Senior Software Engineer / Technical Lead – Research Platform (Rust + Python) Surrey, BC

About Whistler Trading

Whistler Trading was founded in 2022 with the ambition to build a new leader in systematic trading, and we are well on our way. We have invested heavily in research and infrastructure, developing lean, high-performance systems that let us go from idea to production faster than ever. Most importantly, we have built a team with incredible talent density. Our team includes alumni of top firms like Citadel and SIG, medalists from math and informatics olympiads, and individuals with deep domain expertise in trading, distributed systems, and real-time infrastructure. We value drive, rigor, and originality, and we back people who want to build something lasting.

The Role

We are building out our research platform team and looking for a Senior Software Engineer / Technical Lead to help drive this effort. You will oversee a growing team of junior engineers building our high-frequency and mid-frequency trading research infrastructure, while staying hands-on with architecture and critical technical decisions. This isn’t a pure management role. You will write code, design systems, and solve hard technical problems. But you will also mentor engineers, set technical direction, and ensure we are building research infrastructure that is fast, reliable, and enables our researchers to move quickly from idea to production.

The ideal candidate has strong systems programming fundamentals, experience building research or data platforms, and a track record of leading technical projects and developing other engineers.

What You Will Do

• Lead the research platform team: Provide technical direction and mentorship to a team of junior engineers building our HFT/MFT research infrastructure. You will help them grow while keeping the team focused and productive.
• Design and build research infrastructure: Architect and implement high-performance systems in Rust and Python that enable our researchers to test ideas, analyse data at scale, and iterate quickly. This includes data pipelines, backtesting frameworks, simulation engines, and analytical tools.
• Bridge research and production: Work closely with researchers and traders to understand their needs, then build tools and infrastructure that accelerate their work. You will also help transition successful research into production trading systems.
• Drive technical decisions: Own architecture and design decisions for the research platform. You will balance performance, reliability, and development velocity, making pragmatic choices about when to optimize and when to ship.
• Solve HPC challenges: Work on high-performance computing problems related to data processing, parallel computation, and system optimization. The research platform needs to handle large datasets efficiently and support rapid iteration.
• Maintain engineering standards: Establish and uphold strong engineering practices through code reviews, documentation, and technical mentorship. You will help the team build systems that are maintainable and well-engineered.
• Stay hands-on: While you will have leadership responsibilities, you will remain actively involved in coding, design, and technical problem-solving. We need someone who can both guide the team and dive deep when needed.

Skills and Qualifications

• Experience: 7+ years of software engineering experience, with demonstrated ability to lead technical projects and mentor other engineers. Experience building research platforms, data infrastructure, or trading systems is valuable but not required.
• Systems programming: Strong proficiency in Rust for performance-critical systems. Not all of your experience needs to be in Rust. If you have a strong C++ or systems programming background and are committed to working in Rust, that works too.
• Python for research/data: Solid Python skills for building research tools, data analysis pipelines, and working with scientific computing libraries (numpy, pandas, etc.). Comfort moving between Rust for performance and Python for productivity.
• High-performance computing: Experience with parallel programming, optimization, and building systems that process large datasets efficiently. Understanding of performance fundamentals and when optimization matters.
• Technical leadership: Track record of leading technical projects, making architecture decisions, and helping other engineers grow. We are looking for someone who can provide clear technical direction without creating unnecessary process.
• Problem-solving and pragmatism: Ability to balance competing priorities: speed vs. correctness, optimization vs. shipping, research needs vs. production stability. You can make good technical tradeoffs under uncertainty.
• Communication: Clear, direct communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. You can explain complex systems simply and work effectively with researchers, traders, and engineers.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field (Master’s or Ph.D. a plus). We value strong academic backgrounds, but proven experience and capability matter more than pedigree.
• Nice to have: Background building data platforms, backtesting systems, or research infrastructure. Familiarity with distributed systems and workflow orchestration. Experience with modern data tools and frameworks.

Why Join Whistler

• Build foundational systems: You will be shaping the research infrastructure that underpins our entire trading operation. This is a high-impact role with significant technical ownership.
• Develop engineers: Work with smart, driven junior engineers and help them grow into strong systems programmers. If you enjoy mentorship and technical leadership, you will find this rewarding.
• Work with exceptional people: Our team includes alumni from top trading firms, olympiad medalists, and deep technical specialists. You will collaborate with researchers and engineers who are genuinely excellent at what they do.
• Merit over hierarchy: We run a lean, collaborative organization where the best ideas win. High performance is recognized and rewarded, regardless of where it comes from.
• Clarity and ownership: We value clear thinking and direct communication. You will have real ownership over the research platform and the trust to make good decisions.
• Growth opportunity: As we grow, top performers grow with us. This is a place for builders who want to create something lasting.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base Salary: CAD $150,000 – $250,000 depending on experience and performance. Engineers are eligible for significant performance-based bonuses. Truly exceptional contributors will find their compensation growing rapidly.
• Benefits: Comprehensive health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits to support you and your family. We provide high-performance hardware, multiple monitors, and whatever tools you need to do your best work.

Hiring Process

• Initial screening: A short conversation to discuss your background, leadership experience, and mutual fit (30-45 minutes).
• Technical assessment: A systems design or architecture exercise focused on research infrastructure challenges. We are interested in your approach to building scalable, maintainable systems.
• Technical interviews: In-depth discussions with our engineers about your experience building data platforms, leading technical projects, and mentoring engineers. Expect conversations about system design, technical tradeoffs, and team leadership.
• Team fit interview: A conversation with senior team members to assess collaboration style, leadership approach, and to answer your questions about Whistler and the research platform team.
• Offer: If it’s a mutual fit, we will extend an offer promptly.