Graduate FPGA Engineer (2027 Start - Austin)
OptiverJob Title
Graduate FPGA Engineer (2027 Start) — Austin
Role Summary
Design and implement low-latency, high-performance FPGA solutions that accelerate Optiver's trading systems. Work closely with traders, software developers, and infrastructure engineers to deliver production-ready hardware that interfaces with server and network components.
The role emphasizes hands-on digital design, research into low-latency techniques, and integration of FPGA designs into a high-throughput trading environment.
Experience Level
Entry-level / Graduate. Intended for students graduating between December 2026 and June 2027 or equivalent recent graduates.
Responsibilities
Core responsibilities include:
- Design and implement high-speed FPGA hardware to accelerate network infrastructure and trading system components.
- Research and prototype low-latency techniques and platforms for integration with trading systems.
- Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams of traders, software developers, and infrastructure engineers to define requirements and deliver solutions.
- Integrate FPGAs with server and network hardware; select or build in-house hardware interfaces when required.
- Complete Optiver's Global Academy onboarding and work with a mentor during initial weeks to ramp into the role.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and attributes:
- Hands-on experience in digital design with FPGAs or ASICs.
- Proficiency in hardware description languages such as VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog.
- Strong engineering instincts and a focus on clean, well-architected designs.
- Collaborative mindset; comfortable working with developers, traders, and business teams.
- Ability to research, prototype, and integrate low-latency hardware solutions into production systems.
Nice-to-have:
- Experience with low-level networking and high-performance server hardware.
- Exposure to production trading systems or high-frequency computing environments.
Education Requirements
Student pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field; on track to graduate between December 2026 and June 2027.
About the Company
Company: Optiver
Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Optiver is a global proprietary trading firm that combines technology, quantitative research, and trading expertise to provide market making and liquidity across financial markets. The firm focuses on low-latency systems, algorithmic trading, and quantitative strategies.
