At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and optimise high-performance C++ systems for electronic trading.
- Company: Leading European trading technology firm with a hybrid work model.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment where your technical decisions are valued.
- Why this job: Join a specialist team and make a real impact on trading technology.
- Qualifications: Strong C++ skills, experience with multithreading, and a passion for performance.
The predicted salary is between 59400 - 72600 £ per year.
OVERVIEW
Business | European trading technology firm
Hybrid | 2 days a week in the office
Level | Mid-level and senior engineers considered
Build the systems other trading firms depend on. Some C++ teams build applications. This team builds the infrastructure underneath them. You’ll work on high-throughput, latency-sensitive systems used to process electronic trading activity. The engineering sits close to the network, the data and the critical path. That means thinking about things like:
- how data moves through the system
- what happens when message volumes increase
- where contention appears
- how memory is being used
- why one implementation is faster than another
- how to keep a critical system predictable and reliable
This is the kind of environment where understanding what the machine is actually doing matters.
WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON
You’ll join a specialist C++ team responsible for core trading and exchange technology. Your work will include developing, testing and improving systems that need to process large volumes of events in real time. You could be working on:
- C++ services on Linux
- network communication using TCP, UDP and multicast
- high-throughput messaging and event processing
- multithreaded and concurrent systems
- profiling and removing performance bottlenecks
- improving resilience in long-running production systems
- integrating financial-market protocols and connectivity
The platform is mature and specialised. You won’t be expected to arrive on Monday and start changing its most critical components on Tuesday. You’ll first learn how the architecture works, understand why certain decisions were made, and gradually take ownership of more complex areas of the system.
WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR
The strongest candidates tend to have one thing in common: C++ is their main engineering language, not something they occasionally use. You’ll need solid experience with:
- C++11 or later
- multithreading / concurrency
- performance-sensitive or real-time systems
Experience with Boost, Python, SQL and Git will also be useful. If you’ve worked with FIX, SBE, market data, exchange connectivity or electronic trading systems, even better. But financial markets experience isn’t essential. Engineers coming from areas such as networking, telecoms, embedded systems, real-time infrastructure, high-performance computing or other mission-critical environments can also fit well.
WHO THIS TENDS TO SUIT
You’ll probably enjoy this team if you like understanding systems properly rather than treating them as black boxes. You like finding out why something is slow rather than simply rewriting it. And you’re happy working with engineers who will challenge your technical decisions and expect you to challenge theirs. If you’re a C++ engineer working on performance-critical, real-time or network-heavy systems, apply and I’ll talk you through the engineering team, technology and interview process.
You must be eligible to work in the UK, no sponsorship is available for this particular opportunity.
Senior C++ Engineer - Low-Latency employer: Ocean Red
As a Senior Software Engineer at our London office, you'll be part of a dynamic team that values innovation and collaboration, working on technology that powers global financial markets. We offer a supportive work culture where your ideas are valued, and you have the opportunity to influence software development practices while mentoring less experienced developers. With flexible working arrangements and a focus on employee growth, this role provides a unique chance to make a significant impact in a high-stakes environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior C++ Engineer - Low-Latency
✨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 Ocean Red 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 Ocean Red.
✨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 Ocean Red.
✨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 Ocean Red 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 C++ Engineer - Low-Latency
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 Ocean Red.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Ocean Red 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 Ocean Red
✨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 Ocean Red 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.