Head of Engineering, Algorithmic Trading Group

Head of Engineering, Algorithmic Trading Group

Job Location:

Chicago

Employment type:

Regular

Department:
Technology, Trading

Targeted

Start Date:

Immediate

About the Role:

DRW is seeking a Head of Engineering for the Algorithmic Trading Group to lead the software and hardware engineering effort. The position oversees a collaborative technical team of approximately 30 experienced software and hardware engineers with an average tenure of 10+ years.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set the technical direction across the full stack, spanning low-latency trading systems, custom hardware, risk management infrastructure, networking, and UX - driving top performance and scalability
• Partner with trading and research teams to balance short-term revenue opportunities against long-term investments in engineering infrastructure
• Own production reliability by setting the standards for code quality, testing rigor, and release discipline, with a zero-tolerance approach to production outages
• Define the group's strategy for AI adoption, establishing best practices for efficient and safe use
• Lead, mentor, and grow the engineering team – attracting top talent and fostering a culture of technical excellence, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement

Qualifications:

• 10+ years progressive experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in a senior engineering leadership role
• Demonstrated track record of building and operating highly reliable, latency-sensitive distributed systems
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and lead high-performing engineering teams of 20+ engineers
• Strong familiarity with generative AI coding tools and autonomous agents, with a vision for how to deploy them effectively and safely across engineering workflows
• Track record of building and enforcing engineering practices that achieve near-zero defect rates in production
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field

The annual base salary range for this position is $300,000 to $350,000 depending on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and relevant skill set. The position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition, DRW offers a comprehensive suite of employee benefits including group medical, pharmacy, dental and vision insurance, 401k (with discretionary employer match), short and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance, health savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts.

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