Software Engineer - Python, Business Operations

Akuna Capital•Chicago, IL

9h•$145,000

About The Position

Akuna Capital is an innovative trading firm focused on collaboration, cutting-edge technology, data-driven solutions, and automation. We specialize in providing liquidity as an options market-maker by designing and implementing our own low-latency technologies, trading strategies, and mathematical models. Founded in 2011, Akuna has offices in Chicago, Sydney, Shanghai, London, and Singapore. This role is the primary ongoing development resource for Business Operations technology, supporting Procurement, Finance, and Human Resources. The current priority is a data infrastructure project to consolidate cost data into a unified cost-attribution framework. The role will involve a broadening range of development work across these functions over time, with a defining requirement to apply AI capabilities to improve data workflows, reporting, and operational processes. This includes using native AI features in existing tools, API integrations, and protocols like MCP (Model Context Protocol).

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or equivalent practical experience.
Professional software development experience (minimum 3-5 years), with demonstrated ability to work as a sole or lead developer on cross-functional projects.
Strong proficiency in a backend language commonly used for data integration and automation work, such as Python.
Strong SQL skills and relational database design experience.
Demonstrated experience building and consuming REST APIs, including authentication, error handling, and data transformation across systems that were not designed to work together.
Direct experience integrating with at least several of the following, or clearly transferable equivalents: Jira/JSM (API/scripting), NetSuite (SuiteScript/SuiteTalk or equivalent), Atlassian Bitbucket/Git, and CMDB-type tools such as Device42.
Hands-on experience integrating LLM/AI APIs, such as Anthropic or OpenAI, into applications or workflows, including prompt construction and handling structured and unstructured outputs.
Version control proficiency with Git and comfort working in a Bitbucket-based environment.
Ability to communicate technical concepts and tradeoffs clearly to non-technical stakeholders in Finance, Procurement, and HR.
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities across multiple business functions, and operate with minimal direct technical oversight.
The ability to react quickly and accurately to rapidly changing market conditions, including the ability to quickly and accurately respond and/or solve math and coding problems are essential functions of the role.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with PostgreSQL is preferred.
Prior experience in financial services, trading, or a similarly data- and compliance-sensitive industry.
Experience with cost allocation, chargeback, or FinOps-style frameworks.
Experience building internal tools or dashboards for non-technical business users.
Exposure to procurement or vendor management systems.

Responsibilities

Lead the development efforts for the FP&A Cost Attribution Project.
Serve as lead developer for a bitemporal PostgreSQL database enabling traceable cost allocation.
Build and maintain integrations pulling data from Jira, NetSuite, Device42, and Bitbucket, among other data sources, to support cost attribution logic.
Support the project toward its Q1 2027 deployment target, including schema documentation and handoff materials, and maintain the system once in production.
Lead engineering efforts in support of Business Operations teams.
Work with the Procurement team to rebuild the current quote order management systems.
Support Finance and HR operations by building data pipelines, automating reports, and integrating systems as needs arise.
Act as a general-purpose development resource across these functions, prioritizing work in coordination with the Director of Operations.
Identify and implement native AI features within tools already in use by Procurement, Finance, HR, Compliance, and Risk.
Build custom integrations using APIs, MCP, or comparable protocols to connect large language models to internal systems and workflows.
Evaluate current manual processes across these functions and propose and implement AI-assisted or automated alternatives.
Work with the Security team to maintain security best practices and appropriate data-handling controls when integrating AI tooling with internal or vendor systems.