At a Glance
- Tasks: Source and procure cutting-edge GPU and HPC infrastructure for a leading trading firm.
- Company: Join a top algorithmic trading firm using state-of-the-art machine learning technology.
- Benefits: Full relocation support, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work alongside world-class engineers and manage significant annual spend.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of technology in a dynamic, high-impact environment.
- Qualifications: Deep technical knowledge of HPC and GPU infrastructure with strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Our client is one of the world's leading algorithmic trading firms, using state-of-the-art machine learning technology to trade across equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities and crypto. The firm trades at significant scale across dozens of countries and employs world-class researchers, developers and technologists with backgrounds in pure mathematics, physics, computer science and machine learning. Technology is the business. The firm operates one of the most significant computational research clusters in the trading industry, comprising tens of thousands of GPUs and hundreds of petabytes of storage. It is actively expanding its data centre footprint, including a large-scale facility currently under construction in Europe.
The Role
This is a newly created position, the first of its kind within the firm. The Technical Procurement Specialist will serve as the firm's smart buyer for everything that makes its physical infrastructure run. This is not a traditional procurement role. It is a role for someone who can talk GPU infrastructure and data centre specs with engineers in the morning and negotiate commercial contracts with vendors in the afternoon.
The successful candidate will own the firm's approach to sourcing and deploying GPU servers, HPC clusters, colocation capacity, exchange connectivity, cooling systems, dark fibre and network hardware. This is a role managing hundreds of millions in annual spend, working directly alongside the engineering and infrastructure teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Research, evaluate, negotiate and procure IT hardware, HPC and GPU infrastructure, enterprise software, data centre and colocation services, cloud services and related professional services.
- Support procurement and delivery of high-performance infrastructure projects, including compute, GPU, storage, network, power, cooling, data centre capacity and exchange connectivity.
- Run structured sourcing processes including RFIs, RFPs, vendor evaluation, commercial negotiation, contract review, purchase approvals and implementation handover.
- Work with engineering and infrastructure teams to evaluate technical options, vendor roadmaps, availability, lead times, support models, deployment risks and total cost of ownership.
- Manage supplier relationships across OEMs, resellers, data centre and colocation providers, network carriers, software vendors and professional services firms.
- Support technical project management and delivery across data centre, exchange connectivity, network and infrastructure services, including physical white space deployment.
- Manage hardware and enterprise software asset lifecycles, including renewals, maintenance, utilisation, refresh planning and decommissioning.
- Conduct cost reconciliation, spend analysis, budget tracking, vendor reporting and financial data administration.
- Improve procurement processes, documentation, governance and stakeholder workflows.
Requirements
- Deep, hands‑on technical knowledge of HPC and GPU infrastructure, including physical deployment and commissioning of GPU clusters, accelerated compute systems and high‑density data centre environments.
- Direct experience working in or deploying infrastructure into white space data centre environments, including rack and stack, power, cooling and structured cabling.
- Strong understanding of data centre environments, compute, storage, networking, colocation and deployment constraints.
- Proven ability to engage credibly with engineers on technical specifications while also owning the commercial and contractual process with vendors.
- Experience with exchange connectivity, low‑latency network infrastructure or trading‑related infrastructure is a strong advantage.
- Commercially astute with strong negotiation skills and the ability to assess vendor proposals, commercial models, contractual terms and total cost of ownership.
- Proven project management experience delivering technical infrastructure or data centre projects.
- Effective communicator, capable of translating technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders and commercial constraints for technical stakeholders.
- Financial services or research computing environment experience is advantageous.
- Full relocation support and visa sponsorship are available for the right candidate.
Ideal Background
- The ideal candidate will have come from one or more of the following backgrounds:
- Pre‑sales, solutions architect or technical account manager at an HPC or AI infrastructure vendor, with experience supporting large‑scale GPU or HPC deployments.
- Technical project or programme manager who has delivered HPC or AI infrastructure deployments end to end, including physical white space commissioning.
- In‑house infrastructure procurement professional with genuine HPC or GPU technical depth and hands‑on deployment experience.
- Data centre or colocation operations professional who has moved into or alongside commercial and procurement functions.
Technical Procurement Specialist in London employer: Project68
As a leading algorithmic trading firm, our client offers an exceptional work environment that thrives on innovation and cutting-edge technology. Employees benefit from a collaborative culture that encourages professional growth, with opportunities to engage directly with world-class engineers and technologists. Located in a rapidly expanding data centre facility in Europe, the firm provides full relocation support and visa sponsorship, making it an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in a dynamic industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Procurement Specialist in London
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like Project68.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Procurement Specialist in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Project68:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to Project68. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like Project68.
How to prepare for a job interview at Project68
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at Project68!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at Project68. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into Project68's culture.
