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Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Belvedere Trading

FPGA Engineer

Chicago, IL

$175K - $225K/yr

Our trading models and software systems are continually re-engineered, optimized, and maintained to ... Work on high-performance computing systems to break speed and performance boundaries * Build next ...

Belvedere Trading

FPGA Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$175K - $225K/yr

Our trading models and software systems are continually re-engineered, optimized, and maintained to ... Work on high-performance computing systems to break speed and performance boundaries * Build next ...

Belvedere Trading

FPGA Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$175K - $225K/yr

Our trading models and software systems are continually re-engineered, optimized, and maintained to ... Work on high-performance computing systems to break speed and performance boundaries * Build next ...

Geneva Trading

System Operations Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$75K - $90K/yr

AI & High-Performance Computing: Support the hardware and software environments required for AI and ... Performance Engineering: Conduct system testing to identify inefficiencies in hardware (CPU/GPU ...

The University of Chicago

HPC Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$95K - $110K/yr

... High-Performance Computing (HPC), storage, and visualization resources. These resources include ... Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electronics Engineering or closely related field plus 5 ...

Parallel Works

Senior HPC Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$107K - $147K/yr

... for high performance computing and AI. Our customers run large scientific and AI workloads across ... We are a small engineering company, so engineers here work directly with the people using the ...

Parallel Works

Senior HPC Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · Remote

$107K - $146K/yr

... for high performance computing and AI. Our customers run large scientific and AI workloads across ... We are a small engineering company, so engineers here work directly with the people using the ...

Scalp Trade LLC

C++ Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$90K - $150K/yr

We are a dynamic and growing trading firm seeking an innovative C++ Software Developer to join our ... Expertise in High-Performance Computing: Advanced understanding of optimizing systems for high ...

Parallel Works

Junior HPC Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · Remote

... for high performance computing and AI. Our customers run large scientific and AI workloads across ... We are a small engineering company, so engineers here work directly with the people using the ...

Parallel Works

Junior HPC Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

... for high performance computing and AI. Our customers run large scientific and AI workloads across ... We are a small engineering company, so engineers here work directly with the people using the ...

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All JobsHigh Performance Computing Engineer JobsFreelance High Performance Computing Engineer JobsFreelance High Performance Computing Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$55.1K

$135.3K

$199.3K

How much do freelance high performance computing engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance high performance computing engineer in Chicago, IL is $135,308.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,800.00 and $151,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do freelance high performance computing engineers typically collaborate with client teams during projects?

Freelance HPC Engineers often work closely with client engineering, research, or IT teams to design, implement, and optimize computational solutions. Collaboration usually occurs through regular virtual meetings, code reviews, and progress updates to ensure alignment with project goals and technical requirements. Clear communication and documentation are essential, as freelancers may need to integrate their work into larger systems or hand off projects to in-house teams. Building strong relationships and understanding the client's workflow help ensure successful project delivery and can lead to ongoing opportunities.

What is a freelance high performance computing engineer?

A Freelance High Performance Computing (HPC) Engineer is a professional who specializes in designing, implementing, and optimizing computing systems that handle complex, large-scale computations. They work independently or on a contract basis for different organizations, helping to develop and maintain supercomputers, clusters, and parallel processing applications. Their expertise is often sought in fields like scientific research, finance, artificial intelligence, and engineering where processing large datasets quickly is essential. Freelancers in this field typically possess strong programming skills, knowledge of HPC architectures, and experience with performance tuning and troubleshooting.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance high performance computing engineer?

To thrive as a Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer, you need expertise in parallel programming, cluster management, and a strong background in computer science or engineering. Familiarity with tools such as MPI, OpenMP, Linux environments, and cloud-based HPC platforms, along with certifications in cloud services or HPC technologies, is highly beneficial. Excellent problem-solving, project management, and communication skills set top freelancers apart when working with diverse clients. These competencies ensure the delivery of optimized, scalable solutions and effective collaboration in complex technical projects.

What is the difference between Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer vs Freelance Data Scientist?

AspectFreelance High Performance Computing EngineerFreelance Data Scientist
CredentialsAdvanced degrees in computer science, engineering, or related fields; knowledge of HPC systemsDegree in data science, statistics, or related fields; proficiency in programming and analytics
Work EnvironmentSpecialized computing clusters, research labs, or cloud HPC platformsData analysis environments, cloud platforms, and business analytics tools
Industry UsageResearch institutions, scientific computing, engineering simulations
Search & Comparison IntentFocus on high-performance computing tasks, technical skills

While both roles involve advanced technical skills, Freelance High Performance Computing Engineers specialize in optimizing and managing large-scale computing resources for scientific and engineering applications. Freelance Data Scientists focus on analyzing data to extract insights for business or research purposes. The key difference lies in their core focus: HPC engineers work with hardware and system performance, whereas data scientists work with data analysis and modeling.

What are the most commonly searched types of High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer job openings:

Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance High Performance Computing Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,308 per year, or $65.1 per hour.

Junior HPC Applications Engineer

Parallel Works

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

About Parallel Works
Parallel Works builds and operates ACTIVATE, a control plane for high performance computing and AI. Our customers run large scientific and AI workloads across their own on-premises clusters, Government and commercial cloud, and commercial GPU providers, and ACTIVATE gives them one way in to all of it. The high security boundary is authorized at Impact Level 5, with FIPS validated cryptography and STIG hardening throughout.
The work reaches most fields that depend on computing at scale: weather and climate forecasting, defense and intelligence programs, aerospace and structural analysis, molecular and materials science, energy, and AI research. A quarter here can include standing up a GPU cluster for one of those communities, federating a laboratory's existing on-premises system with burst capacity it did not have before, and getting a domain code written decades ago to run on current hardware.
Customer success sets our priorities. We are a small engineering company, so engineers here work directly with the people using the systems and carry a problem from the first report through to the fix. This is what we call mission engineering: understanding what a customer is trying to accomplish and why the computing matters to it.
About the role
Parallel Works is hiring a Junior HPC Applications Engineer to support the researchers and engineers running work on our platforms. The role handles first line support: build failures, batch script problems, environment issues, and the first diagnosis on failed jobs.
It suits someone who has run scientific or machine learning workloads on a cluster as a user and wants to move to the other side of the ticket. Our users work across on-premises clusters, cloud, and commercial GPU providers, and the same question often has a different answer in each. The role works alongside a senior applications engineer, building software stacks for users and handling second tier diagnosis after about a year.
What you will do
  • First line support: own incoming tickets, reproduce the problem, resolve what you can, and escalate the rest with a diagnosis attached.
  • Batch scripts: write, debug, and tune Slurm submission scripts with users, including GPU requests, array jobs, and resource sizing.
  • Environments and modules: build and install user requested software under senior review, and maintain module and container environments.
  • Onboarding: walk new users through access, storage layout, and first jobs when a cluster comes online.
  • Documentation: user guides and FAQ entries that cut repeat tickets.
  • Coverage rotation: a support coverage rotation. Some engagements carry coverage outside standard United States business hours, agreed in advance.

Requirements
  • 2 or more years supporting users on Linux systems, or running scientific or machine learning workloads on a cluster as a practitioner.
  • Comfort on the Linux command line, including building software from source.
  • Writing and debugging batch scripts under Slurm, PBS, or LSF.
  • Proficiency with Python, plus either a machine learning framework or a domain scientific code.
  • Writing a complete, correct answer to a user in plain language.

You do not need every item on this list. If you have most of it and work well with other people, apply.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with Spack, EasyBuild, or Lmod.
  • Multi-GPU or multi-node job experience.
  • Use of containers such as Apptainer, Singularity, or Docker.
  • Exposure to any profiling or debugging tooling.
  • Graduate coursework or a research computing background, or time on a university or laboratory HPC help desk.

Benefits
Medical, vision, and dental coverage, a 401(k) with company match, short term disability, and generous paid vacation and sick time.
Equal employment opportunity
Parallel Works is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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