Java Software Engineer in City of London

City of London Full-Time 43200 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and build ultra-low latency trading systems that process market data and execute strategies.
  • Company: Leading global quantitative trading firm with a focus on technical excellence.
  • Benefits: Market-leading salary, performance bonuses, and comprehensive benefits package.
  • Why this job: Join elite engineers and make a measurable impact in systematic trading.
  • Qualifications: Outstanding Java development experience and strong understanding of performance-critical environments.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture with direct visibility of your engineering impact.

The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.

A leading global quantitative trading firm is seeking an exceptional Java Engineer to join one of the highest-performing engineering teams in systematic trading. This firm operates at the forefront of low-latency technology, where software performance directly drives trading outcomes. The successful candidate will work on highly optimised, mission-critical trading infrastructure alongside elite engineers, researchers, and traders. This is a highly selective environment focused on technical excellence, ownership, and measurable impact.

You will design and build ultra-low latency, high-throughput trading systems responsible for processing market data and executing strategies across global markets. The role involves solving complex distributed systems challenges, optimising performance at the JVM and hardware level, and partnering closely with quantitative researchers to deliver production-grade trading platforms.

Key Responsibilities
  • Design and develop high-performance Java trading infrastructure
  • Build systems processing millions of events per second with deterministic latency requirements
  • Optimise JVM behaviour, memory management, and concurrency models
  • Identify and eliminate performance bottlenecks across CPU, network, and storage layers
  • Collaborate directly with traders and researchers to implement and scale trading strategies
  • Influence architectural decisions across critical trading platforms
  • Maintain exceptional engineering standards across reliability, scalability, and code quality
Required Experience
  • Outstanding Java development experience in performance-critical environments
  • Deep understanding of:
  • JVM internals
  • Multithreading and lock-free concurrency
  • Garbage collection and memory optimisation
  • Low-latency messaging and network programming
  • Strong computer science fundamentals (algorithms, data structures, system design)
  • Proven experience building high-throughput distributed systems
  • Strong performance profiling and optimisation experience
  • Solid understanding of Linux-based production environments
  • Highly Desirable
    • Experience within systematic trading, HFT, or market-making environments
    • Background in other performance-sensitive industries (real-time gaming, telecoms, high-scale infrastructure, etc.)
    • Experience with C++ or other systems programming languages
    • Familiarity with CPU architecture and hardware-aware optimisation
    • Contributions to open-source or performance-focused projects
    • Strong academic background in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or related disciplines
    The Environment
    • Small, highly collaborative engineering teams
    • Strong focus on technical autonomy and ownership
    • Direct visibility of engineering impact on trading performance
    • Low-bureaucracy, high-performance culture
    • Access to cutting-edge trading infrastructure and research collaboration
    Compensation
    • Market-leading base salary
    • Significant performance-based bonus potential
    • Strong long-term earning opportunity
    • Comprehensive benefits package

    Java Software Engineer in City of London employer: Block MB

    Join a leading global quantitative trading firm in London, where you will be part of a high-performing engineering team dedicated to technical excellence and innovation. With a strong focus on collaboration and ownership, this role offers exceptional opportunities for professional growth while working on cutting-edge low-latency trading systems that directly impact trading outcomes. Enjoy a competitive salary, performance-based bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package in a dynamic, low-bureaucracy environment that values your contributions.
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    Contact Detail:

    Block MB Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

    We think this is how you could land Java Software Engineer in City of London

    ✨Tip Number 1

    Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, conferences, or even online webinars. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly to hiring managers.

    ✨Tip Number 2

    Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those related to low-latency systems or high-throughput applications. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can do and set you apart from the crowd.

    ✨Tip Number 3

    Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your Java knowledge and system design skills. Practice coding challenges and be ready to discuss your thought process. Remember, they want to see how you tackle complex problems!

    ✨Tip Number 4

    Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you. Plus, applying directly shows your enthusiasm and commitment to joining our team. Let’s get you that dream job!

    We think you need these skills to ace Java Software Engineer in City of London

    Java Development
    JVM Internals
    Multithreading
    Lock-free Concurrency
    Garbage Collection
    Memory Optimisation
    Low-latency Messaging
    Network Programming
    Algorithms
    Data Structures
    System Design
    High-throughput Distributed Systems
    Performance Profiling
    Linux-based Production Environments
    CPU Architecture

    Some tips for your application 🫡

    Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your Java expertise and experience in performance-critical environments. We want to see how your skills align with the ultra-low latency trading systems we work on, so don’t hold back!

    Showcase Your Projects: Include any relevant projects or contributions that demonstrate your ability to build high-throughput distributed systems. If you've worked on open-source projects or have experience in systematic trading, let us know!

    Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about low-latency technology and how your background makes you a perfect fit for our team. We love seeing enthusiasm and a clear understanding of the role.

    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 to join our team!

    How to prepare for a job interview at Block MB

    ✨Know Your Java Inside Out

    Make sure you brush up on your Java skills, especially in performance-critical environments. Be ready to discuss JVM internals, multithreading, and memory optimisation. Practising coding problems that focus on these areas can really help you stand out.

    ✨Understand Low-Latency Systems

    Familiarise yourself with the principles of low-latency messaging and network programming. You might be asked to solve problems related to high-throughput distributed systems, so having examples from your past experience will show you know your stuff.

    ✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

    Prepare to tackle complex distributed systems challenges during the interview. Think about specific instances where you've identified and eliminated performance bottlenecks. Being able to articulate your thought process will impress the interviewers.

    ✨Collaborate and Communicate

    Since this role involves working closely with traders and researchers, demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively. Share examples of how you've worked in teams to implement and scale strategies, and highlight your communication skills throughout the interview.

    Java Software Engineer in City of London
    Block MB
    Location: City of London

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