Full Stack Engineer (HFT or Low latency)

Vallum Associates; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Vallum Associates in London is seeking a seasoned Full Stack Engineer to join a high-frequency trading environment. This role is hybrid, onsite three days a week, focusing on building ultra-low-latency market data distribution systems and high-throughput Core Java components.

You will collaborate with quantitative, trading, and engineering teams to push speed and reliability, perform latency analysis, and optimize Linux kernel bypass networks.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of software engineering in HFT or ultra-low-latency environments.
• Strong Core Java development experience.
• Deep Linux systems and kernel bypass tuning expertise.
• Experience with market data feeds and latency optimization.
• Knowledge of Refinitiv ETA, Denali, MPAC, Beacon protocols.
• Cross-team collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain ultra-low-latency market data distribution systems.
• Build and support low-latency network programming on Linux.
• Develop high-throughput, low-latency Core Java components.
• Integrate data across 70+ direct feeds in EMEA, US Options, MiFID II.
• Collaborate with quantitative, trading, and engineering teams for reliable systems.
• Perform performance analysis, latency troubleshooting, and tuning.

Skills

Core Java

Linux systems

Low-latency network programming

Market data distribution

HFT/financial markets

Cross-team collaboration

Event-driven architecture

Distributed systems

CI/CD for LBL builds

Hardware timestamping

Job description

This Full Stack Engineer role in London is onsite three days per week, embedded in the heart of high-frequency trading environments. You shape the backbone of real-time market data distribution, collaborating with quantitative, trading, and engineering teams to push the limits of speed and reliability. The market rewards those who build platforms that never miss a tick.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain high-performance, ultra-low-latency software applications and market data distribution systems
• Build, tune, and support low-latency network programming solutions and kernel bypass architectures on Linux environments
• Develop and enhance high-throughput, low-latency components using Core Java
• Integrate, optimize, and distribute real-time market data across over 70 proprietary direct feeds in EMEA, US Options, and MIFID II market structures
• Collaborate with cross-functional quantitative, trading, and engineering teams to deliver extremely reliable, fault-tolerant, and sub-microsecond resilient systems
• Perform rigorous performance analysis, latency troubleshooting, and system tuning of applications, network stacks, and market data distribution protocols (Denali, MPAC, Beacon, Refinitiv ETA)
• Support knowledge transfer and handover activities as part of project onboarding and cross-team enablement

Requirements

• 5–10 years of software engineering experience in high-frequency trading (HFT), financial markets, or ultra-low-latency environments
• Strong hands-on development expertise with Core Java
• Deep expertise in Linux systems, kernel bypass low-latency tuning, and low-latency network programming
• Expert knowledge of market data distribution protocols, including Refinitiv ETA, Denali, MPAC, and Beacon
• Comprehensive domain knowledge across EMEA, US Options, and MIFID II market structures, alongside experience with over 70 proprietary direct feeds
• Strong performance tuning, profiling, and network/application troubleshooting skills
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication abilities

Nice to Have

• C++ is nice to have
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, ownership-driven approach in high-pressure trading floors
• Experience in event-driven architecture, distributed systems, and hardware-software co-design
• Knowledge of CI/CD practices, automated testing, and DevOps automation tailored for low-latency builds
• Experience working in large-scale enterprise financial environments and electronic trading desks
• Familiarity with advanced monitoring, hardware timestamping, and network telemetry tools