C++ Software Engineer - Data Platform

WorldQuant LLC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

WorldQuant LLC invites you to join a team that designs and builds high-performance, time-series data platforms in C++. You will contribute to storage engines, RPC layers, and distributed coordination while collaborating with researchers and portfolio managers.

We look for hands-on engineers with strong CS fundamentals, experience in modern C++, and comfort in UNIX environments. Knowledge of AI-assisted coding tools is a plus, and clear communication across a global team is essential.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• 2+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Strong fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, and systems-level thinking (memory management, concurrency, I/O).
• Proficiency in modern C++ (C++11 or higher); comfort with STL.
• Solid working knowledge of UNIX/Linux development environments.
• Experience using AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, OpenCode) to accelerate development.
• A clear, proactive communicator who works well with a globally distributed team.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain core components across our distributed storage, compute, and service platforms - including storage engines, query and compute execution, RPC/networking layers, and distributed coordination (routing, partitioning, replication).
• Partner with internal stakeholders across research and engineering teams to translate data-access, compute, and performance requirements into concrete design and implementation work.
• Investigate and resolve production issues - from correctness bugs to performance regressions.
• Participate in code review, system design, feature development, and productionization.

Skills

C++

UNIX/Linux

Data structures

Algorithms

Concurrency

Memory management

I/O

STL

AI-assisted coding tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Claude Code

OpenCode

RPC frameworks

Job description

WorldQuant develops and deploys systematic financial strategies across a broad range of asset classes and global markets. We seek to produce high-quality predictive signals (alphas) through our proprietary research platform to employ financial strategies focused on market inefficiencies. Our teams work collaboratively to drive the production of alphas and financial strategies – the foundation of a balanced, global investment platform.

WorldQuant is built on a culture that pairs academic sensibility with accountability for results. Employees are encouraged to think openly about problems, balancing intellectualism and practicality. Excellent ideas come from anyone, anywhere. Employees are encouraged to challenge conventional thinking and possess an attitude of continuous improvement.

Our goal is to hire the best and the brightest. We value intellectual horsepower first and foremost, and people who demonstrate an outstanding talent. There is no roadmap to future success, so we need people who can help us build it.

Technologists at WorldQuant research, design, code, test and deploy firmwide platforms and tooling while working collaboratively with researchers and portfolio managers. Our environment is relaxed yet intellectually driven. We seek people who think in code and are motivated by being around like-minded people.

The Role: Our distributed platform combines high-performance storage, compute, and service layers for processing and serving massive, structured, time-series datasets - built in C++ with a distributed system architecture, real-time streaming, RPC-based data transfer, and columnar on-disk storage that powers data processing and analytics workflows.

• Design, develop, and maintain core components across our distributed storage, compute, and service platforms - including storage engines, query and compute execution, RPC/networking layers, and distributed coordination (routing, partitioning, replication).
• Partner with internal stakeholders across research and engineering teams to translate data-access, compute, and performance requirements into concrete design and implementation work.
• Investigate and resolve production issues - from correctness bugs to performance regressions.
• Participate in code review, system design, feature development, and productionization.

What You'll Bring:

• Degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• 2+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Strong fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, and systems-level thinking (memory management, concurrency, I/O).
• Proficiency in modern C++ (C++11 or higher); comfort with STL.
• Solid working knowledge of UNIX/Linux development environments.
• Experience using AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, OpenCode) to accelerate development.
• A clear, proactive communicator who works well with a globally distributed team.

Nice to Have:

• Python
• Exposure to distributed systems concepts (replication, sharding, consensus), query/compute engines, or columnar/analytical storage formats.
• Experience with RPC frameworks.

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