At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and optimise high-performance data platforms using kdb+ while mentoring junior developers.
- Company: Leading tech firm in London with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive contract rate, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Engage in a collaborative Agile environment with excellent career advancement potential.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make an impact in the financial tech space.
- Qualifications: 8+ years of kdb+ experience and strong q language skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
Location: London, UK (Hybrid)
Job Type: Contract - Inside IR35
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Senior KDB+ Developer to design, develop, and optimize high-performance data platforms built on kdb+. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in kdb+ tick architecture, performance tuning at scale, and close collaboration with business stakeholders particularly within Risk functions to deliver robust, efficient, and maintainable solutions. This role also includes technical leadership, mentoring junior developers, and promoting best practices across the team.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain kdb+ tick systems, with strong understanding of data organisation, schema design, and performance implications of different architectural approaches.
- Build and operate solutions handling large-scale, high-frequency datasets, ensuring low latency, high throughput, and efficient memory usage.
- Analyse and optimise q queries, data models, and ingestion pipelines for both real-time and historical workloads.
- Collaborate closely with Risk function teams to translate business requirements into efficient, scalable, and performant kdb+ solutions.
- Take ownership of performance diagnostics, including CPU, memory, disk I/O, and network considerations across kdb+ processes.
- Develop robust and reusable q libraries, utilities, and frameworks with a strong focus on clean, maintainable, and performant code.
- Drive continuous improvement through refactoring, performance benchmarking, and adoption of best practices.
- Mentor and guide junior and mid-level developers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, code quality, and knowledge sharing.
- Participate in design reviews, production support, and root cause analysis of complex system issues.
- Work collaboratively within an Agile or iterative delivery environment, contributing to design, implementation, testing, and release phases.
Required Skills & Experience
- 8+ years of hands-on experience in kdb+ development in a production environment.
- Strong expertise in q language, including table design (splayed, partitioned, segmented), in-memory vs on-disk trade-offs, efficient joins, aggregations, and windowed analytics.
- Deep understanding of kdb+ tick architecture, including ticker plant, RDB, HDB, and associated patterns.
- Proven experience working with large datasets and optimising queries for performance and scalability.
- Strong background in Unix/Linux environments, including shell scripting for automation, monitoring, and operational tooling.
- Solid understanding of software delivery processes and methodologies (Agile, CI/CD, version control, release management).
- Ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, demonstrating systematic reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Desirable / Nice-to-Have Skills
- Knowledge of inter-process communication mechanisms in kdb+ and integration with external systems.
- Experience tuning kdb+ systems for low latency and high availability.
- Familiarity with data quality checks, validation frameworks, and operational resilience patterns.
- Exposure to financial markets data (e.g., market data, trading, risk, or post-trade workflows, equity asset class).
Personal Attributes
- Passion for writing clean, efficient, and well-structured code.
- Proactive mindset with a strong focus on continuous improvement.
- Comfortable taking ownership and working independently on complex technical problems.
- Collaborative team player who enjoys mentoring others and raising overall technical standards.
Senior KDB+ Developer in Gillingham employer: Stackstudio Digital Ltd.
As a Senior KDB+ Developer in London, you will join a dynamic and innovative team that values technical excellence and collaboration. Our hybrid work model promotes a healthy work-life balance while offering opportunities for professional growth through mentorship and continuous learning. With a strong focus on performance optimisation and cutting-edge technology, we empower our employees to make meaningful contributions to high-impact projects within the financial sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior KDB+ Developer in Gillingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work with kdb+. A casual chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your kdb+ projects and any performance tuning you've done. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on common kdb+ scenarios and challenges. Practice explaining your thought process clearly, as communication is key when collaborating with business stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for talented developers like you, and applying directly can give you an edge in the hiring process.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior KDB+ Developer in Gillingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your kdb+ experience and relevant skills. We want to see how your background aligns with the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing your achievements in performance tuning and data architecture.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about kdb+ development and how you can contribute to our team. We love seeing candidates who can communicate their enthusiasm and technical expertise clearly.
Showcase Your Projects:If you've worked on any impressive kdb+ projects, make sure to mention them! We’re interested in your hands-on experience, especially with large datasets and performance optimisation. Real-world examples can really set you apart from the crowd.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining the StudySmarter family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Stackstudio Digital Ltd.
✨Know Your KDB+ Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your kdb+ knowledge, especially around tick architecture and performance tuning. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've optimised queries or handled large datasets, as this will show your hands-on experience.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share examples of how you've tackled complex technical issues in the past. Think about times when you had to analyse performance diagnostics or collaborate with stakeholders to deliver solutions. This will demonstrate your systematic reasoning and ability to communicate effectively.
✨Emphasise Your Mentoring Experience
Since this role involves mentoring junior developers, be ready to talk about your experience in guiding others. Share specific instances where you've fostered a culture of technical excellence and how you've contributed to team growth.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Agile Methodologies
As the role requires working in an Agile environment, make sure you understand Agile principles and can discuss your experience with CI/CD processes. Highlight any relevant projects where you've contributed to design, implementation, and release phases.
