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Director Compiler Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

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Director Compiler Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$75.2K

$200.6K

$261.7K

How much do director compiler engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for director compiler engineer in Chicago, IL is $200,579.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $145,800.00 and $260,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Director Compiler Engineer do?

A Director Compiler Engineer leads teams responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing compiler technologies that translate high-level programming languages into machine code. They oversee the overall strategy, architecture, and performance of compiler products, ensuring they meet the needs of software developers and hardware platforms. In addition to managing projects and technical direction, they often collaborate with other engineering teams, mentor staff, and keep up with advances in programming languages and processor architectures.

What is the difference between Director Compiler Engineer vs Compiler Engineer?

AspectDirector Compiler EngineerCompiler Engineer
ResponsibilitiesOversees compiler development teams, sets strategic goals, manages project timelinesDesigns, develops, and tests compiler components and features
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, extensive experience in compiler development, leadership skillsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, strong programming skills, experience with compiler tools
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles in tech companies, collaborative team settingsDevelopment teams, coding environments, research labs
Industry UsageCommon in large tech firms, software companies, and organizations with complex compiler needsUsed across software development, embedded systems, and research projects

The main difference is that a Director Compiler Engineer focuses on leadership, strategy, and team management, while a Compiler Engineer concentrates on technical development and coding tasks. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the director role involves overseeing projects and guiding teams.

What are some common challenges faced by a Director Compiler Engineer, and how can they be addressed?

A Director Compiler Engineer often encounters challenges such as leading teams through complex technical problems, balancing project timelines with innovation, and ensuring cross-functional collaboration between hardware and software teams. Addressing these requires strong leadership, clear communication, and strategic planning to allocate resources efficiently. Additionally, staying up-to-date with evolving programming languages and hardware architectures is essential to guide the team and maintain competitive compiler performance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director Compiler Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Compiler Engineer, you need deep expertise in compiler theory, programming languages, and computer architecture, often supported by an advanced degree in computer science or a related field. Proficiency with compiler toolchains (like LLVM or GCC), performance analysis tools, and version control systems is typically required, along with familiarity with modern programming languages such as C++ or Rust. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills are essential for guiding teams and collaborating with stakeholders. These skills ensure the development of robust, high-performance compiler solutions that align with organizational goals and technology strategies.
What are the most commonly searched types of Compiler Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Compiler Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Compiler Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? For Director Compiler Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Compiler Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Director Compiler Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Director Compiler Engineer jobs near you

C++ Software Developer - Low-Latency Trading Systems - Venture search

Venture search

Chicago, IL • On-site

$50.50 - $68/hr

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago

Job description

We are a technology-driven proprietary trading firm specialising in trading options on futures. Operating in some of the most competitive electronic markets globally, we combine deep market expertise with high-performance software to identify and execute trading opportunities at speed. Our success is driven by close collaboration between traders and engineers, enabling rapid iteration and precise execution of sophisticated strategies.

The Role

We’re looking for an experienced C++ Software Engineer to join our trading technology team. You’ll play a key role in building and maintaining performance-critical systems responsible for real-time strategy execution. This is a hands-on engineering role where your work has a direct and measurable impact on trading performance.

What You’ll Do

  • Design, build, and maintain low-latency C++ systems for trading strategy execution
  • Work closely with traders, quants, and fellow engineers to take strategies from idea to production
  • Optimise performance across the stack — networking, operating system, compiler, and code
  • Contribute to system architecture, monitoring, and deployment pipelines
  • Debug and improve systems running under real-world, time-critical conditions

What We’re Looking For

  • Strong proficiency in modern C++ (C++17 or newer)
  • Solid grounding in computer science fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, concurrency)
  • Proven ability to debug, profile, and optimise high-performance systems
  • Comfortable working in Linux and with system-level programming
  • Ability to own projects end-to-end and work autonomously
  • Clear communicator who thrives in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment

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