Disclaimer: Please be advised that the most accurate and up-to-date information about our open roles—including job descriptions, compensation, and benefits—can only be guaranteed on our official job board. For the latest listings and details, please visit: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ninjatrader.
JOIN US ON OUR MISSION TO BECOME THE #1 RETAIL TRADING PLATFORM IN THE WORLD
Welcome to the dynamic world of NinjaTrader! As an industry-leading trading platform and futures broker, we're empowering traders to take control of their financial destiny. How do we do it? We provide cutting-edge products and services that enhance the trading journey. Whether a seasoned pro or just starting out, NinjaTrader equips traders with award-winning software and brokerage services to navigate the world's leading financial markets with confidence.
Our growth story is nothing short of exhilarating. Since 2003, NinjaTrader has been dedicated to understanding and supporting traders on their journey toward trading triumph. Through those efforts, our user base has grown to over 2 million users and we have become the number one rated futures brokerage worldwide.
But we're not stopping there. We're constantly evolving, pushing boundaries, and modernizing the futures industry. Our commitment to innovation means users will always have access to dynamic tools, real-time support, and a community of like-minded traders.
So, why work at NinjaTrader? Here, you're not just part of a team; you're part of a movement. We empower employees to reach new heights in their careers by providing a dynamic culture focused on social connection, professional development, and employee recognition initiatives. Sounds too good to be true? Take it from our employees.
Join us as we redefine what's possible in trading, advocate for our customers, and continue our journey toward becoming the world's top retail-focused trading platform in the world.
What you'll do:
You'll work alongside NinjaTrader's FCM development team designing, building, and deploying back-end server solutions that distribute large volumes of data in support of our trading operations. This role plays a critical part in the efficiency and success of our FCM, giving you the chance to lead by example while owning software that has to be fast, reliable, and correct.
In this role you will:
- Design, develop, and maintain backend systems using Python and TypeScript to facilitate customer funding and trading
- Lead development teams by guiding best practices in coding and code reviews, and ensuring adherence to project timelines and quality standards
- Own the quality, uptime, and resilience of your software
- Collaborate with finance, treasury, new accounts, and trading teams to implement accurate and efficient algorithms and tools that support the back office
- Implement robust monitoring and logging using industry-standard observability tooling such as OpenTelemetry
- Review code changes from other team members to ensure consistency, correctness, and good architecture choices
- Streamline processes to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual intervention
- Create and maintain technical documentation for back-office processing systems and workflows
- Stay current on advancements in Python, TypeScript, and retail trading technologies
What you'll need:
- BA or MS degree in Computer Science
- 8+ years of software development experience designing, implementing, testing, and maintaining real-time applications
- Proven experience in Python and TypeScript software development, with a focus on backend systems
- Familiarity with Linux-based operating systems
- Familiarity with cloud services such as Google Cloud Platform
- Dependable team player with a strong work ethic, exceptional accuracy, and strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Comfort resolving uncertainty, with strong communication and collaboration skills to drive issue resolution, mentor others, and drive change across teams
- Experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools (e.g., code generation, static analysis, automated test synthesis) to increase engineering productivity and system quality in production environments
- Ability to take full ownership of projects, from design through implementation, testing, deployment, and iteration
- Must be eligible to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available
Bonus Points for:
- Direct experience at a futures commission merchant (FCM), clearing firm, or broker-dealer operating under CFTC/NFA or SEC/FINRA regulatory frameworks
- Experience with CME clearing operations or self-clearing implementation such as GMI or other FIS services
- Familiarity with treasury and money movement systems: ACH, wire transfers, fund hold logic, account segregation
- Track record of leading successful platform modernization or cloud migration programs in regulated financial environments
- Passion for futures, derivatives, and trading technologies, and for democratizing access to these markets for retail traders
Compensation:
The salary range for this role will be $140,000.00 - $190,000.00 USD. In addition, this position will also receive an annual target bonus of 10%. Bonus pay at NinjaTrader 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 NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader 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 18 days per year plus seven paid holidays.
Location
This role is based in Chicago, IL. *There may be remote flexibility for exceptional candidates in the following states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin.
Hybrid
For Chicago-based employees, we follow a hybrid work schedule: In-office Tuesday through Thursday, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays. In addition to these weekly remote days, we offer:
- 20 additional flex remote days annually
- 5 Company Wide Office-Optional weeks tied to major holidays
Our Core Benefits Include:
- Generous PTO
- 7 Paid Holidays Annually + 5 Conditional Holidays Annually
- 1 Service Day Annually
- 401k with 3.5% Company Match
- Paid Parental Bonding Leave
- Health, Vision, Dental Coverage
- Life and Disability Insurance Covered 100% by NinjaTrader
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.
Skills Required
- BA or MS degree in Computer Science
- 8+ years of software development experience designing, implementing, testing, and maintaining real-time applications
- Professional software development experience with Python and TypeScript, focused on backend systems
- Familiarity with Linux-based operating systems
- Familiarity with cloud services such as Google Cloud Platform
- Strong accuracy, analytical, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills
- Ability to mentor others, resolve issues, drive change, and work effectively across teams
- Experience using AI-assisted development tools in production environments
- Ability to own projects from design through implementation, testing, deployment, and iteration
- Must be eligible to work in the United States
- Direct experience at a futures commission merchant, clearing firm, or broker-dealer
- Experience with CME clearing operations or self-clearing implementations such as GMI or other FIS services
- Familiarity with treasury and money movement systems, including ACH, wire transfers, fund hold logic, and account segregation
- Experience leading platform modernization or cloud migration programs in regulated financial environments
- Knowledge or passion for futures, derivatives, and trading technologies
What the Team is Saying
NinjaTrader Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Health, dental, and vision coverage are provided, with life and disability insurance covered by the company. Wellbeing resources such as EAP, wellness, and fitness programs are also referenced.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) plan with company match is highlighted across company materials and postings. Retirement support is positioned as a core element of the package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO, paid holidays, a service/volunteer day, and paid parental bonding leave are called out explicitly. Time off is described as relatively accessible.
NinjaTrader Insights
What We Do
NinjaTrader's engineering, product, and operations teams build for nearly 4 million futures traders worldwide. Real users, real markets, real confidence in the tech behind every trade. We've been at this since 2003 — launching our own brokerage in 2014 and our FCM in 2021 — and we know what scale looks like in this category. In 2025, NinjaTrader joined Kraken and is now part of Payward, Inc., a unified financial infrastructure company that includes Kraken, NinjaTrader, and a growing set of related products and services. NinjaTrader operates independently within Payward, and we're building from the strongest position in our history. Our Purpose — to build better futures for all traders — is also a hiring filter. We hire people who genuinely care about the trader experience, whether or not they trade themselves. That care shows up everywhere: in product decisions, customer support, how we run our daily livestream, and how compliance reviews every promotional asset before it goes out. Our HQ is in the Loop, overlooking the Chicago River. It's a deliberate space designed for the kind of work we do, with collaboration zones, focus rooms, social areas, and reservable desks for remote employees to use when they're in town. Our hybrid schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in office, plus 20 additional work-from-home flex days per year and up to 5 company-wide office-optional weeks. NinjaTrader has grown to over 430 employees, and nearly 40% of the team works fully remote across 22+ states — on the same squads, same projects, same calls as their Chicago colleagues. We're Great Place To Work Certified™, and in 2026 we were named to the Fortune Best Workplaces in Chicago™ list. NinjaTrader was recognized as one of the 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in Chicago, an award determined entirely by employee feedback through the Great Place To Work® Trust Index™ survey. NinjaTrader paid no application fee to participate. Futures trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for everyone. View Disclosures: ninjatrader.com/disclosures/
Why Work With Us
Our Purpose — to build better futures for all traders — is also a hiring filter. We hire people who genuinely care about the trader experience, whether or not they trade themselves. Nearly 4 million traders count on the work we ship. Over 17% of the company was promoted in 2025. Better futures start here.
Gallery
NinjaTrader Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
Chicago-based employees follow a hybrid schedule: In-office Tuesday – Thursday, remote on Mondays and Fridays. In addition to these weekly remote days, we offer: 20 flex remote days annually 6 company-wide office-optional weeks
