Principal Low-Latency Systems Engineer (C++ / HFT)
The Objective
We are seeking an elite, uncompromising Principal Systems Engineer to architect and optimize the critical path of our ultra-low-latency algorithmic trading infrastructure. This role commands a premium compensation package and demands unparalleled technical rigor. This is not a standard software engineering role; we operate in nanoseconds. You must possess absolute mastery of modern C++, hardware sympathy, and Linux OS internals. There is zero margin for garbage collection pauses, unoptimized cache lines, or inefficient context switches. You will write code where every CPU cycle is accounted for.
Core Responsibilities
Nanosecond Engineering: Architect, build, and relentlessly optimize ultra-low-latency trading engines, pricing models, and order execution gateways.
Hardware Sympathy: Dictate system architecture with a profound understanding of underlying hardware architectures, mastering L1/L2/L3 cache utilization, branch prediction, and memory access patterns.
Network & Kernel Optimization: Eradicate latency by engineering kernel-bypass networking solutions (Solarflare OpenOnload, DPDK, RDMA). You must dominate raw socket programming and packet-level network protocols (TCP, UDP, IP Multicast).
Lock-Free Concurrency: Design infallible, thread-safe, lock-free, and wait-free data structures. Implement bespoke memory allocators to guarantee deterministic execution times along the critical path.
Performance Profiling: Command advanced profiling tools (perf, VTune, Valgrind) to identify and destroy microsecond-level bottlenecks in production environments.
Strict Qualifying Criteria
Unrivaled C++ Mastery: Minimum of 8+ years of heavyweight, battle-tested experience in modern C++ (C++17/20). You must know the standard library deeply, and more importantly, know exactly when not to use it.
HFT Domain Expertise: Proven track record building profitable, sub-microsecond tick-to-trade platforms in a proprietary trading firm, hedge fund, or top-tier financial institution.
Linux OS Dominance: Expert-level knowledge of Linux kernel internals, CPU pinning, NUMA architecture, and thread affinity.
Protocol Authority: Absolute proficiency in FIX, OUCH, ITCH, and binary exchange protocols.
Academic Pedigree: Preferably a Master’s in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a strictly equivalent quantitative discipline from a top-tier university is aggressively preferred.
