engineer (HFT Trading Networks)

Location: Chicago, IL or New York City, NY

Duration: Full-time

Job Description:

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.

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.

Direct High‑Frequency Trading (HFT) industry experience is required.

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.

• 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.

• Lead the design and implementation of complex routing solutions utilizing:
• BGP
• OSPF
• MPLS
• Traffic Engineering
• High Availability Network Architectures
• Optimize network performance, latency, jitter, and traffic flow across global environments.

• 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.
• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Define network telemetry and observability standards.
• Utilize tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and similar platforms to improve visibility, performance monitoring, and troubleshooting.

• Develop and maintain technical standards, architecture documentation, and operational procedures.
• Contr…