Software Engineer - Scala

What you’ll do

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Staff Software Engineer to join our Trading Services team. In this pivotal role, you will help evolve our advanced trading system. As a senior engineer on the team, your work will have a profound impact on our core high-throughput, low-latency trading application, directly influencing our business’s bottom line.

• Design, develop, and maintain our Scala and Akka-based trading system deployed on Kubernetes in the cloud
• Architect, deploy, and manage backend services in a Kubernetes environment to ensure scalability, availability, and resilience
• Implement and enhance our services architecture for trading applications, promoting modularity and maintainability
• Develop distributed systems to support the high-performance and low-latency requirements of trading platforms
• Implement robust monitoring and logging solutions to track and analyze backend system performance in real time
• Integrate backend systems with market data feeds, ensuring accurate and timely data for trading activities
• Collaborate with other engineering teams and Product Managers to deliver end-to-end customer solutions

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
• 8+ years of software development experience with reactive, message-driven, distributed near real-time applications, preferably in a high-performance, low-latency environment
• 5+ years of professional experience with Scala (or similar JVM-based languages) backend software development
• Familiarity with functional programming principles
• Experience with Kubernetes and cloud services (e.g., Google Cloud Platform), with a focus on scalability and high availability
• Familiarity with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, Git Hub Actions, or equivalent
• Exceptional troubleshooting, debugging, and diagnostic skills for cloud and web-based technologies using industry-standard observability tooling and frameworks
• Deep understanding of modern distributed systems and the ability to troubleshoot HTTP/HTTPS, Web Sockets, TLS, DNS, TCP/IP, and similar protocols
• Dependable team player with a strong work ethic, exceptional accuracy, and analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on performance analysis and optimization
• Ability to take full ownership of projects (design, implement, test, deploy, maintain, and iterate), with a focus on delivering high-quality production software
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, collaborates effectively, seeks feedback, and strives for continual improvement

• The salary range for this role will be $ – $ USD. In addition, this position will also receive an annual target bonus of 12%. Bonus pay at Ninja Trader is based on individual performance (50%) as well as company/team performance (50%).
• Salary and bonus earnings are only two components of the total compensation package offered by Ninja Trader. Ninja Trader offers a 401(k) plan through ADP under which the company will match up to 3.5% of employee contributions. Annual paid time off allowance accrues at a rate of 23 days per year plus seven paid holidays.

This role is based in Chicago, IL. Remote flexibility may be available for exceptional candidates in selected states.

• In-office Tuesday through Thursday, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays
• Additional 20 flex remote days annually
• 5 company‑wide office‑optional weeks tied to major holidays

• Generous PTO
• 7 Paid Holidays Annually + 5 Conditional Holidays Annually
• 1 Service Day Annually
• 401(k) with 3.5% Company Match
• Life and Disability Insurance Covered 100% by Ninja Trader

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.