Technology | Lead Exchange Connectivity Engineer | London

Technology | Lead Exchange Connectivity Engineer | London

London Full-Time 100000 - 120000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Flowdesk

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design and operation of exchange connectivity for digital assets.
  • Company: Join Flowdesk, a pioneering firm in digital asset trading and technology.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 100% health coverage, team events, and a learning budget.
  • Other info: Dynamic international environment with strong growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of finance at the intersection of tech and crypto.
  • Qualifications: Extensive experience in crypto feed handling and low-latency development.

The predicted salary is between 100000 - 120000 £ per year.

About Flowdesk

At Flowdesk, we are building the infrastructure powering the next era of global finance. As a full-service digital asset trading and technology firm, we provide liquidity solutions, OTC trading, and market infrastructure that connect digital assets to global markets with institutional-grade precision, transparency, and scale. Flowdesk combines expertise from traditional finance, algorithmic trading, and blockchain technology to deliver always-on trading capabilities across the digital asset ecosystem. Founded in 2020, we are a global team supporting institutions, exchanges, and token issuers to enable a tokenized financial markets ecosystem.

Why join Flowdesk?

You’ll be joining a company operating at the intersection of finance, technology, and crypto; solving complex market problems, building critical infrastructure, and helping shape how digital assets connect to global liquidity. We move fast, think long term, and work with a strong ownership mindset across engineering, trading, product, operations, and business teams.

Role Description

This is a search for a senior engineer who can lead our exchange connectivity capability end-to-end. The role requires a rigorous operational approach to quality delivery, combined with deep technical and trading expertise. The role requires the ability to lead, make architectural decisions, manage go-live cycles, and debug complex production issues across a broad set of venues. We are looking for an AI-forward developer in this role, who understands the value of building repeatable AI coding workflows to maximise engineering productivity.

Key Responsibilities

  • Owning the design, build, and operation of feed handlers across all connected venues.
  • Leading connectivity go-lives: planning, staging, testing, cutover, and post-launch support.
  • Debugging complex production connectivity issues across exchange protocols and internal systems.
  • Setting technical standards for how the team approaches exchange integration.
  • Mentoring engineers working on connectivity components.
  • Contributing to HFT infrastructure where connectivity and execution overlap.

Requirements

Must have

  • Extensive crypto feed handler experience across multiple venues in production at an institutional firm - not experimental or internal-only.
  • Deep understanding of market data feed handling, order lifecycle management, and multi-feed aggregation.
  • Minimum of 2+ years of solid technical Rust experience, across sync and async code. Demonstrable experience of low-latency Rust development, at the very least 5+ years of C++ experience in a low latency environment.
  • Strong understanding of networking protocols down the stack: HTTP, WS, TCP/IP.
  • Understanding of the full go-live cycle: from integration and UAT through to production cutover and ongoing support.
  • Proven experience leading multiple venue migrations end-to-end, from cutover planning and parallel-run testing through to full decommission of legacy connectivity, including managing rollback procedures and minimising trading disruption during transition.
  • Experience managing exchange-driven changes (EDC), upgrade lifecycles, and rapid go-live pressures.
  • Experience with AI-first development workflows and AI harness engineering and quality assurance.
  • Some leadership experience: technical lead, team lead, or similar. This person needs to be able to set direction, not just execute.

Preferred

  • AI-native experience and AI harness engineering - delivered AI code generation workflows in production.
  • Experience managing a team or squad of connectivity engineers.
  • Experience across both TradFi and crypto connectivity (FIX, ITCH, OUCH, WebSocket, proprietary).
  • Experience with ultra-low-latency development (kernel-bypass, zero-copy).

Person profile

  • Curious and autonomous
  • Highly motivated and results-driven
  • Strong maths and analytical skills
  • Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced collaborative environment
  • Professional proficiency in English

Company Culture & Values

  • Take Action & Own the Mission
  • Be of Service & Contribute
  • Innovate, Create Value, & Be Courageous
  • Act with Integrity & Respect

Recruitment Process

Our process is consistent across all engineering roles and is designed to assess genuine technical depth. Candidates should expect the following stages:

  • Stage 1: First round interview with a member of our Talent Acquisition team (45 mins)
  • Stage 2: Binance take-home assignment, AI-assisted + online technical screen AI-free.
  • Stage 3: 30-45 mins with Head of Core Engineering or CTO - assessment of system design, technical experience, discussion of AI output.
  • Stage 4: Online CoderPad interview with HFT team - Rust focused.
  • Stage 5: In-person technical interview covering live-coding, data-structure & algorithms round, and background and goals alignment.
  • Stage 6: Round-Up meeting with Head of Talent Strategy.

Benefits

  • International environment (English is the main language)
  • 100% health coverage
  • Team events and offsites
  • Company Pension scheme
  • Learning and Development budget

Technology | Lead Exchange Connectivity Engineer | London employer: Flowdesk

At Flowdesk, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of digital finance, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our London office is a hub for talented individuals who are passionate about technology and finance, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development. With a strong emphasis on employee well-being, we offer comprehensive health coverage, a generous learning and development budget, and regular team events to cultivate a vibrant company culture.

Flowdesk

Contact Details:

Flowdesk Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Technology | Lead Exchange Connectivity Engineer | London

Join the IT Consultancy Buzz

Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what Flowdesk values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!

Show Off Your Skills

Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges Flowdesk might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.

Leverage LinkedIn for Connections

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Direct Apply to Flowdesk

Let's not forget to apply directly through the Flowdesk website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!

We think you need these skills to ace Technology | Lead Exchange Connectivity Engineer | London

Exchange Connectivity
Market Data Feed Handling
Order Lifecycle Management
Multi-Feed Aggregation
Rust Programming
C++ Programming
Low-Latency Development

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Flowdesk.

Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Flowdesk. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.

Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!

How to prepare for a job interview at Flowdesk

Brush Up on Your Technical Skills

For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach

IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.

Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions

When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.