Senior Software Engineer, C++ in London

Senior Software Engineer, C++ in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) On-site
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development of cutting-edge market data platforms and optimise trading strategies.
  • Company: Join Flow Traders, a leader in systematic trading with a focus on innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on continuous improvement and learning.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in trading technology and work with top-tier professionals.
  • Qualifications: 7+ years C++ experience and a passion for low-latency systems.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Flow Traders is looking for a Senior C++ Software Engineer to lead the next‑generation architecture of the market data and execution platforms that power our fully systematic trading. We don't treat market data as plumbing - for us it's a source of alpha, where feed handling, order book construction, and a deep understanding of exchange microstructure are themselves a competitive edge. We're looking for a senior individual contributor who has lived this philosophy in a proprietary or systematic trading environment and can squeeze every nanosecond out of the path from wire to strategy.

As a senior individual contributor, you'll help set the technical direction for the Core Platform that underpins quantitative research, pricing, strategy development, and execution across hundreds of venues - and drive its global rollout across our Market Data, Quant Research, Pricing, and Strategies groups. You'll work in a tight, iterative loop with quants and technical traders, applying deep expertise in modern C++, OS internals, CPU and memory architecture, lock‑free concurrency, and low‑latency networking to push our systems toward state‑of‑the‑art performance, robustness, and observability.

What you will do:

  • Lead the development and global rollout of our Core market data platform used across multiple focus areas (Market data, Research engineering, Pricing, Strategies).
  • Design and implement high‑performance components for market data ingestion, normalization, and distribution, as well as its usage for order execution and strategy infrastructure.
  • Develop tools and frameworks that enable quants and technical traders to build, tune, and deploy data‑driven systematic pricing and trading strategies.
  • Own the full lifecycle of your components in a fast‑paced, iterative environment: deploy, monitor, profile, and optimize your code in production.
  • Work closely with focus group engineers, quants, and technical traders to refine requirements, collect feedback, and iterate on the platform’s design and implementation.

What you need to succeed:

  • BSc, MSc, or PhD in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field.
  • 7+ years of post‑graduation professional C++ software development experience.
  • Experience building low‑latency market data ingestion, order execution, and algorithmic trading systems (proprietary trading industry preferred).
  • Strong knowledge of algorithms and data structures.
  • Experience in parallel, asynchronous, and multithreaded programming.
  • Demonstrated ability to write clean, reliable, and highly scalable C++ code.
  • Interest in extracting maximum performance from available hardware and software (CPU caches, memory layout, networking, etc.).
  • Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non‑technical colleagues.

Senior Software Engineer, C++ in London employer: Flow Traders

Flow Traders is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant City of Westminster, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Employees benefit from competitive compensation, comprehensive growth opportunities, and the chance to work alongside industry experts in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment. With a focus on pushing systems to peak performance, this role not only promises meaningful contributions but also a rewarding career path in low-latency trading.

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Contact Details:

Flow Traders Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer, C++ in London

✨Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Flow Traders or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

✨Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Flow Traders.

✨Tap into Online Developer Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Flow Traders.

✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Flow Traders that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer, C++ in London

C++
Low-Latency Programming
Market Data Ingestion
Order Execution Systems
Algorithmic Trading
Algorithms and Data Structures
Parallel Programming

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Flow Traders.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Flow Traders and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at Flow Traders

✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Flow Traders uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

✨Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.