Fullstack Engineer (Java /C++)

Vallum Associates; City Of London; On-site; GBP 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Vallum Associates in London is seeking a seasoned Full Stack Engineer with a strong background in ultra-low-latency trading environments. You will shape real-time market data distribution, collaborating with quantitative, trading, and engineering teams to push speed and reliability to new limits.

You’ll design, develop, and maintain high-performance systems, optimize kernel bypass and network code on Linux, and deploy across numerous proprietary feeds.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of software engineering experience in high-frequency trading or ultra-low-latency environments.
• Strong Core Java and C++ development experience.
• Deep Linux kernel bypass and low-latency network programming expertise.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain ultra-low-latency market data apps.
• Develop low-latency network code and kernel bypass tech on Linux.
• Build high-throughput components in Core Java and C++.
• Manage deployments and automation via internal pipelines.
• Integrate 70+ proprietary feeds across EMEA and US.
• Perform latency analysis, profiling, and system tuning.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure reliability.

Skills

Core Java

C++

Linux

Low-latency networking

Performance tuning

Troubleshooting

Communication

Tools

UBS Bluezone

UBSDeploy

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 and C++
• Manage deployments, tooling, and infrastructure automation using internal and enterprise deployment pipelines (including UBS Bluezone and UBSDeploy)
• 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 and C++
• 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
• Experience with deployment and management tools such as client Bluezone and client Deploy
• Strong performance tuning, profiling, and network/application troubleshooting skills
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication abilities

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