As a Software Engineer Intern, you’ll work side-by-side with your mentor and teammates to build real-world applications that power a global trading firm. Your projects will be scoped based on your team’s real needs — not hypothetical tasks — and your mentor will be fully invested in helping you build high-quality software that’s designed to last. You’ll contribute to meaningful projects solving trading problems and improving the performance, reliability, and scalability of our systems — and you’ll see your code hit production in real time.
Optiver is building with cutting edge AI technology in the most competitive, data rich landscapes in the world: financial markets. That means no two days are the same, and every day brings new, exciting technical challenges to solve.
This opportunity is also available in our Chicago office — learn more and apply.
What you’ll do:
Our internship is designed for fast thinkers with a critical mindset and a drive to solve tough problems. You’ll experience what it’s like to be a full-time engineer at a leading trading firm – working on projects that push the limits of performance, efficiency, and real-world impact. Mentored by Optiver engineers, our program gives you the opportunity to:
- Deep dive into trading fundamentals, from theoretical concepts to financial markets, strategies, AI-enabled tools and cutting-edge technology.
- Collaborate closely with best-in-class engineers, traders, and business teams to develop, test, and ship your code to production.
- Tackle complex, real-world problems to enhance your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Push your limits and accelerate your growth in a fascinating and high-performing environment.
What you’ll get:
You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.
In addition, you’ll receive:
- The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
- A highly-competitive internship compensation package
- Optiver-covered flights, living accommodations, and commuting stipends
- Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more
Who you are:
- A student pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in Computer Science or Computer Engineering
- On track to graduate between December 2027 to June 2028, with junior standing or higher
- Passionate for writing clean code, well-architected systems, and continuous improvement
- Proficient in coding languages such as C++, Python, or Java
- A student with strong engineering instincts and a solid understanding of computer science fundamentals
- Driven by an entrepreneurial mindset and curious about how tech powers the financial industry
- A natural problem-solver with a sharp, analytical approach to tackling challenges
- A collaborative teammate comfortable working with developers, traders and business teams
Who we are:
Optiver is a leading technology- and research-driven trading firm. Our teams of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and traders work side by side to develop, test, and scale ideas that shape how we understand and trade global markets. Powered by a global platform built for rapid experimentation and iteration, we combine the scientific rigor of a research institution with the pace of a technology company.
Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics. Optiver is supportive of US immigration sponsorship for this role.
Optiver has a global application re-apply policy for our intern and graduate roles. If you have completed an online assessment or interviewed for a technology graduate or internship role at any Optiver location in the past 8 months, please note that you are not yet eligible to reapply. We welcome you to re-apply to after the 8-month cool off period.
Skills Required
- Enrolled student pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science or Computer Engineering
- On track to graduate between December 2027 and June 2028
- Junior standing or higher
- Proficient in C++, Python, or Java
- Strong understanding of computer science fundamentals
- Comfortable collaborating with developers, traders, and business teams
- Passion for writing clean code and well-architected systems
- Entrepreneurial mindset and curiosity about finance technology
- Analytical problem-solving mindset
Optiver Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Optiver and has not been reviewed or approved by Optiver.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Pay is considered highly competitive in trading, quantitative, and engineering paths, with performance-linked bonuses that materially elevate total compensation. High performers receive differentiated rewards tied to impact.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous paid vacation alongside market holidays is a consistent component of the U.S. package. This breadth of leave is a notable element of the offering.
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Healthcare Strength — Comprehensive health coverage—including medical, dental, and vision—is prominently offered in U.S. roles, with indications that employee premiums are fully covered in some cases. Disability and life coverage further strengthen the core health benefits.
Optiver Insights
What We Do
Optiver’s story began over 30 years ago, when we started business as a single trader on the floor of Amsterdam’s options exchange. Today, we are at the forefront of trading and technology as a leading global electronic market maker, focused on pricing, execution and risk management.
Why Work With Us
People at Optiver love challenges, welcome collaboration, and strive to be better tomorrow than they are today. Improving the market is an extraordinary challenge that requires a carefully crafted approach. Optiver provides a collaborative working environment to tackle these challenges. In fact, it is this way of working that sets us apart.
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