At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to build and maintain cutting-edge data infrastructure for trading systems.
- Company: Elite HFT firm with over 30 years of success in global markets.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £600k, remote work, and career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on trading strategies while working hands-on with technology.
- Qualifications: Deep experience in data engineering, Python expertise, and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
We’re representing a leading diversified trading firm with more than three decades of success combining sophisticated technology with exceptional talent to compete in markets worldwide. With offices across the US, Europe, Canada, and Asia, they are active in Fixed Income, ETFs, Equities, FX, Commodities, and Energy, as well as expanding into real estate, venture capital, and cryptoassets. This is a high‑performance environment that values autonomy, agility, and innovation. My client is now looking to hire a Data Lead in their London office to spearhead data engineering initiatives for the C/FICCO Data Engineering team.
The Role
As Data Lead, you’ll be both a hands‑on builder and a team leader. You will guide a group of 5–7 engineers while staying closely involved in the technical work yourself. The expectation is not for a manager but for a seasoned data expert who can architect, build, and scale systems in a business‑critical trading environment.
Key responsibilities
- Leading and mentoring a team of 5–7 engineers, while remaining deeply hands‑on.
- Designing, building, and maintaining large‑scale data infrastructure across both batch and streaming systems.
- Driving development of APIs and data access methods for fast, intuitive retrieval of historical and live datasets.
- Partnering directly with traders, researchers, and other engineers to ensure seamless data flow for trading operations.
- Owning data products end‑to‑end, from concept through to stable production.
- Supporting critical trading systems with occasional on‑call responsibilities.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a career data engineer with a passion for building at scale:
- Deep experience with big data platforms, data pipelines, and scalable infrastructure.
- Strong hands‑on expertise in Python (primary) and some Java.
- Proven track record leading small teams while staying technically engaged.
- Background in financial markets, ideally across delta‑one, store of value, or FICC options trading.
- Experience with Linux‑based, concurrent, low‑latency systems.
- Familiarity with Airflow/Dagster (pipeline orchestration), Kafka (streaming), Delta Lake/Apache Iceberg (data lakes), and relational databases.
- Exceptional communication skills, comfortable working directly with both engineers and business stakeholders.
- Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or equivalent work experience.
Why This Role?
This is a unique opportunity for a hands‑on data leader to step into a role where their work directly powers trading strategies across global markets. You’ll be leading a talented team, driving the buildout of next‑generation data infrastructure, and staying close to the technology — not just managing, but building.
Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Finance, Engineering, and Information Technology
Industries: Financial Services, Investment Management, and Software Development
Data Engineering Lead – Elite HFT Firm - Trading Systems - WFH - London - Up to £600k TC in England employer: Mondrian Alpha
Contact Detail:
Mondrian Alpha Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Engineering Lead – Elite HFT Firm - Trading Systems - WFH - London - Up to £600k TC in England
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who works in data engineering. Building relationships can open doors that job applications alone can't.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Don’t just talk about your experience; demonstrate it! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those related to big data platforms or trading systems. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your Python and data engineering concepts. Practice coding challenges and be ready to discuss your past projects in detail. Confidence and clarity can make a huge difference!
✨Apply Through Our Website
When you find a role that excites you, 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 are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Data Engineering Lead – Elite HFT Firm - Trading Systems - WFH - London - Up to £600k TC in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Data Engineering Lead role. Highlight your experience with big data platforms and any leadership roles you've had. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about data engineering and how your background in financial markets makes you a great fit. Let us know why you want to join our team!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical expertise, especially in Python and any relevant tools like Kafka or Airflow. We’re keen to see how you’ve applied these skills in real-world scenarios, so give us the details!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mondrian Alpha
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the big data platforms and tools mentioned in the job description, like Python, Kafka, and Airflow. Brush up on your knowledge of scalable infrastructure and be ready to discuss how you've applied these technologies in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience leading teams while remaining hands-on. Think about specific challenges you faced as a team leader and how you guided your engineers through them. This will demonstrate your ability to mentor while still being technically engaged.
✨Understand the Trading Environment
Familiarise yourself with the financial markets, especially delta-one and FICC options trading. Being able to speak the language of traders and researchers will show that you can effectively partner with them to ensure seamless data flow for trading operations.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly, especially when discussing complex technical concepts. Remember, exceptional communication skills are key in this role, so be prepared to explain your ideas in a way that both engineers and business stakeholders can understand.