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Rust Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

We're looking for a midlevel or senior IC to join our core engineering team. Our team is responsible for all things C/C++ and Rust, and the most performance-sensitive parts of our codebase. You'll be ...

... engineering, data science and research, to deliver the infrastructure and tools that drive our ... Strong experience with C++ and Rust in lowโ€‘latency, highโ€‘throughput systems * Proven ability to ...

Comfort with multiple programming languages, particularly including C++, Rust, Java, Python ... JavaScript, Ruby The annual base salary range for this position is $150,000 to $250,000 depending ...

Comfort with multiple programming languages, particularly including C++, Rust, Java, Python ... JavaScript, Ruby The annual base salary range for this position is $150,000 to $250,000 depending ...

Systems Software Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$178K - $211K/yr

This role is broader than a typical systems software engineering role ... You will write software (C++, Python, Rust, Ruby), and you will also spend a significant share of ...

Systems Software Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$145 - $185/hr

This role is broader than a typical systems software engineering role ... You will write software (C++, Python, Rust, Ruby), and you will also spend a significant share of ...

Develop on ARM-based embedded platforms using C, C++, python, golang or rust * Improve our embedded ... Engineering or CS degree. * Software development on an embedded device * Experience writing and ...

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Rust Engineer information

See Illinois salary details

$34.4K

$93.1K

$162.8K

How much do rust engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for rust engineer in Illinois is $93,130.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,500.00 and $104,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Rust engineer?

Rust Engineers are software developers who specialize in using the Rust programming language to build reliable, efficient, and safe systems. They often work on performance-critical applications such as backend services, embedded software, systems programming, and blockchain technologies. Rust Engineers are valued for their ability to write code that minimizes bugs and security vulnerabilities, leveraging Rust's strict compiler and memory safety features. Their expertise is increasingly sought after in industries where safety, speed, and concurrency are essential.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a Rust engineer?

To thrive as a Rust Engineer, you need a strong understanding of systems programming concepts, the Rust language, and experience with software development best practices, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, build tools such as Cargo, and knowledge of CI/CD pipelines are typically required. Problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication set outstanding Rust Engineers apart. These skills and qualifications are essential for building reliable, high-performance, and secure software systems in collaborative development environments.

What are common challenges Rust engineers face when integrating Rust with existing systems?

Rust Engineers often encounter challenges when integrating Rust into codebases written in other languages, such as C, C++, or Python. These challenges can include managing foreign function interfaces (FFI), ensuring memory safety across language boundaries, and handling differences in build systems and tooling. Collaboration with teams familiar with legacy systems is often essential to navigate these complexities, and clear documentation is key to successful integration. Over time, these challenges can deepen your understanding of system interoperability and lead to broader career opportunities in systems programming.

What is the difference between Rust Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectRust EngineerSoftware Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science or related, familiarity with RustBachelor's in Computer Science or related, general programming skills
Work EnvironmentTech companies, startups, embedded systems, systems programmingVarious industries including tech, finance, healthcare, web development
Employer & Industry UsageCompanies developing performance-critical or system-level applicationsBroad range of companies developing software across sectors
Search & Comparison IntentFocus on Rust-specific roles, systems programmingGeneral software development roles across languages

Rust Engineers specialize in developing high-performance, safe systems using Rust, often in embedded or systems programming contexts. Software Developers have a broader scope, working across multiple languages and industries. While both roles require strong programming skills, Rust Engineers focus on Rust expertise, whereas Software Developers may work with various languages and technologies.

How do you become a Rust engineer?

To become a Rust engineer, you should learn the Rust programming language through official documentation, tutorials, and practice projects. Gaining experience with systems programming, understanding ownership and concurrency concepts, and familiarizing yourself with tools like Cargo and Rustup are also important. Building a portfolio of Rust projects and contributing to open-source can enhance your qualifications for such roles.

How much do Rust engineers make?

Rust engineers typically earn between $80,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in systems programming and performance optimization tend to command higher salaries.

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Rust Engineer jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Rust Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Rust Engineer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,130 per year, or $44.8 per hour.

Sr. Software Engineer II, Backend (Rust)

NinjaTrader

Chicago, IL โ€ข On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Disclaimer: Please be advised that the most accurate and up-to-date information about our open roles-including job descriptions, compensation, and benefits-can only be guaranteed on our official job board. For the latest listings and details, please visit: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ninjatrader.
JOIN US ON OUR MISSION TO BECOME THE #1 RETAIL TRADING PLATFORM IN THE WORLD
Welcome to the dynamic world of NinjaTrader! As an industry-leading trading platform and futures broker, we're empowering traders to take control of their financial destiny. How do we do it? We provide cutting-edge products and services that enhance the trading journey. Whether a seasoned pro or just starting out, NinjaTrader equips traders with award-winning software and brokerage services to navigate the world's leading financial markets with confidence.
Our growth story is nothing short of exhilarating. Since 2003, NinjaTrader has been dedicated to understanding and supporting traders on their journey toward trading triumph. Through those efforts, our user base has grown to over 2 million users and we have become the number one rated futures brokerage worldwide.
But we're not stopping there. We're constantly evolving, pushing boundaries, and modernizing the futures industry. Our commitment to innovation means users will always have access to dynamic tools, real-time support, and a community of like-minded traders.
So, why work at NinjaTrader? Here, you're not just part of a team; you're part of a movement. We empower employees to reach new heights in their careers by providing a dynamic culture focused on social connection, professional development, and employee recognition initiatives. Sounds too good to be true? Take it from our employees.
Join us as we redefine what's possible in trading, advocate for our customers, and continue our journey toward becoming the world's top retail-focused trading platform in the world.
What you'll do:
NinjaTrader's identity and verification platform is built in Rust, and it sits on the critical path for every new customer we bring on. We're hiring a Sr. Software Engineer II with deep Rust expertise to own that surface end to end: the provider/vendor integrations, the verification logic, and the asynchronous delivery of outcomes into the systems that act on them.
You'll be NinjaTrader's Rust authority for the onboarding domain while working alongside Rust engineers across the wider Payward organization. As the senior-most Rust engineer on the Onboarding squad, your work will significantly impact approval rates, time-to-funding, and our ability to extend the platform into new markets.
In this role you will:
  • Design, develop, and maintain Rust services and crates that power account creation, identity verification, and KYC/CIP decisioning
  • Build integrations with identity, fraud, and screening providers, including response modeling, deserialization, and fixture-based scenarios that make third-party behavior deterministically testable
  • Write the determination logic as pure, table-tested functions, with one authoritative definition of each rule rather than the same rule reimplemented in three places
  • Design asynchronous, task-based delivery of outcomes to downstream systems: idempotency keys, retry and resumption semantics, and completion gates that wait on a real receipt instead of assuming success
  • Own data-handling correctness for flows carrying PII and identity documents, covering redaction and minimal projections, encryption in transit and at rest, secret management, and audit logging
  • Express market and product differences as policy and configuration, so supporting a new jurisdiction is a policy change rather than a refactor
  • Operate what you build: instrumentation, structured logging, alerting, and incident response for services where a silent failure quietly stops customers from funding
  • Design and implement scalable, reliable service architecture, using cloud-based infrastructure such as Google Cloud Platform and Kubernetes
  • Act as the onboarding domain's authority during cross-functional Rust design reviews, brokering technical contracts with external squads and mentoring internal engineers as they grow their Rust proficiency

What you'll need:
  • 6+ years of professional software development experience, including substantial production Rust
  • Strong command of Rust in production: ownership and lifetimes, error modeling, trait design, and the async ecosystem (tokio), plus serde and a SQL layer such as sqlx or diesel
  • Demonstrated ability to write highly testable Rust, including pure functions at decision boundaries, table-driven tests, fixture-based integration testing, and strict contract tests
  • Proven experience designing HTTP and event-driven service integrations, including versioning and backward compatibility
  • Experience handling sensitive data under real constraints (encryption, secret management, least-privilege access, and audit requirements) in containerized cloud environments such as Docker and Kubernetes
  • Demonstrated use of AI coding agents (Codex, Cursor, Claude Code) as a standard part of your engineering workflow, with the judgment to review and validate AI-assisted code before it ships
  • Excellent communication, including driving technical contracts to agreement with teams outside your reporting line, and full ownership of what you ship
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)

Bonus Points for:
  • Experience with identity verification, KYC/AML, CIP, or fraud and risk decisioning systems
  • Experience in fintech, trading, brokerage, or crypto, particularly in a regulated financial services environment
  • Experience in a large Rust monorepo with shared crates, workspace tooling, and multi-team code ownership
  • Familiarity with policy-driven flow engines (YAML or JSON defined workflows), schema-driven contracts such as gRPC or protobuf, and feature flagging platforms such as Statsig
  • Passion for futures, crypto, derivatives and trading technologies is a strong plus

Compensation:
The salary range for this role will be $140,000.00 - $190,000.00 USD. In addition, this position will also receive an annual target bonus of 12%. Bonus pay at NinjaTrader is based on individual performance (50%) as well as company/team performance (50%).
Salary and bonus earnings are only two components of the total compensation package offered by NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader offers a 401K plan through ADP under which the company will match up to 3.5% of employee contributions. Annual paid time off allowance accrues at a rate of 18 days per year (some positions may qualify for more) plus seven paid holidays.
Location:
This role is based in Chicago, IL. *There may be remote flexibility for exceptional candidates in the following states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin.
Hybrid:
For Chicago-based employees, we follow a hybrid work schedule: In-office Tuesday through Thursday, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays. In addition to these weekly remote days, we offer:
  • 20 additional flex remote days annually
  • 5 Company Wide Office-Optional weeks tied to major holidays

Our Core Benefits Include:
  • Generous PTO
  • 7 Paid Holidays Annually + 5 Conditional Holidays Annually
  • 1 Service Day Annually
  • 401k with 3.5% Company Match
  • Paid Parental Bonding Leave
  • Health, Vision, Dental Coverage
  • Life and Disability Insurance Covered 100% by NinjaTrader

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.