Job ID: JOB_ID_698
Role Overview
We are seeking a highly skilled and dedicated Trading Application Support Engineer to join our mission-critical technology team in Chicago, IL. This is a front-office aligned role that places you at the heart of the financial markets, working directly with traders, operations, and quantitative analysts. In the fast-paced world of capital markets, system uptime and performance are paramount. You will be responsible for ensuring the stability, reliability, and efficiency of our derivatives and fixed-income trading platforms. This position requires a unique blend of technical expertise in Unix/Linux environments, deep knowledge of the FIX protocol, and a solid understanding of financial instruments.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide comprehensive L2/L3 production support for high-frequency and low-latency trading applications, ensuring minimal downtime during market hours.
- Monitor live trading systems, identifying and resolving bottlenecks in order flow, RFQ processing, and trade execution.
- Troubleshoot complex FIX protocol issues and connectivity problems with various exchanges and liquidity providers.
- Utilize SQL and log analysis tools (ELK Stack) to perform deep-dive root cause analysis on system failures and performance degradation.
- Manage the full application lifecycle, from inception and design through to runtime maintenance and production support.
- Collaborate with DevOps teams to implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, Docker, and Kubernetes for seamless application deployments.
- Participate in a 24×7 on-call rotation to support global trading operations and handle critical incidents.
- Develop and maintain automation scripts in Python, Perl, or TCL to streamline repetitive tasks and improve system monitoring.
Technical Requirements & Qualifications
- Extensive experience in Application Support within a Capital Markets or Investment Banking environment.
- Strong hands-on knowledge of Derivatives trading and Fixed Income products.
- Expertise in the FIX Protocol (Financial Information eXchange) and other messaging protocols like RabbitMQ.
- Proficiency in Unix/Linux environments, including shell scripting and system administration basics.
- Solid SQL skills for data extraction, reporting, and troubleshooting.
- Experience with modern DevOps tools including Kubernetes (K8s), Docker, and cloud-based infrastructure.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical issues into business impact for non-technical stakeholders.
The Chicago Trading Environment
Chicago remains a global hub for derivatives and commodities trading. Working onsite in our Chicago office provides the opportunity to be part of a vibrant financial community. This role is strictly onsite, allowing for immediate collaboration with the trading desk and infrastructure teams. As we move into 2026, the integration of AI-driven monitoring and cloud-native trading architectures makes this an exciting time to join the industry. We offer a competitive compensation package and the chance to work on some of the most sophisticated trading technology in the world.
Special Requirements
Onsite only (Chicago, IL); No Remote/Hybrid; Must mention FIX Protocol, Derivatives, and Fixed Income in profile; Requires Work Authorization and LinkedIn Profile URL.
Compensation & Location
Salary: $145,000 – $195,000 per year (Estimated)
Location: Chicago, IL
Recruiter / Company – Contact Information
Recruiter / Employer: First Cloud INC
Email: kishore@firstcloudinc.com
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