Senior Software Engineer, Development Tools in London

Senior Software Engineer, Development Tools in London

London Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Tower Research Capital

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and enhance tools for developer productivity and systems infrastructure.
  • Company: Join Tower Research Capital, a leading quantitative trading firm with a collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy generous paid time off, hybrid work options, and daily free meals.
  • Other info: Experience a friendly workplace with no egos, just great people doing great work.
  • Why this job: Make an impact in a stimulating environment with top engineering talent.
  • Qualifications: Strong programming skills in C++, Rust, or Python; 7+ years experience preferred.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Tower Research Capital is a leading quantitative trading firm founded in 1998. Tower has built its business on a high-performance platform and independent trading teams. We have a 25+ year track record of innovation and a reputation for discovering unique market opportunities. Tower is home to some of the world’s best systematic trading and engineering talent. We empower portfolio managers to build their teams and strategies independently while providing the economies of scale that come from a large, global organization. Engineers thrive at Tower while developing electronic trading infrastructure at a world class level. Our engineers solve challenging problems in the realms of low‑latency programming, FPGA technology, hardware acceleration and machine learning. Our ongoing investment in top engineering talent and technology ensures our platform remains unmatched in terms of functionality, scalability and performance. At Tower, every employee plays a role in our success. Our Business Support teams are essential to building and maintaining the platform that powers everything we do — combining market access, data, compute, and research infrastructure with risk management, compliance, and a full suite of business services. Our Business Support teams enable our trading and engineering teams to perform at their best. At Tower, employees will find a stimulating, results‑oriented environment where highly intelligent and motivated colleagues inspire each other to reach their greatest potential.

Responsibilities

  • Designing, building, and enhancing tools that support developer productivity, systems infrastructure, and DevOps practices
  • Contributing to the architecture and adoption of monorepo‑scale build systems (e.g., Bazel, Buck2, CMake, Rattler/Pixi)
  • Automating developer workflows to ensure high reliability, fast iteration cycles, and rapid feedback loops
  • Partnering with product development, infrastructure, platform, security, and QA teams on cross‑functional initiatives
  • Improving and maintaining CI/CD pipelines, testing frameworks, and deployment automation
  • Implementing and integrating monitoring, logging, and alerting solutions for developer tooling and systems
  • Measuring and optimizing developer productivity metrics such as build speed, failure rates, deployment frequency, MTTR, and time‑to‑market
  • Driving performance optimization, scalability improvements, and reliability engineering best practices
  • Providing technical mentorship and contributing to engineering standards and best practices across the team

Qualifications

  • Strong programming skills in C++, Rust, and/or Python. You likely have 7+ years of experience in software development, infrastructure engineering, or DevOps
  • Build system fundamentals. Deep practical experience with large build systems at monorepo‑scale. Buck2 or Bazel/Blaze is most relevant, but maybe you’ve done large scale work with another build system
  • Strong understanding of Linux/Unix toolchains. Practical experience of working with multiple compilers, linkers and native code
  • Broad experience with DevOps tooling and techniques (e.g., monorepo, CI/CD pipelines, Git‑based version control systems, Docker/Podman, Config as Code, Infrastructure as Code)
  • Proven experience optimizing performance and scalability in large, complex codebases
  • Systematic approach to troubleshooting and solving complex productivity or infrastructure issues
  • Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams
  • A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field or equivalent experience

Preferred Experience (Nice to have, but not required)

  • Experience with Kubernetes and Cloud infrastructure (GCP, AWS) preferred
  • Conda/Rattler/Pixi experience

Benefits

Tower’s headquarters are in the historic Equitable Building, right in the heart of NYC’s Financial District and our impact is global, with over a dozen offices around the world. At Tower, we believe work should be both challenging and enjoyable. That is why we foster a culture where smart, driven people thrive – without the egos. Our open concept workplace, casual dress code, and well‑stocked kitchens reflect the value we place on a friendly, collaborative environment where everyone is respected, and great ideas win. Our benefits include:

  • Generous paid time off policies
  • Savings plans and other financial wellness tools available in each region
  • Hybrid working opportunities
  • Free breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily
  • In‑office wellness experiences and reimbursement for select wellness expenses (e.g., gym, personal training and more)
  • Company‑sponsored sports teams and fitness events (JPM Corporate Challenge, Cycle for Survival, Wall Street Rides FAR and more)
  • Volunteer opportunities and charitable giving
  • Social events, happy hours, treats, and celebrations throughout the year
  • Workshops and continuous learning opportunities

At Tower, you’ll find a collaborative and welcoming culture, a diverse team and a workplace that values both performance and enjoyment. No unnecessary hierarchy. No ego. Just great people doing great work – together. Tower Research Capital is an equal opportunity employer.

Senior Software Engineer, Development Tools in London employer: Tower Research Capital

Tower Research Capital is an exceptional employer, offering a stimulating and collaborative work environment in the heart of NYC's Financial District. With a strong focus on employee growth, Tower provides generous benefits including hybrid working opportunities, wellness experiences, and continuous learning workshops, all while fostering a culture that values respect and teamwork. Here, engineers are empowered to tackle complex challenges in a supportive atmosphere, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in technology.

Tower Research Capital

Contact Details:

Tower Research Capital Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer, Development Tools in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Tower Research Capital on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your C++, Rust, and Python skills. Practice coding challenges and system design problems that are relevant to the role. We want to see you shine!

Tip Number 3

Show off your passion for developer productivity tools! Be ready to discuss your experience with CI/CD pipelines and build systems like Bazel or Buck2. We love candidates who can demonstrate their hands-on experience.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Tower.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer, Development Tools in London

C++
Rust
Python
Build System Fundamentals
Bazel
Buck2
Linux/Unix Toolchains

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Senior Software Engineer. Highlight your experience with C++, Rust, and Python, and don’t forget to mention any relevant projects that showcase your skills in building tools for developer productivity.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about working at Tower and how your background aligns with our focus on innovation and high-performance engineering.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, be sure to include examples of how you've tackled complex problems in software development or infrastructure engineering. We love seeing how you approach challenges and drive improvements!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Tower!

How to prepare for a job interview at Tower Research Capital

Know Your Tech Inside Out

Make sure you brush up on your programming skills, especially in C++, Rust, and Python. Be ready to discuss your experience with large build systems like Bazel or Buck2, as well as your understanding of Linux/Unix toolchains. The more specific examples you can provide about your past projects, the better!

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

Prepare to talk about complex productivity or infrastructure issues you've tackled in the past. Think of specific challenges you faced, how you approached them, and what the outcomes were. This will demonstrate your systematic approach to troubleshooting, which is crucial for the role.

Collaboration is Key

Since the role involves partnering with various teams, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated across different functions. Highlight your communication skills and any experiences where you contributed to cross-functional initiatives, as this will show you're a team player.

Understand the Company Culture

Familiarise yourself with Tower's culture of collaboration and innovation. Be prepared to discuss how you align with their values and how you can contribute to a friendly, results-oriented environment. Showing that you fit into their culture can set you apart from other candidates.