Backbone Network Engineer

We are seeking a highly skilled Backbone Network Engineer to join our global network team. In this role, you will design, implement, and optimize the backbone infrastructure that underpins our global trading operations. You'll work closely with engineers worldwide to ensure our network continues to deliver the ultra-low latency, high availability, and robust security required to maintain our competitive edge.
Core Responsibilities:

• Design and optimize backbone infrastructure for high-speed, low-latency data transmission and scalability.
• Deploy and configure high-performance routing and optical hardware to minimize congestion and maximize availability.
• Engineer low-latency routing paths between data centers, trading venues, and counterparties.
• Proactively detect, troubleshoot, and resolve network issues using advanced monitoring and analysis tools.
• Plan and scale backbone capacity to support global growth.
• Partner with trading, development, and infrastructure teams to integrate network changes seamlessly into production.
• Collaborate globally to maintain documentation, policies, and operational standards.

Skills and Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in network engineering, with a focus on backbone or large-scale infrastructure.
• Deep knowledge of routing protocols (BGP, IS-IS, MPLS, PIM, Segment Routing) and traffic engineering.
• Expertise with routers, switches, and optical networking technologies (DWDM/ONS).
• Strong troubleshooting skills across LAN, unicast/multicast routing, and packet-level analysis.
• Experience with network automation and scripting (Python, Bash, Ansible).
• Proven ability to solve complex problems quickly and effectively.
• Strong communication skills for cross-team collaboration.
• Willingness to participate in on-call rotations during trading hours and critical events.

While this is a hybrid position, we expect an in-office presence in our Chicago office 3-4 times per week
The Base Salary range for the role is included below. Base salary is only one component of total compensation; all full-time, permanent positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and benefits, including paid leave and insurance. Please visit Benefits - US | IMC Trading for more comprehensive information.
Salary Range
$175,000-$240,000 USD
About Us
IMC is a global trading firm powered by a cutting-edge research environment and a world-class technology backbone. Since 1989, we've been a stabilizing force in financial markets, providing essential liquidity upon which market participants depend. Across our offices in the US, Europe, Asia Pacific, and India, our talented quant researchers, engineers, traders, and business operations professionals are united by our uniquely collaborative, high-performance culture, and our commitment to giving back. From entering dynamic new markets to embracing disruptive technologies, and from developing an innovative research environment to diversifying our trading strategies, we dare to continuously innovate and collaborate to succeed.