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 pay, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.
- 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.
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 Reading employer: StackStudio Digital Ltd.
Join a leading firm in London as a Senior KDB+ Developer, where you will thrive in a dynamic hybrid work environment that champions innovation and technical excellence. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to mentor junior developers while collaborating closely with business stakeholders in the Risk function, ensuring your contributions are impactful and valued. Enjoy a culture that prioritises continuous improvement, best practices, and a supportive team atmosphere, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior KDB+ Developer in Reading
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with folks in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who’s already in the game. We can’t stress enough how valuable personal connections can be when it comes to landing that Senior KDB+ Developer role.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Don’t just talk about your experience; showcase it! Create a portfolio of your kdb+ projects or contribute to open-source initiatives. This way, you can demonstrate your expertise in performance tuning and data architecture directly to potential employers.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for those technical interviews by brushing up on your q language skills and understanding of kdb+ tick architecture. We recommend practicing common interview questions and even doing mock interviews with friends to build your confidence.
✨Apply Through Our Website
When you find a job that fits, 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 and eager to join our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior KDB+ Developer in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience with kdb+ and relevant projects. We want to see how your skills align 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 tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for kdb+ development and how your background in mentoring and collaboration can contribute to our team’s success.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, include examples of complex technical problems you've solved, especially those related to high-frequency datasets or performance diagnostics. We love seeing how you approach challenges and deliver solutions!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our culture and values!
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 improve system efficiency, and be ready to explain your thought process.
✨Communicate Clearly with Stakeholders
Since collaboration with business stakeholders is key, practice explaining technical concepts in simple terms. This will demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams, which is crucial for this role.
✨Emphasise Mentorship and Teamwork
Be prepared to discuss your experience mentoring junior developers and promoting best practices. Highlight any initiatives you've led to foster a culture of technical excellence, as this aligns well with the expectations of the role.
