Backend Rust Engineer - Options Trading

Keyrock; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 293,000 - 441,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading digital asset firm is seeking a Backend Rust Engineer to join its fully remote Options Business Unit. The role involves building and enhancing low-latency options trading systems. Ideal candidates should have 5+ years in trading systems, strong Rust or C/C++ skills, and a passion for scalable architecture. With flexible hours and a competitive salary package, this position offers a chance to make a significant impact in the evolving digital asset space.

Benefits

Competitive salary package

Flexible working hours

Remote work autonomy

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in low latency or data-heavy trading systems.
• Strong experience in Rust and/or C/C++ programming languages.
• Willingness to learn Rust if not proficient.

Responsibilities

• Build and improve low-latency options trading systems.
• Collaborate with a remote engineering team to solve business problems.
• Own projects from gathering requirements to deployment.

Skills

Scalable systems architecture

Low latency trading

API development

Problem-solving

Operational mindset

Tools

Rust

C++

PostgreSQL

FPGA technologies

Job description

Backend Rust Engineer - Options Trading

Since our beginnings in 2017, we've grown to be a leading change‑maker in the digital asset space, renowned for our partnerships and innovation.

Today, we rock with over 200 team members around the world. Our diverse team hails from 42 nationalities, with backgrounds ranging from DeFi natives to PhDs. Predominantly remote, we have hubs in London, Brussels and Singapore, and host regular online and offline hangouts to keep the crew tight.

We are trading on more than 80 exchanges, and working with a wide array of asset issuers. As a well‑established market maker, our distinctive expertise led us to expand rapidly. Today, our services span market making, options trading, high‑frequency trading, OTC, and DeFi trading desks.

But we’re more than a service provider. We’re an initiator. We’re pioneers in adopting the Rust Development language for our algorithmic trading, and champions of its use in the industry. We support the growth of Web3 startups through our Accelerator Program. We upgrade ecosystems by injecting liquidity into promising DeFi, RWA and NFT protocols. And we push the industry's progress with our research and governance initiatives.

At Keyrock, we’re not just envisioning the future of digital assets. We’re actively building it.

Mission statement

We are looking for a Rust or C++ Engineer with extensive (HFT) Trading Systems experience to join our team. Our technology stack is based on Rust (backend), Typescript (UI) and Python (data). The ideal candidate must be willing to learn and become an expert in Rust, if not already proficient. We are open to candidates from C++/C backgrounds as well.

You will be joining our small but rapidly growing Options Business Unit’s fully remote engineering team, building out and improving our low‑latency options trading system. You’ll have the opportunity to solve interesting business problems with a high impact on our bottom line. We are looking for candidates in either Asian or European time‑zones.

We are looking for a Rust Engineer with the following skills

• Very strong on scalable systems architecture, simple extendable APIs.
• Experience with low latency and/or options trading is highly valued.
• Capable of working in a wider team environment, in a globally remote async team.
• Pragmatic in their approach to problem solving through iterations, balancing business requirements with a long‑term technical vision.
• Complete ownership from gathering initial requirements all the way to deployment.
• Operational mindset, understanding infrastructure and deployments.

Background and experience

• Expert low latency and/or data‑heavy (trading) systems or similar (5+ years experience).
• Very strong experience with either Rust and/or C/C++.
• Willingness to become an expert in Rust (if not already).
• Experience with unit and integration testing, or equivalent functional testing approaches.
• Options Trading knowledge or a keen interest is considered essential.
• Previous experience with exchange connectivity and/or FPGA technologies is valuable.
• Experience with PostgreSQL databases and protobuf‑based protocols, or similar technologies, is considered essential.

Competences and personality

• Problem solving and pragmatic approach to system design and implementation.Entrepreneurial, “big picture” architectural thinking, with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills with a team player mindset collaborating within a fully remote global team.

Our recruitment philosophy

We value self‑awareness in our recruitment process. We seek people who understand themselves and their career goals. We’re after those with the right skills and a conscious choice to join our field. The perfect fit? A (crypto) trading enthusiast, driven, collaborative, and delivers solid, scalable outcomes by using an engineer’s biggest weapon: simplicity.

Recruitment process

1. Initial HR interview
2. Interview with the heads of the Options business unit
3. Technical challenge (home‑work type, it is neither a live coding challenge nor pair programming)
4. Challenge debrief (a discussion where you present your solution, guide us through your thought process and receive feedback)
5. Offer

Our offer

• A competitive salary package, with various benefits depending on the method of engagement (employee or freelancer).
• Autonomy in your time management thanks to flexible working hours and the to work remotely.
• The freedom to create your own entrepreneurial experience by being part of a team of people in search of excellence.

As an employer we are committed to build an inclusive, diverse and non‑discriminating work environment. We welcome employees of all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, creed and sexual orientation. We hire, reward and promote entirely based on merit and performance.

Due to the nature of our business and external requirements, we perform background checks on all potential employees, passing which is a prerequisite to join Keyrock.