2025 Shanghai FPGA Developer Summer Internship

At Optiver, FPGAs play a critical role in executing successful trades. With no external clients, we operate in a fast feedback, quick release environment. 

As a FPGA Developer Intern at Optiver, you’ll work alongside experienced hardware engineers to ensure we have the fastest and most reliable trading systems in the industry. You’ll constantly be innovating with new technology in the hardware space, ensuring our latency is optimised to nanoseconds.

By the end of the 8-week internship, you’ll have deepened your understanding of how technology is used in the quantitative trading industry. Plus, if you’ve excelled over the summer, you’ll receive an offer to return as a Graduate FPGA Developer.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Led by our in-house education team that consists of ex-traders and engineers, you’ll delve into advanced engineering concepts and lead innovative projects, during our world-class training program. In just a few weeks, you’ll develop latency-critical applications that contribute towards our trading success.

During the internship, you will be paired with one of Optiver’s seasoned FPGA developers, providing you exposure to a variety of areas, including:

• Designing highly accurate and efficient systems that respond to the financial markets in real time.
• Improving infrastructure and trading systems using the latest FPGA devices, tools and techniques.
• Developing rigorous RTL codes or test benches using a combination of VHDL and System Verilog.
• Investigate and explore innovative machine learning algorithms and cutting-edge data communication/processing technologies to optimize and enhance existing trading systems.

Aside from technical skills, our dedicated education team will also work with you on your development, including:  

• Workshops on a variety of tech-based topics, along with soft skills to support your holistic growth as a developer.
• A dedicated mentor who will guide you through our development process and how our trading systems work.
• Trader training to get you up to speed on our business. This helps you understand the fundamentals of trading, enabling you to make an impact from the early stages of your Optiver career.

WHAT YOU’LL GET:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Driven by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle the most complex problems in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• A highly competitive remuneration package.
• Optiver-covered flights and accommodation for the duration of the internship.
• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals.
• Training, mentorship and personal development opportunities.
• Gym membership, plus weekly in-house chair massages.
• Daily breakfast, lunch and in-house barista.
• Regular social events.

WHO YOU ARE:

• Students who are graduating in or after 2026.
• Studying an Electronic/Electrical Engineering/Microelectronics/Computer Science or similarly technical degree.
• Familiar with Xilinx or Intel FPGA device architecture, design flows, tools, and digital logic design concepts.
• Familiar with HDL languages: VHDL and/or Verilog as well as some experience with Python and/or C++.
• Knowledgeable about Linux commands and scripts.
• Understand network protocols: Ethernet, IP, TCP/UDP.
• Deeply passionate about technology, particularly FPGA hardware, and have a range of out-of-classroom projects or activities to prove it.
• Team players who love working with like-minded peers and are always looking to learn and improve.
• Interested in the trading/quantitative finance industry (previous knowledge is not required).

HOW TO APPLY:

If you’re interested in taking your career to the next level and work on one of the most exciting trading floors in China mainland, apply now via the form below. Applications are open until 14 March 2025.

While we love how bilingual our teams are, be sure to submit the below application materials in English:

• Resume
• Cover letter (optional)

For any other inquiries, please email chinacareers@optiver.com.au

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Optiver is committed to diversity and inclusion, and it is hardwired through every stage of our hiring process. We encourage applications from candidates from any and all backgrounds, and we welcome requests for reasonable adjustments during the process to ensure that you can best demonstrate your abilities.

We accept one application per role per year. If you have previously applied to this position during this season and have been unsuccessful, you can re-apply when the next recruitment season begins in 2026.

PRIVACY DISCLAIMER

Optiver 重视个人信息的保护。请您在提供个人信息给我们之前，认真阅读Optiver China Privacy Notice, 了解我们如何收集及处理您的个人信息。

Personal information protection is of utmost importance to Optiver. Before you provide any personal information to us, we strongly urge you to read Optiver China Privacy Notice for acknowledging how we collect and process your personal information.