Mechanical Design Engineer

Our Software Engineers build proprietary trading systems which directly impact the financial markets. Our software engineering teams leverage technology to solve a variety of difficult problems.

Our trading strategies must respond to market events in microseconds or less, and we automatically price large, diverse sets of financial instruments with extremely low error tolerance. We continually refine, store, and analyze terabytes of data produced by market activity and our trading systems. Our user interfaces must present coherent, responsive real-time visualizations of market activity and system performance while providing intuitive control of a highly complex system. Our core systems must provide a stable, performant, and trusted foundation on which our systems are built.

Technology at Optiver:

At Optiver we pride ourselves on being real engineers, not just coders. Our engineers work closely with traders to identify the business problems we face and determine how they should be solved. We apply a disciplined and scientific approach. We engineer simple, well-architected solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our traders. Our passion is to solve problems which really matter to the business, and we take pride in the quality of our solutions.

What you’ll do:

• Design and develop mechanical systems for high-performance computing platforms and custom trading infrastructure.
• Create detailed CAD models and production drawings for complex assemblies, enclosures, fixtures, and mechanical subsystems.
• Perform engineering analysis including thermal modeling, structural analysis, and system-level design trade studies.
• Prototype, test, and iterate hardware designs through hands-on validation and integration work.
• Translate engineering concepts into manufacturable designs while balancing performance, reliability, and serviceability.
• Work closely with contract manufacturers and external vendors to support fabrication, assembly, and production builds.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, and test setups to improve hardware assembly, testing, and validation workflows.
• Support prototype builds and troubleshooting during hardware bring-up and deployment.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with electrical engineers, firmware engineers, and infrastructure teams to integrate mechanical systems into complete hardware platforms.
• Develop and maintain documentation including drawings, assembly procedures, test methods, and design specifications.
• Provide design feedback to improve manufacturability, scalability, and operational robustness of deployed systems.

What you’ll get:

• Direct hands-on involvement in building unique, high-performance hardware systems which deliver meaningful impact to our business
• A collaborative team environment where your contributions are visible and valued
• Diverse, non-repetitive work – nearly every system is bespoke
• Work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• Highly competitive compensation package including performance-based bonus structure
• 401(k) match up to 50%
• Comprehensive health, mental, dental, vision, disability, and life coverage
• 25 paid vacation days alongside market holidays
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more

What you’ll need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field.
• 3+ years of industry experience designing mechanical systems using CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar.
• Experience with electronics cooling and thermal device design
• Experience taking mechanical designs from concept through prototype and production.
• Hands-on fabrication or prototyping experience including machining, 3D printing, or fixture design.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes and design for manufacturability (DFM).
• Experience performing engineering analysis such as structural, thermal, or CFD simulation.
• Ability to diagnose mechanical issues during prototype builds and develop practical solutions.
• Strong communication and documentation skills, including the ability to produce clear engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment authorization for this role.

Nice to have

• Experience designing hardware for high-performance computing, networking systems, or electronics enclosures.
• Experience working for or with contract manufacturers or external fabrication vendors.
• Experience working with fiber optics, high-density electronic assemblies, or complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience building complex systems such as servers, robotics platforms, drones, or optical systems.
• Personal experience building or modifying computers

Who we are:

• Optiver is a global market maker driven by technology. Our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilizing the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritize safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.
• Our Austin office serves as the firm’s innovation nucleus, with a strong focus on quantitative research, software development and hardware engineering. The team here plays a central role in advancing our heavy investment in machine learning, research infrastructure and big data computing. Located in The Domain neighborhood, the office is surrounded by world-class music, great food and easy access to outdoor spaces, providing a vibrant setting for the team.
• We value in-person collaboration across disciplines, and this role is based on-site in our Austin office.