ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Lisp Programmer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

DRW

Senior Software Engineer, Finance (Clojure)

Chicago, IL · On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

They are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join their Unified Platform team, responsible for ... This is an opportunity to have outsized impact. • Experience with Clojure or other Lisp-family ...

All JobsLisp Programmer JobsLisp Programmer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Lisp Programmer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$12

$40

$70

How much do lisp programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for lisp programmer in Chicago, IL is $40.73, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $26.49 and $52.98 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Lisp Programmers?

Lisp Programmers are software developers who specialize in using the Lisp family of programming languages, such as Common Lisp or Scheme. They design, develop, and maintain software applications by leveraging Lisp's unique features, like symbolic computation and code-as-data (homoiconicity). Lisp Programmers often work in fields like artificial intelligence, academic research, and systems programming, where Lisp's flexibility and powerful macro system are especially valuable. Their responsibilities may include writing algorithms, optimizing code, and collaborating with other developers to create robust software solutions.

What is the difference between Lisp Programmer vs Functional Programmer?

AspectLisp ProgrammerFunctional Programmer
Required CredentialsTypically a degree in Computer Science or related field, familiarity with Lisp dialectsSimilar credentials, often with knowledge of functional programming languages
Work EnvironmentSoftware development, AI, symbolic processing in various industriesSoftware development, data analysis, academic research
Industry UsageResearch labs, AI companies, niche software firmsTech companies, academia, data science firms
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared due to programming paradigms and language focusRelated but broader, includes multiple languages

While a Lisp Programmer specializes in developing with Lisp dialects, a Functional Programmer focuses on functional programming principles across various languages. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are used in overlapping industries, but Lisp Programmers are more niche-specific, whereas Functional Programmers work across multiple languages and domains.

What are some common challenges Lisp Programmers face when working on legacy codebases?

Lisp Programmers often encounter challenges when maintaining or extending legacy codebases, such as understanding non-standard dialects, deciphering minimal or outdated documentation, and adapting to unique coding styles. Legacy Lisp systems may also integrate with older hardware or software, requiring extra effort to ensure compatibility. Collaborating with team members to refactor and modernize code is common, and strong communication skills are essential to share knowledge and best practices effectively.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lisp Programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lisp Programmer, you need strong proficiency in Lisp programming languages, algorithmic thinking, and a solid background in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with development environments like SLIME for Emacs, version control systems (e.g., Git), and experience with Common Lisp or Scheme implementations are typically expected. Analytical problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help Lisp programmers excel in collaborative and innovative projects. These competencies enable efficient development of complex systems and ensure adaptability in diverse and evolving technical environments.
Lisp Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lisp Programmer job openings in Chicago, IL as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 37% Full Time, 51% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 10% Nights. Highlights an 57% Physical, 42% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,780 per year, or $40.8 per hour.
Senior Software Engineer, Finance (Clojure)

Senior Software Engineer, Finance (Clojure)

DRW

Chicago, IL • On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
DRW is a diversified trading firm with over 3 decades of experience bringing sophisticated technology and exceptional people together to operate in markets around the world. They are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join their Unified Platform team, responsible for building and operating systems that support DRW's financial accounting and regulatory reporting.
Responsibilities:
• Delivering on major regulatory, ERP, and financial reporting initiatives
• Migrating infrastructure to Kubernetes and modernizing our deployment practices
• Modernizing observability and monitoring across the finance platform
• You'll spend time upfront with accountants, financial analysts, and operations teams to deeply understand business problems, help stakeholders articulate requirements and test assumptions, then turn that into an architecture and a plan.
• You'll drive your project forward day-to-day, breaking big business requirements into shippable increments and delivering iteratively.
• You'll also spend time reviewing code, providing feedback on design documents, unblocking teammates, and participating in a support rotation.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 5+ years of professional software development experience
• Strength in at least one of Clojure or Python. We have a large Clojure codebase and a growing Python footprint across data pipelines. Experience with Ruby and PL/SQL is also valuable.
• Experience in the finance or accounting domain. You've worked with concepts like PnL, reconciliation, general ledger, regulatory reporting, or cost basis. You don't need to be a CPA, but you should be someone who leans into understanding the business.
• Strong system design skills. You can reason about architectural tradeoffs, distributed systems, and design for reliability and operability
• Solid understanding of relational databases: transactionality, indexing, performance tuning, and data modeling
• Experience building and operating production systems with modern infrastructure (containers, CI/CD pipelines, orchestration)
• A track record of mentoring engineers and contributing to engineering culture and the ambition to grow your technical leadership further
Preferred:
• Deep Python expertise — data pipelines, scheduling, tooling. This is an opportunity to have outsized impact.
• Experience with Clojure or other Lisp-family languages
• Hands-on experience with observability tooling — structured logging, metrics, alerting, anomaly detection
• Familiarity with Oracle, Kafka, or Airflow
• Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, and infrastructure-as-code
• Background in reducing operational toil through automation and better system design
Company:
DRW is a diversified trading firm that combines technology, research, and risk management to capture trading and investment opportunities. Founded in 1992, the company is headquartered in Chicago, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

Apply