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Physics Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Next Step Systems

C++ Software Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$50.50 - $68/hr

C++ Software Developer, Chicago, IL - The C++ Software Developer will work collaboratively with the ... PhD in mathematics, statistics, physics or engineering is preferred. Will consider candidates who ...

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Physics Software Engineer information

What is a physics software engineer?

A Physics Software Engineer is a professional who develops, maintains, and optimizes software that simulates or models physical systems and phenomena. They often work at the intersection of physics, computer science, and engineering, creating tools for scientific research, simulations, or real-time physics engines used in industries like gaming, aerospace, or research institutions. These engineers typically have a strong background in both physics and programming, enabling them to translate complex physical formulas and concepts into efficient and accurate code. Their work is crucial for advancing technology in areas such as computational physics, virtual reality, and engineering design.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a physics software engineer?

To thrive as a Physics Software Engineer, you need a strong background in physics, mathematics, and computer science, typically supported by a degree in physics, engineering, or a related field. Proficiency in programming languages such as C++, Python, or MATLAB, and experience with simulation software or scientific computing libraries are essential. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and interpreting complex data. These skills are vital for developing accurate, efficient software solutions that model physical systems and drive innovation in scientific and engineering projects.

How does a physics software engineer typically collaborate with scientists and other engineering teams during a project?

Physics Software Engineers often work closely with physicists, data scientists, and hardware engineers to translate complex physical models into reliable software solutions. Collaboration usually involves regular meetings to clarify requirements, iterative development cycles to test and validate simulation accuracy, and ongoing feedback to refine algorithms. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as engineers must bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical implementation while ensuring that software integrates smoothly with other systems. This collaborative environment fosters continuous learning and problem-solving, making the role both challenging and rewarding.

What is the difference between Physics Software Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectPhysics Software EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Physics, Computer Science, or related fieldBachelor's or Master's in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, tech companies, aerospace, or defense industriesTech firms, finance, healthcare, or consulting companies
Industry UsagePhysics research, simulation, modeling, and software developmentData analysis, machine learning, predictive modeling, and data visualization

Physics Software Engineers focus on developing software for physics applications, simulations, and research, often working in research or engineering environments. Data Scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights and build predictive models. While both roles require strong programming skills, Physics Software Engineers emphasize physics principles, whereas Data Scientists focus on data analysis and statistical methods.

What are popular job titles related to Physics Software Engineer jobs in Illinois?

For Physics Software Engineer jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Physics Software Engineer jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Physics Software Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Physics Software Engineer jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Physics Software Engineer job openings:

Physics Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Physics Software Engineer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 74% In-person, and 26% Hybrid job distribution.

Campus Software Engineer (Intern)

Jump Trading

Chicago, IL • On-site

$250K/yr

Full-time, Internship

Re-posted 26 days ago

Job description

Jump Trading Group is committed to world class research. We empower exceptional talents in Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science to seek scientific boundaries, push through them, and apply cutting edge research to global financial markets. Our culture is unique. Constant innovation requires fearlessness, creativity, intellectual honesty, and a relentless competitive streak. We believe in winning together and unlocking unique individual talent by incenting collaboration and mutual respect. At Jump, research outcomes drive more than superior risk adjusted returns. We design, develop, and deploy technologies that change our world, fund start-ups across industries, and partner with leading global research organizations and universities to solve problems.
Core Development is a global team of technologists who lean into the cutting edge of agentic development to architect, build and maintain our world-class trading platform From optimizing our core trading engine to building custom hardware, we leverage the latest agentic tools to deliver the infrastructure that drives our trading and business needs.
What You'll Do:
Our software engineering internship is an intensive 10-week experience with our technology team that designs, codes, tests, and maintains our distributed trading system and one of the world's largest supercomputers.
You will be working side by side with our experienced software engineers and will receive ongoing coaching from a dedicated mentor throughout the summer. Our internship program is the primary way we identify top young software engineers for our core development team, and it's a proven path for earning full-time opportunities at Jump.
Over the course of the summer, you will take on projects working on production code and gain experience with our full-cycle process for development, testing, and release using Agile methodologies. You will apply your programming and analysis skills to contribute to our real-time large-scale, high-performance trading platform and related infrastructure.
Other duties as assigned or needed
Skills You'll Need:
  • Hands-on experience and a high level of proficiency in one or more of the following:
    • C++ development on Linux platform
    • Python development on Linux platform
  • Strong understanding of data structures and threading models
  • Ability to work with a team in a fast-paced environment, deploying new software daily
  • Passion for solving complex problems and learning to build optimal solutions from scratch, instead of simply assembling things from existing libraries
  • Interest in using knowledge from several areas -- such as hardware, networking, OS design -- to produce extremely high-performance software
  • Reliable and predictable availability

Also Helpful, but Not Required:
  • Past internship or job experience in a software development role is a plus
  • Advanced coursework in algorithms, network programming, operating systems, compilers
  • Experience with AI tools like Claude Code in a real work environment

* No finance or economics study or work experience required
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS are encouraged to apply. We accept students eligible for CPT/OPT and we sponsor work visas for full-time positions
The estimated base salary for this role is $250,000 per year.

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