A $200,000 base salary straight out of college sounds unusual, but that’s exactly what Optiver is listing for its 2027 Graduate Software Engineer role in Austin.
The opportunity is aimed at students graduating between December 2026 and June 2027 with a background in Computer Science or Computer Engineering.
And there’s another detail that makes this opening worth a closer look: Optiver says it supports US immigration sponsorship for this role.
If you’re comfortable with C++, Python, or Java and want to work on high-performance systems where software interacts with financial markets in real time, this could be one of the more interesting graduate tech openings for 2027.
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Role | Graduate Software Engineer |
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| Salary | $200,000 base |
| Graduation | Dec 2026 – Jun 2027 |
| Skills | C++, Python or Java |
| Sponsorship | US immigration sponsorship supported |
What Would You Actually Do at Optiver?
This isn’t a typical graduate software role where you spend your first few months working only on small internal tasks.
Optiver builds technology used in global financial markets, where systems need to process information and react extremely quickly.
Graduate engineers work alongside other engineers, traders and business teams to develop and improve the systems behind the firm’s trading operations.
The role involves solving complex engineering problems, improving existing systems and working with technologies used across financial markets, including AI-enabled tools.
New hires also don’t immediately get dropped into the deep end.
Optiver says graduates spend their first eight weeks in its Global Academy, learning trading fundamentals and the company’s technology stack. Engineers are also paired with a mentor before moving deeper into their teams.
For a new graduate, that combination of structured training and real engineering work is one of the more interesting parts of this opening.
Who Can Apply?
This opportunity has a fairly specific graduation window.
You should be pursuing a:
Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD
in:
Computer Science or Computer Engineering
and be on track to graduate between December 2026 and June 2027.
Optiver is looking for candidates who can program in languages such as C++, Python or Java and have strong computer science fundamentals and problem-solving skills.
You don’t need to already be an expert in financial markets based on the requirements listed. Interest in understanding how technology powers financial systems is more important.
There is also an important point for international students:
Optiver states that it supports US immigration sponsorship for this position.
That makes the role particularly worth checking for eligible international graduates who otherwise have to filter many US job openings based on sponsorship availability.
$200K Is Only the Base Salary
The headline number is notable because Optiver lists an expected base salary of:
$200,000 per year.
And that’s the base salary, not necessarily the complete compensation package.
The position is also eligible for a discretionary bonus and includes benefits such as a 401(k) match, health coverage and 25 paid vacation days, along with other employee benefits.
Of course, the salary shouldn’t be the only reason to apply. A role paying this much at a technology-driven trading firm is also likely to attract strong candidates.
One Important Rule Before You Apply
There is one condition easy to miss.
If you’ve completed an online assessment or interviewed for an Optiver technology graduate or internship position at any Optiver location within the previous eight months, you aren’t currently eligible to reapply.
Optiver requires an eight-month cool-off period before applying again.
If that restriction doesn’t apply to you and your graduation date falls within the required window, you can check the complete requirements and submit your application through Optiver’s official careers page.
Official application:
Apply for Optiver Graduate Software Engineer 2027
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