At a Glance
- Tasks: Architect and build ultra-fast microservices for electronic trading systems.
- Company: Prestigious tech vendor known for solving complex engineering problems in finance.
- Benefits: Highly competitive compensation, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for long-term career growth.
- Other info: Commitment to quality and long-term projects is essential.
- Why this job: Join a team where precision matters and make a real impact in finance technology.
- Qualifications: Expertise in Java, JVM, and Linux; experience in electronic trading systems required.
The predicted salary is between 85500 - 104500 £ per year.
Are you an exceptional engineer looking to solve the hardest engineering problems in finance? I am currently partnering with an elite, highly prestigious technical vendor known for having an exceptionally high bar. They are routinely called in when other vendors are failing, and they operate in environments where engineering precision is non-negotiable.
We are securing top-tier talent for multi-year, mission-critical engagements with a tier-1 client's electronic trading desks.
Engagement: Open to both Permanent and Contract (Inside IR35) professionals.
Compensation: Highly competitive top-of-market compensation (exact salaries and daily rates will be discussed directly with me on our intro call).
Location: London based, requiring a strict commitment of a minimum of 3 days per week in the office.
Visa Status: No sponsorship is available for these positions.
The Mission: We are hiring for two specialized, high-performance domains: Cash Equities and Foreign Exchange (FX). In either role, you will be tasked with architecting and building ultra-fast, event-sourced microservices from the ground up. You will tackle massive scale, deterministic latency, and highly concurrent workloads, building systems where microseconds matter and that must operate flawlessly under severe market volatility.
Our client focuses heavily on quality over quantity and expects candidates to have a true "X-factor"—you must be smart, talented, articulate, and deeply motivated to do things well. You possess complete knowledge and deep mastery of modern Java, the JVM, and the Linux Operating system. You are a proven Subject Matter Expert in applications development within electronic or algorithmic trading systems. You demonstrate extensive mechanical sympathy, including a track record of targeted performance tuning, writing zero-allocation or garbage-free code, and avoiding GC pauses. You have a history of solid, long tenures (mostly 3+ years) on your CV, demonstrating that you invest in long-term missions and make good long-term decisions. You bring high EQ and excellent communication skills to the table, allowing you to communicate complex architectural decisions clearly to both engineering peers and quantitative front-office stakeholders.
The Tech Stack: We do not expect you to know everything, but a strong background encompassing a combination of the following is required:
- Messaging: Aeron, Chronicle Queue/Wire, highly tuned Kafka, and ZeroMQ.
- Memory Management: Off-heap data structures, Direct ByteBuffers, Chronicle Map, and Unsafe APIs/VarHandles.
- Networking & I/O: Netty, epoll/kqueue (via JNI), SBE (Simple Binary Encoding), and FIX/FIXP protocols.
- Profiling: async-profiler, JMH, Java Flight Recorder (JFR) / Mission Control, and Linux perf.
- Advanced JVM: LMAX Disruptor, OpenHFT, advanced GC tuning (ZGC, Shenandoah, G1), and custom lock-free queues.
Deep domain expertise in either Cash Equities (order books, algorithmic execution) or FX market micro-structure and trading workflows. Hands-on experience with Citi's Ambrosia framework, Grafana, and KDB. Evidence of personal technical interests, such as side projects, and a true dedication to quality engineering.
Ready to make a move? If you have the technical depth to own complex project implementations from design to production and build commercial-grade systems, let's talk.
Elite Low-Latency Java Engineers (FX & Cash Equities) in London employer: Morgan McKinley
Morgan McKinley offers an exceptional work environment for a Terraform & AWS DevOps Engineer, providing the opportunity to collaborate with a leading UK insurance and financial services company. Employees benefit from a culture of innovation and support, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development in a dynamic, multi-vendor setting. The company's commitment to employee well-being and career advancement makes it an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Elite Low-Latency Java Engineers (FX & Cash Equities) 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 Morgan McKinley 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 Morgan McKinley.
✨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 Morgan McKinley.
✨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 Morgan McKinley 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 Elite Low-Latency Java Engineers (FX & Cash Equities) in London
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 Morgan McKinley.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Morgan McKinley 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 Morgan McKinley
✨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 Morgan McKinley 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.
