Senior Software Developer – Low-Latency Exchange Trading

Location: London (Hybrid)

About the Role:

We are working on behalf of a leading player in the digital asset and trading infrastructure space, currently hiring a Senior Java Software Developer to join their high-performance trading systems team. This position focuses on exchange connectivity and ultra-low latency trading infrastructure, supporting both spot and derivative markets across global platforms.

The role offers a unique opportunity to help re-architect a core trading stack in a high-frequency trading (HFT) environment. You’ll work closely with engineering, trading, and quant teams to deliver robust, scalable systems capable of meeting the demands of 24/7 global markets.

Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and optimise ultra-low latency connectivity with multiple global trading venues.
• Architect resilient, high-throughput components for real-time market data processing and order execution.
• Leverage cutting-edge messaging systems (e.g., Aeron, SBE) to maximise performance.
• Identify and resolve microsecond-level bottlenecks through JVM and system profiling.
• Improve infrastructure reliability with advanced monitoring and automation.
• Contribute to the evolution of a cloud- and colo-based hybrid infrastructure stack.
• Ensure compliance with rigorous uptime, latency, and security standards.
• Drive automation to streamline trading workflows and reduce operational risk.

Key Skills & Experience:

• 10+ years of commercial Java development experience in performance-critical environments.
• Strong understanding of exchange-facing protocols (e.g., FIX, binary, custom APIs).
• Advanced skills in JVM tuning, garbage collection optimisation, and memory management.
• Expertise in high-performance messaging and serialization frameworks.
• Deep networking knowledge: TCP/UDP, kernel bypass (e.g., DPDK, Solarflare), and IPC.
• Proven experience with concurrent programming and multi-threaded architectures.
• Familiarity with systems-level performance tuning on Linux, including NUMA and huge pages.
• Hands-on experience in HFT or low-latency trading environments.
• Ability to thrive under pressure in a fast-moving, high-stakes setting.

Nice to Have:

• Experience with infrastructure-as-code and cloud-native tools (e.g., Kubernetes, AWS, Terraform).
• Background in low-level programming (e.g., C/C++, Rust) or functional languages (e.g., Q/KDB+, Haskell).
• Understanding of hardware acceleration techniques including FPGA and RDMA.

Why Apply:

• Join an ambitious, technically elite team in a growing industry.
• Contribute to the development of innovative trading technologies at the forefront of digital markets.
• Competitive compensation, including performance-related bonuses.
• Comprehensive benefits package including private healthcare and pension contributions.
• A fun and inclusive office culture with regular team events, socials, and in-house perks.