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Scala Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

NinjaTrader

Sr. Software Engineer I, Scala

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$126K - $166K/yr

... software engineering experience building production systems that handle real-time data, concurrency, and high availability * Strong, hands-on Scala expertise, including idiomatic Scala, functional ...

Capital One

Lead Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Lead Software Engineer Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy ... Java, Scala, Python, Go, or Node.js * 2+ years of experience with AWS, GCP, Azure, or another cloud ...

ELEKS

Senior Scala Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$56.25 - $74.25/hr

ELEKS is a custom software development company looking for a Senior Scala Developer in Chicago, IL. The role involves designing and maintaining scalable backend services, enhancing distributed ...

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All JobsScala Software Engineer JobsScala Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Scala Software Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$65.5K

$152.1K

$211.9K

How much do scala software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for scala software engineer in Chicago, IL is $152,091.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,700.00 and $178,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Scala software engineer typically collaborate with other team members in an agile development environment?

As a Scala Software Engineer, you’ll often work within cross-functional agile teams that include frontend and backend developers, QA engineers, product managers, and DevOps specialists. Collaboration is achieved through regular stand-up meetings, code reviews, and pair programming sessions, which help ensure alignment and maintain high code quality. You’ll frequently participate in sprint planning and retrospectives, contributing both technical expertise and feedback to improve processes. Effective communication and a willingness to share knowledge are key to fostering a productive and supportive team dynamic.

What is the difference between Scala Software Engineer vs Java Software Engineer?

AspectScala Software EngineerJava Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related, Scala certifications (optional)Bachelor's in CS or related, Java certifications (optional)
Work EnvironmentDeveloping scalable applications, functional programmingBuilding enterprise applications, object-oriented programming
Industry UsageTech companies, data processing, backend servicesFinancial, enterprise, web applications
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared for JVM language skills, functional vs OOPMore widespread, but similar in backend roles

The main difference between a Scala Software Engineer and a Java Software Engineer lies in the programming language focus and application style. Scala engineers typically work with functional programming paradigms and scalable systems, while Java engineers focus on object-oriented development for enterprise solutions. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are common in JVM-based environments, but Scala roles are more specialized for data-heavy and scalable applications.

What is a Scala software engineer?

Scala Software Engineers are professionals who specialize in developing software applications using the Scala programming language. They design, implement, test, and maintain codebases, often leveraging Scala's functional and object-oriented features to build scalable and robust systems. These engineers may work on backend services, data processing, or distributed systems, and are commonly employed in industries like finance, technology, and data analytics. Their role often involves collaborating with cross-functional teams and utilizing tools from the JVM ecosystem. Strong problem-solving skills and knowledge of concurrent programming are typically important for this position.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Scala software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Scala Software Engineer, you need a solid understanding of functional programming, data structures, algorithms, and proficiency in Scala, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with tools like sbt, Akka, Play Framework, and version control systems (e.g., Git) is commonly required, along with experience in distributed systems or big data technologies. Problem-solving ability, collaboration, and strong communication skills help engineers excel in team environments and tackle complex technical challenges. These skills ensure efficient, scalable software development and foster innovation in fast-evolving technical landscapes.
What are popular job titles related to Scala Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? For Scala Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Scala Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Scala Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Scala Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Scala Software Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $152,091 per year, or $73.1 per hour.

Sr. Software Engineer I, Scala

NinjaTrader

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

$126K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 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:
We are seeking a Sr. Software Engineer to join our Evaluation Services team. Our Evaluation Services business powers funded trader programs that give aspiring traders a pathway to professional trading capital. You will design, build, and maintain the Scala-based backend systems that power our auto-liquidation engine, risk evaluation, and trading services-the core systems our platform and partners depend on. You will own complex backend problems end-to-end and work alongside Trading Services Engineers, frontend engineers, QA, and solutions engineers to deliver high-quality, production-ready features in a fast-paced environment.
In this role you will:
  • Design and implement backend services in Scala for evaluation, risk, and trading service workloads, including real-time auto-liquidation, account state management, and post-trade processing
  • Build and evolve actor-based systems, such as Akka or similar technologies, that handle high-throughput market data, position changes, and event-driven workflows
  • Own significant features end-to-end, from technical specifications through implementation, code review, and production handoff
  • Design data models and database changes in PostgreSQL, including JSONB where appropriate, and contribute to the shared master schema, Protobuf, and SQL repositories
  • Diagnose and resolve complex backend issues, including production incidents, by analyzing logs, tracing distributed flows, and reproducing edge cases under realistic loads
  • Drive code quality across the team through thorough pull request reviews, clear acceptance criteria, disciplined development testing, and proper instrumentation and observability
  • Collaborate with Trading Services, Solutions Engineering, and Product to translate business requirements into well-scoped, accurately estimated stories
  • Contribute to architectural decisions and long-term technical debt remediation, including modernizing legacy Scala services and evaluating new event bus technologies
  • Mentor junior team members on Scala idioms, functional design, testing practices, and incident response
  • Develop deep expertise in NinjaTrader's evaluation platform and partner integrations to provide authoritative backend leadership

What you'll need:
  • 5+ years of backend software engineering experience building production systems that handle real-time data, concurrency, and high availability
  • Strong, hands-on Scala expertise, including idiomatic Scala, functional patterns, testing with ScalaTest or similar tools, and comfort working in a large, existing Scala codebase
  • Experience with actor-based concurrency models, such as Akka, Pekko, or equivalent technologies, including an understanding of supervision, message passing, and backpressure
  • Solid relational database skills with PostgreSQL, including schema design, indexing, query optimization, and sound judgment about when to use JSONB versus a normalized structure
  • Comfort with event-driven architectures, message buses such as Kafka or Pub/Sub, and asynchronous workflows
  • Excellent troubleshooting skills, with the ability to read logs, trace requests across distributed systems, and isolate root causes under pressure
  • Demonstrated ability to write clear technical specifications, scope work realistically, and identify risks early
  • High standards for code, tests, documentation, and pull requests, along with a willingness to uphold those standards during code reviews
  • Ability to think on your feet and adapt quickly when priorities shift or unexpected issues arise
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain backend tradeoffs to technical and non-technical audiences
  • Self-starter who thrives in ambiguity and can manage multiple complex backend initiatives simultaneously

Bonus points for:
  • Experience with trading platforms, fintech, or capital markets technology
  • Understanding of trading concepts, including order routing, market data, position management, risk and liquidation logic, and profit and loss calculations
  • Familiarity with Protobuf, gRPC, or schema-based service contracts
  • Experience migrating or modernizing legacy Scala systems or evaluating transitions from Scala to Rust or Go
  • Background in observability, including distributed tracing, structured logging, and metrics using Datadog, Google Cloud Platform, or similar technologies
  • Prior experience supporting enterprise or business-to-business partner integrations

Compensation:
The salary range for this role will be $125,000.00 - $175,000.00 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.

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