Storage Architect - Low Latency Trading Systems

Global Investment Bank | London | Hybrid (2 days/week on-site)

Role Overview

Up to £1,300/day | Inside IR35 | 6-month initial contract

Our global investment banking client is seeking an exceptional Storage Architect to lead the design and implementation of ultra-low latency storage solutions for their electronic trading infrastructure. This is a rare opportunity to work at the cutting edge of financial technology, where microseconds matter and technical excellence drives millions in trading revenue.

What You'll Do

• Design enterprise storage solutions for high-frequency trading environments and traditional workloads
• Lead technology feasibility assessments and POCs for emerging storage technologies (NVMe-oF, PMEM, CXL)
• Develop standardised design patterns and create HLD/LLD documentation for architecture review boards
• Optimise fabric configurations (Fibre Channel) and replication strategies for ultra-low latency requirements
• Ensure regulatory compliance across SEC, MiFID II, GDPR, and SOX requirements
• Act as governance liaison with BISO, audit, and risk teams

Essential Experience

Technical Expertise

• 10-15+ years in storage engineering with 5+ years in architecture roles
• Hands-on experience with Dell EMC (PowerMax/Symmetrix), Pure Storage, NetApp AFF
• Expert-level knowledge of SAN (Fibre Channel), NAS, and backup/DR systems
• Deep understanding of NVMe-over-Fabrics, storage-class memory, and low-latency networking
• Strong Linux systems administration background

Capital Markets Background

• 10+ years working in electronic trading or capital markets environments
• Understanding of trade lifecycle and algorithmic trading systems
• Experience supporting front-office trading applications and market data systems
• Knowledge of high-frequency trading infrastructure requirements

Governance & Compliance

• Proven experience interfacing with regulatory bodies (FCA, SEC, FINRA)
• Strong background in financial services audit processes
• Experience with storage security controls, encryption, and RBAC implementation

Desirable Skills

• Software-defined storage experience (Lustre, WekaFS, VAST Data)
• Object storage and distributed file system expertise
• Infrastructure-as-code (IaC) for storage automation
• Vendor certifications (Pure Storage, Dell, NetApp, Cisco)
• TOGAF Enterprise Architecture certification

What Makes This Role Special

• Work with cutting-edge storage technologies
• Direct impact on trading performance and revenue generation
• Hybrid working - 2 days per week in prestigious London offices
• Competitive day rate up to £1,300 inside IR35
• 6-month initial contract with strong potential for extension
• Immediate start available for the right candidate

Ideal Candidate Profile

You're likely a Storage Architect or Principal Storage Engineer who has evolved from hands-on vendor experience (Pure Storage, NetApp, Dell EMC) into financial services. You understand both the technical complexities of enterprise storage and the unique demands of electronic trading where latency is measured in microseconds, not milliseconds.