Principal Network Engineer (HFT Trading Networks)

Job Title: Principal Network Engineer (HFT Trading Networks)
Location: Chicago, IL or New York City, NY
Work Model: Onsite 4 days per week
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.

Key Responsibilities

Network Architecture & Design

• 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.

Advanced Routing & Infrastructure

• 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.

Research, Validation & Performance Engineering

• 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.

Project Leadership

• 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.

Network Automation

• 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.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• 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.

Technical Leadership

• 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.

Monitoring & Observability

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

Documentation & Compliance

• 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.

Required Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.