Senior Java Distributed Systems Engineer - Fintech - Barcelona

Adaptive; Barcelona; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days vacation + 2 additional days

Pension plan

Private Health Insurance

Ticket restaurant

Childcare/Commuting benefits

Wellbeing allowance

Language classes (English & Spanish)

Job summary

Adaptive is hiring a Senior Java Distributed Systems Engineer in Barcelona to help build Aeron Sequencer, applying state machine replication to capital markets. You will work on distributed systems that enable other teams to deliver performant, reliable software, with a hands-on role that can influence product decisions, architecture, and engineering practices.

Based in Barcelona with a flexible hybrid model, you will collaborate with global teams, write clean Java, design messaging protocols,

Qualifications

• Experience designing, building, debugging and operating distributed systems.
• Strong experience developing server-side software in Java.
• Experience designing and evolving messaging protocols or software libraries.
• Experience using different forms of testing to support software quality, including correctness and performance.
• Experience measuring, benchmarking and profiling components or systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyse, design, discuss and develop distributed systems built on replicated state machines.
• Write clean, efficient Java code that is maintainable and self-documenting.
• Design and evolve messaging protocols and software libraries.
• Troubleshoot and debug Java applications and distributed systems.
• Drive improvements in correctness and performance through testing, benchmarking, measurement and profiling.
• Raise the quality of our work through code reviews, pairing and technical discussions.
• Contribute to product decisions, not just task execution.
• Keep up to date with relevant software engineering technologies and practices.
• Communicate technical decisions and priorities clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

Distributed systems

Java

Messaging protocols

Testing & benchmarking

Troubleshooting

Communication skills

Code design

Product decisions

Collaboration

Job description

At Adaptive, we partner with capital, commodity and digital market participants, and we see technology as a true differentiator. Our experienced teams design and deliver complex front-office technology solutions, using our proven accelerators to create long-term competitive advantage.

Our clients include the world's leading investment banks, investment managers, fintechs and capital market service providers. With offices in London, New York, Barcelona, Montreal and Manila we have a proven track record of delivering trading technology that is powerful, elegant and intuitive.

We are hiring a Senior Java Distributed Systems Engineer to help build Aeron Sequencer, our technology for applying state machine replication to capital markets. You will work on distributed systems that enable other engineering teams to build performant, reliable software. This is a hands-on role with the opportunity to influence product decisions, architecture, engineering practices, and how we communicate our work.

YOU ARE:

• Collaborative, with a genuine interest in sharing knowledge and learning from others.
• Able to use your judgement to prioritise competing demands based on long-term value and explain those priorities to stakeholders.
• Confident in challenging the status quo and suggesting improvements, both technical and cultural.

YOU HAVE:

• Experience designing, building, debugging and operating distributed systems.
• Strong experience developing server‑side software in Java.
• Experience designing and evolving messaging protocols or software libraries.
• Experience using different forms of testing to support software quality, including correctness and performance.
• Experience measuring, benchmarking and profiling components or systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

YOU WILL:

• Analyse, design, discuss and develop distributed systems built on replicated state machines.
• Write clean, efficient Java code that is maintainable and self-documenting.
• Design and evolve messaging protocols and software libraries.
• Troubleshoot and debug Java applications and distributed systems.
• Drive improvements in correctness and performance through testing, benchmarking, measurement and profiling.
• Raise the quality of our work through code reviews, pairing and technical discussions.
• Contribute to product decisions, not just task execution.
• Keep up to date with relevant software engineering technologies and practices.
• Communicate technical decisions and priorities clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

WHY ADAPTIVE:

• Interesting engineering problems. Work alongside passionate engineers on software where correctness, performance and usability all matter.
• Real product influence. Help shape technology used to solve complex problems in financial markets, rather than just delivering on predefined client requirements.
• Collaborative teams. We share knowledge, learn from one another, value different perspectives, and contribute wherever help is needed.
• Flexible working. We support a highly flexible, hybrid working model.
• A sustainable pace. Work-life balance matters to us, and we back it with wellbeing benefits and a focus on long-term performance.
• An inclusive culture. We aim to create a positive, collaborative environment and support our people and local communities through wellbeing, diversity and inclusion programmes.

With offices in London, New York, Barcelona, Montreal and Manila, Adaptive brings together a global team that shares one focus: building better financial technology.

What People Think Of Us

You can check our Glassdoor page

BENEFITS (What we offer in return // what you'll get)

• 25 days vacation + 2 additional days off for volunteering activities
• Pension plan
• Private Health Insurance
• Ticket restaurant
• Childcare/Commuting benefits
• Wellbeing allowance
• Language classes (English and Spanish)

THE PROCESS

Long interview processes are stressful and boring and that is not us.

We want to make sure that everything runs smoothly.

So here you will have three stage interviews:

1- A chat with one of our great recruiters.

2- A Zoom chat with one of our Java colleagues where they will ask you detailed questions about Java knowledge and your experience.

3- A Face to Face interview (either in our office or via Zoom). During this interview, we will dig even deeper, and you will have a technical task to do. You will also have a chat with our local director.

A little tip for you during those stages: Collaboration is massively important to us, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts, ask questions, ask for help if needed, etc.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Diversity and inclusion are key to a great workplace, and Adaptive is better when it's more representative of the world around us. We want everyone to feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work without any fear of judgment or negativity.

All we ask is that our colleagues are respectful, collaborative, passionate about what they do, and have the skills needed to be successful in their roles.

Background check: the employment/engagement is subject to an acceptable background check that will be run by Adaptive