At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a critical trading dashboard and optimise complex SQL queries.
- Company: Join a 25-year systematic hedge fund with a tech-driven culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance-based bonus, 25 days holiday, and pension.
- Other info: Collaborate with traders and engineers in a high-standard, peer-reviewed team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic trading environment with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Strong SQL Server skills, C#/.NET experience, and front-office buy-side background.
The predicted salary is between 140000 - 200000 € per year.
Our client, an algorithmic trading hedge fund with a 25-year track record in systematic trading, are hiring a Principal SQL Engineer to join their trading desk tech team. It’s a 20-person business with roughly half the team in engineering and technical roles, so you’re in a genuinely tech-led environment where trading is fully programmatic and engineers work closely with the desk day to day.
They’re hiring a Principal SQL Engineer to become the lead engineer responsible for their most business-critical platform: the internal trading dashboard that sits at the centre of the desk’s day-to-day activity. You’ll work closely with traders, quantitative researchers and the Founder, helping shape how financial market data is stored, modelled, queried and surfaced across the business. The environment spans long-running futures trading systems, crypto trading infrastructure built over the last decade, and increasingly complex options datasets.
A big part of the role is understanding what the business is trying to achieve with the data, then designing the right structures, workflows and tooling around it. This is not a traditional ETL or pipeline engineering role. The systems are highly concurrent, transactional and real-time, with correctness and consistency being absolutely critical. A lot of the core business logic sits in SQL stored procedures, and the role spans both the database and application layers across SQL Server and C#/.NET systems while acting as a key link between the trading desk and wider engineering team.
Non-Negotiables
- SQL Server
- Concurrent SQL environments
- Stored Procedures
- Complex query optimisation
- Data modelling
- C# / .NET
- Front-office buy-side experience (hedge funds, asset management, systematic trading, OMS/PMS environments)
- Strong academics (2:1 or above in a technical discipline)
What You'll Work With
- SQL Server on Windows VMs in Azure
- C# / .NET
- Trading dashboard
- Portfolio and order management systems
- Real-time trading desk tooling
- Futures, crypto and options datasets
- Data visualisation
- Reporting and monitoring tools
Nice to Haves
- Front-office buy-side experience
- Systematic trading environments
- Quant research support
- OMS / PMS platforms
- Distributed systems exposure
- Legacy platform modernisation
- SQL Server performance tuning
- Trading desk interaction
Why Join
You’ll be joining a small team with high engineering standards, working alongside some very sharp people who care about doing things properly. There’s a strong culture of peer review and technical debate, and you’ll have real ownership from day one. You’ll also be working directly with traders and senior leadership, so your work is closely tied to how the business performs. The problems themselves are genuinely interesting, centred around correctness in a concurrent, real-time environment rather than scale.
Benefits
- Bonus up to 100% (performance-based, genuinely paid)
- 25 days holiday + bank hols
- Pension
Principal SQL Engineer employer: Prism Digital
Join a leading algorithmic trading hedge fund in the heart of the City of London, where you'll be part of a tech-driven environment that values engineering excellence and innovation. With a strong culture of collaboration and peer review, you will have the opportunity to work closely with traders and senior leadership, ensuring your contributions directly impact business performance. Enjoy competitive benefits including a performance-based bonus of up to 100%, generous holiday allowance, and a commitment to employee growth in a dynamic and intellectually stimulating setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal SQL Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, especially those already working at hedge funds or in SQL engineering roles. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that job descriptions just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio of projects or contributions to open-source, make sure to highlight them during interviews. It’s a great way to demonstrate your expertise in SQL Server and C#/.NET.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical challenges! Brush up on your SQL stored procedures and complex query optimisation techniques. You might face some real-time problem-solving scenarios during interviews, so be ready to showcase your thought process.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always looking for talented individuals like you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal SQL Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Principal SQL Engineer. Highlight your experience with SQL Server, C#/.NET, and any relevant projects that showcase your skills in concurrent SQL environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about algorithmic trading and how your background aligns with the needs of the trading desk. Don’t forget to mention your strong academic achievements!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, give examples of how you've tackled complex data modelling or query optimisation challenges in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to handle the real-time, concurrent environment we work in.
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 from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Prism Digital
✨Know Your SQL Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in SQL Server, especially with stored procedures and complex query optimisation. Brush up on your knowledge of concurrent SQL environments, as this role demands a deep understanding of how to manage data effectively in real-time.
✨Showcase Your C#/.NET Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with C# and .NET frameworks. Bring examples of projects where you’ve integrated these technologies with SQL databases, particularly in trading or financial contexts. This will demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between database management and application development.
✨Understand the Business Context
Familiarise yourself with how algorithmic trading works and the importance of data modelling in that environment. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to the trading desk’s objectives by designing effective data structures and workflows that support their operations.
✨Engage in Technical Discussions
Expect to have technical debates during your interview. Prepare to articulate your thought process clearly and engage with the interviewers on topics like performance tuning and legacy platform modernisation. This shows you’re not just technically proficient but also a collaborative team player.
