Software Engineer Intern - C++, Summer 2027

About the role

Akuna Capital offers a 10-week summer internship for C++ software engineers to work on high-performance trading systems. Interns collaborate with Quant and Trading teams, focusing on scalable, efficient, and reliable software development.

Role and Responsibilities

• Work on high-performance, multithreaded, asynchronous, and distributed C++ systems.
• Collaborate with Quant and Trading teams to focus on specific domain areas.
• Develop projects from ideation through delivery and maintenance.
• Add functionality to existing systems and implement new components.
• Experiment with new technologies and software patterns.
• Make a direct impact on the firm's core business operations.

Requirements

• Pursuing a bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. in computer science, engineering, math, physics, or equivalent.
• Graduating by August 2028.
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S., including F-1 students using OPT or STEM.
• Experience programming in modern C++ (C++20 or later; C++23 preferred).
• Familiarity with debugging tools like GDB, Valgrind, and address sanitizer.
• Ability to communicate effectively with non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Skills and Qualities

• Experience with distributed systems, parallel processing, and asynchronous architectures.
• Knowledge of networking or protocol encoding/decoding.
• Familiarity with lock-free data structures and algorithms.
• Experience with performance profiling tools such as perf, gprof, or vtune.
• Scripting skills in Python or shell.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to react quickly to changing market conditions.

Additional Candidate Attributes

• Passion for building complex systems from the ground up.
• Ability to collaborate with diverse developers to deliver cohesive solutions.
• Intrinsic motivation and ability to work independently.
• Strong sense of ownership and drive to fix bugs.
• Diversity of experience and perspective is valued.
• Resumes must be submitted in PDF format.

Compensation and Benefits

• Minimum base salary starts at $145,000 in accordance with Illinois Equal Pay Act.
• Compensation varies based on experience, qualifications, and skill set.
• Eligible for discretionary performance bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, and paid time off.