About the role#
As a Software Engineer Intern at Akuna Capital, you will join our team for the summer of 2027. You will work on high-performance systems that power our core business operations. Our interns embed within small teams to gain hands-on experience with the day-to-day work of a software engineer. You will be responsible for ensuring our systems remain reliable, efficient, and scalable.
What you'll do#
- Take ownership of projects from initial ideation and design through to delivery.
- Add functionality to existing systems and implement new componentry.
- Collaborate with Quant and Trading teams to gather requirements and build solutions.
- Resolve complex coding problems to improve system performance.
- Experiment with new technologies and patterns.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. program in computer science, computer engineering, mathematics, physics, or an equivalent technical field.
- Graduation date no later than August 2028.
- Legal authorization to work in the U.S.
- Experience programming in modern C++ (C++20 or later; C++23 preferred).
- The ability to react quickly and effectively to changing market conditions.
Location & details#
- Location: Chicago, Illinois.
- Work Modality: On-site.
- Term: Summer 2027.
- Employment Type: Full-time.
About Akuna Capital
Akuna Capital is a trading firm that operates as an options market-maker. The company trades using its own capital and does not have external clients or investors. Founded in 2011, the firm maintains offices in Chicago, Sydney, Shanghai, and London. It focuses on developing low-latency technology and mathematical models to support its trading strategies.
How to get in at Akuna Capital
Securing an internship at Akuna Capital requires a proactive approach, as many competitive roles are filled quickly. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first, as early applicants get seen before the pile grows. Being at the front of the line is a real advantage in a high-volume process. You can also improve your chances by connecting with the right people. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company's roles so you can reach out directly to ask about the role or a referral, which materially improves response rates. Direct outreach often cuts through the noise of a standard application queue.
