At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to enhance a critical trading platform using modern C++.
- Company: Global fintech leader in trading and risk management.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, strong benefits, and hybrid working model.
- Other info: High-autonomy role with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on trading performance and drive engineering change.
- Qualifications: Strong C++ experience and ability to modernise complex systems.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
Location: London (Hybrid)
Overview
Our client is a global fintech operating at scale across trading, risk, and market connectivity. They are hiring an Engineering Lead (C++) to take ownership of a business-critical platform sitting at the heart of real-time trading and risk management. This is not a pure management role. You will remain hands-on while leading the evolution of a complex, low-latency system that directly impacts trading performance.
The Opportunity
- You will lead a team responsible for a real-time exposure and hedging platform used by trading desks, quants, and risk teams.
- The system processes live positions and pricing, executing automated hedging strategies into underlying markets.
- The immediate challenge is clear:
- Improve release maturity and deployment cadence
- Modernise a complex C++ estate
- Maintain exceptional uptime and performance standards
This is a high-impact role where engineering decisions directly influence commercial outcomes.
What You’ll Do
- Lead and develop a high-performing engineering team
- Define and deliver a clear technical and product vision
- Improve release processes, reducing downtime and increasing deployment frequency
- Drive modernisation across legacy systems, infrastructure, and tooling
- Collaborate closely with trading, quant, and risk stakeholders
- Remain hands-on, contributing to production-grade C++ code
What They’re Looking For
- Strong modern C++ experience in production environments
- Experience working on low-latency or high-performance systems
- Track record of modernising or scaling complex legacy platforms
- Ability to improve release processes, CI/CD, and system reliability
- Comfortable working directly with business stakeholders (trading / risk / product)
- Exposure to Python is beneficial
- Experience within trading, risk, or financial systems is valuable but not essential if you’ve solved similar engineering problems in other complex domains.
Why This Role
- Direct impact on trading performance and risk management
- Ownership of a mission-critical platform
- Opportunity to drive meaningful engineering change
- High-autonomy environment with strong technical leadership
Compensation
- Competitive base salary (Senior / Lead level)
- Strong benefits package
- Hybrid working model (London)
Engineering Lead (C++) – Low Latency / Trading Systems in Slough employer: Morgan McKinley
Our client is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the heart of London. With a strong focus on employee growth, they provide opportunities for hands-on leadership in a high-impact role that directly influences trading performance. The hybrid working model and competitive benefits package further enhance the appeal of joining a global fintech leader dedicated to modernising complex systems.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Lead (C++) – Low Latency / Trading Systems in Slough
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the fintech space, especially those who work with trading systems. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio of projects or contributions to open-source C++ work, make sure to highlight them. This is your chance to demonstrate your hands-on experience and modernisation efforts.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on low-latency system design and C++ best practices. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with the format.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to 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 Engineering Lead (C++) – Low Latency / Trading Systems in Slough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Engineering Lead role. Highlight your modern C++ experience and any work you've done on low-latency systems. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission-critical platform!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your hands-on experience and leadership style, as we value both technical skills and team development.
Showcase Relevant Projects:If you've worked on projects that involved modernising legacy systems or improving release processes, make sure to include them in your application. We love seeing real-world examples of how you've tackled challenges similar to those we face at StudySmarter.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Morgan McKinley
✨Know Your C++ Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your modern C++ skills. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've used C++ in production environments, especially in low-latency systems. They’ll want to see your hands-on experience, so be ready to dive into technical details.
✨Understand the Business Impact
This role is all about making engineering decisions that affect trading performance. Familiarise yourself with how trading desks and risk teams operate. Being able to articulate how your technical choices can improve release processes and system reliability will set you apart.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Even though this isn’t a pure management role, they’re looking for someone who can lead a high-performing team. Prepare examples of how you’ve successfully led teams in the past, focusing on collaboration and driving engineering change. Highlight your ability to work closely with business stakeholders.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect to face questions that test your problem-solving skills, particularly around modernising legacy systems. Think of scenarios where you’ve tackled similar challenges and be ready to explain your thought process and the outcomes. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the immediate challenges of the role.
