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Senior Clojure Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

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 ... We have a large Clojure codebase and a growing Python footprint across data pipelines. Experience ...

Senior Software Engineer, Finance (Clojure)

Chicago, IL · On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our Unified Platform (UP) team. UP consolidates ... Strength in at least one of Clojure or Python. We have a large Clojure codebase and a growing ...

Senior Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

A predominant information technology company is seeking a Senior Software Engineer with strong Clojure or Ruby development skills to join their Chicago, IL based Product Development team!! As a ...

Senior Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

A predominant information technology company is seeking a Senior Software Engineer with strong Clojure or Ruby development skills to join their Chicago, IL based Product Development team!! As a ...

Senior Software Engineer - DeFi

Chicago, IL · On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

They are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to build software that enables trading operations teams ... learn Clojure, one of the team's primary languages • Confident JVM knowledge • Working ...

We need engineers who can reason about these protocols financially, not just technically, and build ... Willingness to learn Clojure, one of the team's primary languages * Confident JVM knowledge

Senior Clojure Developer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$15

$63

$90

How much do senior clojure developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior clojure developer in Chicago, IL is $63.59, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53.99 and $71.30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Why is Clojure so highly paid?

Senior Clojure developers are highly paid because Clojure is a niche, functional programming language that requires specialized skills, including proficiency with Lisp syntax, concurrency, and immutability. The demand for developers with expertise in Clojure is high due to its use in scalable, high-performance systems, and the limited supply of experienced professionals drives up compensation.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior Clojure Developers when integrating Clojure applications with legacy systems?

Senior Clojure Developers often encounter challenges when integrating modern Clojure applications with existing legacy systems, particularly those built with Java or other older technologies. These challenges can include handling data format mismatches, bridging differences in concurrency models, and ensuring smooth interoperation between Clojure and Java codebases. Addressing these issues requires a strong understanding of both ecosystems, effective communication with other teams, and the use of interoperability tools provided by the Clojure language. Successful integration also involves thorough testing and careful planning to minimize disruptions during deployment.

What are Senior Clojure Developers?

Senior Clojure Developers are experienced software engineers who specialize in building applications using the Clojure programming language. They are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining complex systems, often leading technical decisions and mentoring junior developers. Their expertise includes functional programming, concurrency, and working with the broader Clojure ecosystem. Senior Clojure Developers often collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable and maintainable solutions.

Is Clojure faster than Java?

As a Senior Clojure Developer, it's important to understand that Clojure runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), so its performance is generally comparable to Java. While Clojure's dynamic features can introduce some overhead, well-optimized Clojure code can achieve performance similar to Java, especially for CPU-bound tasks. Performance differences often depend on code quality and use of JVM tuning rather than language choice alone.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Clojure Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Clojure Developer, you need deep expertise in functional programming, strong proficiency with Clojure and its ecosystem, and a solid understanding of software architecture principles, typically backed by a degree in computer science or related experience. Familiarity with development tools such as Leiningen, REPL environments, version control systems like Git, and experience with cloud platforms or CI/CD pipelines is common. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and mentorship skills help you excel in team settings and lead complex projects. These skills are crucial for delivering robust, maintainable solutions and guiding teams to success in dynamic technical environments.

Can I make 100k as a software developer?

Senior Clojure developers can potentially earn $100,000 or more annually, especially with experience, specialized skills, and working in high-demand markets. Salary levels depend on factors such as location, company size, and project complexity, with remote roles and niche expertise often commanding higher pay.

What is the difference between Senior Clojure Developer vs Backend Software Engineer?

AspectSenior Clojure DeveloperBackend Software Engineer
Required CredentialsProficiency in Clojure, functional programming, often with related certifications or coursesProficiency in backend languages (Java, Python, etc.), relevant degrees or certifications
Work EnvironmentPrimarily in companies using Clojure for backend services, startups, or tech firmsWide range of industries, often in larger organizations with diverse tech stacks
Industry UsageSpecialized in Clojure-based projects, often in data processing or backend APIsGeneral backend development across various languages and frameworks

While both roles involve backend development, a Senior Clojure Developer specializes in Clojure and functional programming, whereas a Backend Software Engineer may work with multiple languages and frameworks. The Senior Clojure Developer role is more niche, focusing on Clojure projects, while the Backend Software Engineer has broader responsibilities across different tech stacks.

Does Netflix use Clojure?

Netflix, as a major technology company, has used Clojure in some of its backend services, particularly for data processing and microservices. Senior Clojure developers working in large-scale distributed systems may find opportunities related to such environments, which often require knowledge of functional programming and cloud infrastructure. However, Clojure is not the primary language at Netflix, and the company's tech stack includes multiple languages and frameworks.
What are the most commonly searched types of Clojure Developer jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Clojure Developer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Clojure Developer jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Clojure Developer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Senior Clojure Developer jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Senior Clojure Developer job openings:
Senior Software Engineer, Finance (Clojure)

Senior Software Engineer, Finance (Clojure)

DRW

Chicago, IL • On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 19 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.