Lead Engineer (C++) HFT Trading Systems in London
Lead Engineer (C++) HFT Trading Systems

Lead Engineer (C++) HFT Trading Systems in London

London Full-Time No home office possible
A

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development of high-performance trading systems using C++ and mentor a dynamic team.
  • Company: Join a cutting-edge systematic trading firm in London with a flat team structure.
  • Benefits: Earn up to £220,000 plus bonuses, health insurance, and a training budget.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in finance technology while enjoying full engineering autonomy.
  • Qualifications: 6+ years of C++ experience and proven leadership in systems engineering.
  • Other info: Flexible remote work across Europe with minimal process and direct access to leadership.

Albert Bow is working with a systematic trading firm building high-performance, latency-critical systems powering global strategies. They’re looking for a senior C++ engineer to lead a segment of their trading infra team, taking ownership of architecture, optimisation, and system design while collaborating across trading, quant research, and infra.

This is a full-stack systems engineering role: from kernel tuning and memory models to live strategy deployment and technical mentorship.

Responsibilities
  • Architect and build performance-critical, low-latency trading systems in modern C++
  • Lead technical strategy, code reviews, and engineering standards across the team
  • Optimise across the stack: CPU cache usage, memory layout, NIC tuning, networking
  • Translate quant research into robust, deployable code with full-stack awareness
  • Mentor engineers and drive team-wide improvement in system design and debugging
  • Coordinate closely with trading and quant research teams on feature delivery and infra upgrades
Requirements
  • 6+ years of professional C++ development with deep systems experience
  • Proven leadership in engineering, architecture, technical direction, mentoring
  • Solid grasp of OS internals, CPU architecture, and systems-level performance
  • Experience building fault-tolerant, throughput-heavy applications
  • Strong communication skills, able to align across trading, research, and infra
Nice to Have
  • Background in low-latency or high-frequency systems
  • Python for scripting, research pipelines, or glue code
  • Experience with networking (TCP, UDP, L1/L2 stack)
  • Familiarity with x86 assembly, memory barriers, and CPU profiling
  • Participation in CTFs or algorithmic programming contests (IOI, ICPC, Hashcode)
What’s on Offer
  • Senior technical ownership in a lean, high-impact trading team
  • Up to £220,000 base salary + bonus
  • Health insurance, sports reimbursement, tuition and training budget
  • Flat team structure with direct access to CTO and trading leads
  • Flexible workflow and remote setup across Europe
  • Minimal process, no red tape, and full engineering autonomy

If this sounds like a fit please apply directly. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Lead Engineer (C++) HFT Trading Systems in London employer: Albert Bow

Join a leading systematic trading firm in London, where you will have the opportunity to take on senior technical ownership in a dynamic and high-impact environment. With a flat team structure that promotes direct access to leadership, you will benefit from a culture of autonomy and minimal bureaucracy, alongside competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a training budget. This role not only offers the chance to work on cutting-edge low-latency systems but also provides ample opportunities for professional growth and mentorship within a collaborative team.
A

Contact Detail:

Albert Bow Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer (C++) HFT Trading Systems in London

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your C++ projects, especially those related to low-latency systems. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on system design and optimisation techniques. Practice coding challenges that focus on performance-critical applications to impress during the interview.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to reach out directly.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer (C++) HFT Trading Systems in London

C++ Development
Systems Architecture
Performance Optimisation
Low-Latency Systems
Technical Leadership
Code Review
OS Internals
CPU Architecture
Fault-Tolerant Applications
Communication Skills
Networking (TCP, UDP)
x86 Assembly
Memory Barriers
CPU Profiling

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your C++ experience and any leadership roles you've had. We want to see how your skills align with the requirements, so don’t be shy about showcasing your achievements in systems engineering!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about high-frequency trading systems and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our team. Keep it concise but impactful!

Showcase Your Technical Skills: When filling out your application, be specific about your technical expertise. Mention any relevant projects or experiences that demonstrate your ability to optimise low-latency systems and lead engineering efforts. We love details!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Albert Bow

✨Know Your C++ Inside Out

Make sure you brush up on your C++ skills, especially the latest standards. Be prepared to discuss your experience with performance-critical systems and how you've optimised code in the past. They’ll want to see your deep understanding of OS internals and CPU architecture.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Since this role involves leading a team, be ready to share examples of how you've mentored others and driven technical strategy. Discuss specific instances where you’ve led code reviews or improved engineering standards, as this will demonstrate your capability to take ownership.

✨Prepare for Technical Questions

Expect to dive into technical discussions about system design and debugging. Brush up on topics like CPU cache usage, memory layout, and networking. You might even face some coding challenges, so practice solving problems related to low-latency systems.

✨Communicate Effectively

Strong communication is key in this role, especially when coordinating with trading and quant research teams. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, and be ready to explain complex concepts in a way that’s easy to understand for non-technical stakeholders.

Lead Engineer (C++) HFT Trading Systems in London
Albert Bow
Location: London

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

A
Similar positions in other companies
UK’s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>