Graduate Software Engineer

Optiver Holding BV; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

International transfer opportunities

Relocation support

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme

Job summary

Optiver seeks a Graduate Software Engineer to build high‑performance solutions enabling rapid, precise decisions in capital markets. You will join a comprehensive Global Academy, paired with a mentor to own meaningful work from day one.

You’ll collaborate with traders, researchers and engineers to create simple, robust systems, learning the tech stack and trading theory to advance the firm’s competitive edge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or equivalent.
• Graduating between August 2024 and August 2027, with up to 3 years of work experience.
• Proficient in C++, Python or Java with strong understanding of architecture and systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop simple, well-architected solutions for capital markets in collaboration with traders and researchers.
• Work with engineers to solve problems that enable fast, reliable market responses.
• Contribute to an interdisciplinary team and optimize code for performance.

Skills

C++

Python

Java

Algorithms

Concurrency

Memory models

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in Computer Science or related field

Job description

As a Graduate Software Engineer, your work is mission-critical at our firm. You will work on solutions that enable us to react to markets at lightning-fast speeds. Your work will be the magic behind the scenes, enabling our teams to make split‑second decisions with precision and confidence. By working in an interdisciplinary manner and innovating and optimising code, you will keep our firm competitive in the ever‑evolving capital markets.

Optiver is building with cutting edge AI technology in the most competitive, data rich landscapes in the world: financial markets. That means no two days are the same, and every day brings new, exciting technical challenges to solve.

What you’ll do

Onboarding: You will participate in Optiver’s comprehensive Global Academy and be equipped with the knowledge needed to make an impact the moment you join your team. The comprehensive training covers trading theory and Optiver’s tech stack to hone your skills for your role. In addition, you will be paired with a dedicated mentor who will empower you to take ownership of your work and make a difference.

Responsibilities: As a Graduate Software Engineer, you will work closely with best-in-class traders, researchers, risk analysts and other engineers to develop simple, well‑architected solutions that meet the needs of our business. No one day is ever the same. You will gain and develop in-depth knowledge of engineering for the capital markets. Our collective passion to solve problems makes a direct impact on our business.

What you’ll get

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high‑performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle the toughest problems in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• A performance-based bonus structure, enabling all of our employees to benefit from our global profit pool
• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals
• 27 paid vacation days plus all UK public holidays
• Daily breakfast and lunch, along with support on commuting expenses
• Private medical insurance, pension scheme, and ClassPass fitness membership
• Training and continuous learning opportunities
• International transfer opportunities for global career growth
• Competitive relocation packages and visa sponsorship where necessary for expats

Who you are

• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or equivalent, with outstanding academic achievements
• Graduating between August 2024 and August 2027, with a maximum of 3 years of work experience
• Passionate about clean code, simple, well‑architected systems, and continuous improvement
• Proficient in industry‑standard coding languages such as C++, Python, or Java, with a strong understanding of underlying computer architecture and system operations
• A solid grasp of algorithms, memory and concurrency models, CPU‑architecture, operating systems and relational databases
• Have an entrepreneurial attitude and an interest in the financial industry
• An analytical mindset and strong problem‑solving skills
• Able to work closely with other engineers, traders, and business operations

Diversity statement

Optiver is committed to diversity and inclusion.

We encourage applications from candidates from any and all backgrounds, and we welcome requests for reasonable adjustments during the process to ensure that you can best demonstrate your abilities. Please let us know if you would like to request any reasonable adjustments by contacting the Recruitment team via the contact form, selecting “Reasonable Adjustments” as the subject of your inquiry.

For answers to some of our most frequently asked questions, refer to our FAQs.

For applicants based in India, our entry route is via the placement office internship hiring season (July/August).

Optiver has a global application re‑apply policy for our intern and graduate roles

If you have completed an online assessment or interviewed for a technology graduate or internship role at any Optiver location in the past 8 months, please note that you are not yet eligible to reapply. We welcome you to re‑apply after the 8‑month cool off period.