Senior C++ Engineer

WhyHireWrong?; France; Remote; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

NDA Trading Firm is seeking a senior, hands-on C++ engineer to design, build, and optimize the low-latency hot path for automated/electronic trading in modern C++ (C++17/20). You will own market-data infrastructure and FIX-based order flow, collaborating with traders and quants in a fully remote engagement.

The role emphasizes lock-free programming, high-performance profiling, and kernel-bypass networking to reduce latency.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional C++ engineering in production low-latency systems.
• Modern C++: C++17 minimum, C++20 preferred.
• Experience in traditional financial services with market-data exposure.
• Hands-on with lock-free programming, multicast, networking, and profiling.
• Comfortable with fully remote work and a 12-month contract.
• Exposure to direct market-data, feed-handlers, or electronic-trading.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimize the low-latency hot path for automated trading in modern C++ (C++17/20).
• Build and maintain market-data infrastructure: feed handlers, ticker plant, order-book construction, and normalization.
• Implement exchange connectivity and FIX-based order flow, including smart-order-routing components.
• Drive down tick-to-trade latency using lock-free data structures, NUMA-aware design, and kernel-bypass networking.
• Profile, measure, and eliminate latency and jitter across the full stack.
• Translate strategy and execution needs from traders and quants into production code.
• Own components end-to-end: reliability, observability, and incident response.

Skills

C++ expertise

Low-latency systems

Lock-free programming

Performance profiling

Networking

Remote work

C++17 / C++20

Market-data exposure

Tools

Solarflare/Onload

DPDK

Feed handlers

Job description

About the role

We are hiring a senior, hands-on C++ engineer to build and optimize the low-latency hot path for a top-tier global trading firm (name shared under NDA). This is a headhunting search for one exceptional engineer, not a volume hire. You will own performance-critical trading and market-data systems in production, working alongside traders and quant researchers. If you are motivated by genuinely cutting-edge, latency-obsessed engineering - not just comp - this is built for you.

Location and eligibility

• Fully remote from the UK (primary), Netherlands, or France - You must already hold the right to work in your country of residence (no sponsorship offered)

Engagement

• 12-month contract, convertible to a full-time/permanent role after 12 months by mutual agreement - Employment/engagement vehicle handled per country

Compensation

• Highly competitive, benchmarked to top-of-market trading-firm rates for senior low-latency engineers - Exact range confirmed at screening

What you will do

• Design, build, and optimize the low-latency hot path for automated/electronic trading in modern C++ (C++17/20)
• Build and maintain market-data infrastructure: feed handlers, ticker plant, order-book construction, and normalization
• Implement exchange connectivity and FIX-based order flow, including smart-order-routing components
• Drive down tick-to-trade latency using lock-free data structures, cache- and NUMA‑aware design, and kernel‑by‑pass networking (Solarflare/Onload, DPDK)
• Profile, measure, and eliminate latency and jitter across the full stack
• Translate strategy and execution needs from traders and quants into performant, reliable production code
• Own components end-to-end: reliability, observability, and incident response

Required

• ~6+ years of professional C++ engineering in production low‑latency systems
• Modern C++: C++17 minimum, C++20 preferred
• Low‑latency experience from traditional financial services: proprietary trading firm, market‑maker, HFT shop, investment‑bank e‑trading desk, or systematic hedge fund
• Direct market‑data, feed‑handler, or electronic‑trading exposure
• Hands‑on with lock‑free programming, multicast, low‑level networking, and performance profiling
• Comfortable with fully remote work and a 12‑month contract structure

Nice to have

• Kernel‑by‑pass (Solarflare/Onload, DPDK) and NUMA‑/cache‑aware design
• Order book, ticker plant, smart‑order‑router, and exchange connectivity
• Deep tenure in a single demanding low‑latency environment

Not a fit

• Low‑latency C++ experience derived solely from crypto exchanges or crypto market‑makers (traditional trading backgrounds required)
• Purely academic or research C++ with no production low‑latency systems
• A pattern of very short tenures with no depth in one low‑latency environment

Screening focuses on

1. ~6+ years of professional C++ / low‑latency engineering
2. Low‑latency C++ built inside traditional financial services
3. Direct market‑data, feed‑handler, or electronic‑trading experience
4. Current base in the UK, NL, or FR and openness to a remote 12‑month contract

How we hire (AI transparency notice - EU AI Act & GDPR)

We use AI‑assisted tools in parts of our recruitment process, including candidate sourcing and initial screening support. In line with the EU AI Act and GDPR, we want you to know:

• Human oversight: A qualified human makes every shortlisting, interview, and hiring decision. No candidate is rejected or advanced by an automated system alone.
• No solely automated decisions: You will not be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing (GDPR Art. 22).
• Transparency: You will be told when you are interacting with an AI system (for example, automated outreach or any AI‑assisted assessment) and what it does.
• No prohibited practices: We do not use emotion‑recognition or biometric‑categorization tools in hiring.
• Fairness: Our screening is based on job‑relevant skills and experience only; we monitor for and act against discriminatory outcomes.
• Your rights: You may request human review of any AI‑assisted step, an explanation of how it works, and access to or correction/deletion of your personal data. Contact us at any stage to exercise these rights.

Originally posted on Himalayas