At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead backend development for high-performance trading applications and frameworks.
- Company: Bullish, a global digital asset platform focused on institutional trading.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse team culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a commitment to innovation and technical excellence.
- Why this job: Join a cutting-edge team shaping the future of digital asset trading.
- Qualifications: 12+ years in Java backend engineering with expertise in trading technologies.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
About Bullish
Bullish is an institutionally focused global digital asset platform that provides market infrastructure and information services. These include:
- Bullish Exchange – a regulated and institutionally focused digital assets spot and derivatives exchange, integrating a high-performance central limit order book matching engine with automated market making to provide deep and predictable liquidity.
- CoinDesk Indices – a collection of tradable proprietary and single-asset benchmarks and indices that track the performance of digital assets for global institutions in the digital assets and traditional finance industries.
- CoinDesk Data - a broad suite of digital assets market data and analytics, providing real-time insights into prices, trends, and market dynamics.
- CoinDesk Insights – a digital asset media and events provider and operator of Coindesk.com, a digital media platform that covers news and insights about digital assets, the underlying markets, policy, and blockchain technology.
Reports to: Vice President, Engineering
Engineering Organization & Culture
At Bullish, we are engineering the institutional standard for the digital asset industry. Our mission is to build a platform centered on security and compliance, requiring a commitment to technical excellence that extends beyond delivering code. As a global organization, we set a high bar for those driven to do their best work alongside experienced, deeply specialized peers.
Engineers here treat development as a craft and own the outcome from concept to deployment. Our teams bring structure to ambiguity and shape the frameworks that support a global organization. We refuse to compromise on quality and seek problem solvers who thrive on complex technical challenges with real market consequences.
The Team: Trading Product Engineering
The Trading Product Engineering team builds the core distributed systems that drive the global trading experience on Bullish Exchange. We own the end-to-end order lifecycle, orchestrating a hybrid matching engine that combines a Central Limit Order Book with proprietary Automated Market Making. Our high-throughput APIs enable trading across Spot, Futures, and Options. The work demands absolute correctness in managing complex financial state transitions, translating intricate market structures into scalable solutions.
The Role
We are looking for a Lead Engineer to drive backend development of the applications, frameworks, and tools at the core of Bullish Exchange. You will design and build high-performance trading engine components alongside a distributed team based primarily in Hong Kong and Singapore. This is a hands-on technical role with leadership expectations: setting the technical bar, mentoring engineers, and shaping how the team works. Bullish Engineering operates on an AI-first principle, using LLMs throughout the SDLC to speed up development, review, and automation.
What You'll Do
- Design and deliver reusable, reliable, low-latency Java code that powers the Exchange.
- Apply deep TradFi product knowledge across Spot and Derivatives to ensure functional correctness and market fit.
- Identify bottlenecks and engineer solutions that improve throughput, latency, and reliability.
- Set the bar for code quality, automation, and design across the team.
- Mentor engineers and define what good looks like across the organization.
- Collaborate closely with engineers, product, and project management across Hong Kong, Singapore, and other Bullish hubs.
What You'll Bring
- 12+ years of Java backend engineering experience, with a focus on front-office execution and trading technologies.
- Expert-level Java (17+), including the JVM, concurrency primitives, and collections.
- Proven track record of architecting and building low-latency trading systems from the ground up.
- Strong command of data structures, algorithms, and TDD/BDD practices, including thorough unit test coverage with JUnit and Mockito.
- Hands-on experience with Spring or Micronaut, Docker, and Kubernetes.
- Working knowledge of messaging technologies such as Kafka, RabbitMQ, or Solace.
- Solid understanding of Spot, Futures, and Options markets.
- Hands-on experience with agentic AI development: LLM integration, prompt engineering, and SDLC automation.
- Familiarity with Git/GitHub, JIRA, Confluence, and CI/CD practices.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical field.
Nice to Haves
- Familiarity with TypeScript.
- Familiarity with Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
- Experience in the cryptocurrency or digital asset space.
Bullish is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are fast evolving and striving towards being a globally-diverse community. With integrity at our core, our success is driven by a talented team of individuals and the different perspectives they are encouraged to bring to work every day.
Lead Engineer, Trading Product Engineering in London employer: Bullish
Bullish is an exceptional employer for those seeking to make a significant impact in the digital asset industry. With a strong commitment to technical excellence and a culture that fosters innovation, employees are empowered to take ownership of their work while collaborating with a diverse team across global hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore. The company offers ample opportunities for professional growth, mentorship, and the chance to work on cutting-edge technologies in a dynamic and supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer, Trading Product Engineering in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, especially those at Bullish. LinkedIn is your best mate here—send personalised messages and ask for a chat. You never know who might put in a good word for you!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your Java skills and understanding trading systems. Practice coding challenges and system design questions. We want to see how you think through problems, so be ready to explain your thought process!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for digital assets! Be ready to discuss recent trends or innovations in the space. This will not only impress the interviewers but also show that you're genuinely interested in what we do at Bullish.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Bullish team. Let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer, Trading Product Engineering in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Engineer role. Highlight your Java backend experience and any relevant trading technologies you've worked with. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Projects:Include specific projects that demonstrate your expertise in low-latency trading systems and your command of data structures and algorithms. We love seeing real-world applications of your skills, so don’t hold back!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for engineering and the digital asset space. Share why you’re excited about Bullish and how you can contribute to our mission. We want to feel your enthusiasm!
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of getting noticed, apply directly through our website. It’s the quickest way for us to see your application and get you into the process. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bullish
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Java skills, especially the latest features in Java 17+. Be ready to discuss your experience with low-latency trading systems and how you've tackled complex technical challenges in the past.
✨Understand the Market Landscape
Familiarise yourself with Spot, Futures, and Options markets. Being able to speak knowledgeably about these areas will show that you understand the financial implications of your work and can contribute effectively to the team.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've identified bottlenecks in previous projects and engineered solutions to improve throughput and reliability. This is crucial for a role that demands absolute correctness in managing complex financial state transitions.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Mentorship
Since this role involves mentoring engineers and collaborating across teams, be ready to share your experiences in leading projects and how you've helped others grow. Highlight your ability to set high standards for code quality and design.
