Senior AI / ML Engineer

Chicago Trading Company (CTC) is a premier proprietary trading firm specializing in options market making.  Our collaborative culture fuels innovation in quantitative research, systematic trading strategies, and cutting-edge trading technology.  For over three decades CTC has provided critical liquidity across derivatives exchanges worldwide - making them fairer, more transparent, and more efficient.

We strive to be the most innovative firm in the industry today, tomorrow, and long into the future while upholding ethical excellence. We believe that CTC makes a positive impact on the markets, the lives of our employees, and all the communities to which we belong. Started in 1995 by a team of forward-thinking Traders, we are proud to call ourselves an industry leader that keeps making markets and each other better.

We are seeking a Senior AI / ML Engineer to help define and build how CTC leverages AI across the firm. You will work closely with executive stakeholders to identify where AI creates real leverage for our engineers, quants, and traders, and then build it. The AI landscape is moving fast and the strategy needs to evolve with it — this role carries both the technical and strategic responsibility of figuring out what bets to make and executing on them. This role sits within our Developer Experience organization.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• 
  

  Partner with leadership to shape CTC's AI strategy as the space evolves.

  
  


• 
  

  Evaluate emerging AI technologies and make informed recommendations on what to adopt, what to watch, and what to skip.

  
  


• 
  

  Build and ship AI capabilities that drive real adoption across engineering, quant, and trading teams.

  
  


• 
  

  Work across the firm to understand workflows, identify high-value use cases, and build tools that fit how people actually work.

  
  


• 
  

  Establish sensible practices for deployment, security, and governance as the function matures.

  
  

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• 
  

  7+ years of engineering experience with a strong track record of building and shipping developer tools, platforms, or internal tooling that achieved broad adoption.

  
  


• 
  

  Demonstrated applied experience with LLMs and generative AI; deep curiosity and strong opinions about where this space is heading.

  
  


• 
  

  Python proficiency required; C++ or low-latency systems experience is a strong plus.

  
  


• 
  

  Background working in demanding technical environments - proprietary trading, hedge funds, or similar settings where reliability and developer productivity directly impact the business.

  
  


• 
  

  Good judgment about where AI adds value and where it doesn't, in a space that moves quickly.

  
  


• 
  

  Comfort with ambiguity and working closely with senior leadership.

  
  


• 
  

  Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences.

  
  


• 
  

  Financial sector experience strongly preferred.

  
  


• 
  

  Advanced degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Engineering, or related field is a plus.

  
  

Most teams at CTC, with the exception of Trading, follow a hybrid workplace model, subject to change based on business need.

Our Benefits 

We strongly believe in the well-being of our employees and their families so we offer outstanding benefits to support you both professionally and personally. These benefits include generous time off, insurance coverage, paid parental leave, free breakfast and lunch (plus healthy snacks, of course), wellness reimbursement, and a variety of other benefits focused on providing the best employee experience. 

(Disclaimer: interns and contractors are not eligible for benefits at CTC) 

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At CTC, we aim to cultivate a workplace that celebrates diversity and each person feels included, engaged and empowered. Where each of us feels we belong. We are committed to having a diverse workforce and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. CTC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. 

If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to apply for a position, please contact us at [email protected]. Note that emails sent to this email account for non-disability related issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Information submitted by job applicants may be subject to review and analysis by automated systems, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), as part of the recruitment process. Such systems are utilized to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our hiring procedures. Applicants are advised that any information provided may be evaluated by AI tools to ensure an equitable and thorough assessment.