Java / Scala Developer (Front Office Equities)

Synechron; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Synechron in Glasgow, UK is seeking a mid-senior Java/Scala Developer to join a Front Office Equities technology team. This hybrid role involves close collaboration with traders, quants and business users to deliver high-performance solutions for equities trading.

The ideal candidate will have strong Core Java skills, familiarity with Front Office equities workflows, and excellent communication to influence requirements and decisions in a dynamic trading environment.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on Core Java development.
• Experience in Front Office Equities technology environments.
• Good understanding of Equities products and trading workflows.
• Proven experience working directly with traders or Front Office users.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and business engagement skills.
• Strong problem-solving ability with a commercial mindset.
• Knowledge of software engineering best practices, design patterns and distributed systems.
• Experience with SQL and relational databases.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and support applications used in Front Office Equities trading environments.
• Work closely with traders, sales teams, quants, and business stakeholders to understand requirements and deliver technology solutions.
• Develop and enhance low-latency, high-performance applications using Java and/or Scala.
• Translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Participate in architecture discussions, application design, and strategic platform enhancements.
• Troubleshoot production issues and provide timely resolutions in a fast-paced trading environment.
• Drive continuous improvements in application performance, stability, and user experience.
• Collaborate with global technology teams across multiple regions.

Skills

Core Java

Front Office Equities experience

Equities products knowledge

Traders/Business engagement

Communication

Problem solving

Software engineering practices

SQL

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering/Math/Finance or related

Tools

Kafka

MQ

Cloud technologies

Agile methodologies

Job description

Job Role: Java / Scala Developer (Front Office Equities)

Job Location: Glasgow, UK

Experience: Mid-Senior Level

Work Type: Hybrid / Open for full-time & Contract

About Company

At Synechron, we believe in the power of digital to transform businesses for the better. Our global consulting firm combines creativity and innovative technology to deliver industry-leading digital solutions. Synechron’s progressive technologies and optimization strategies span end-to‑end Artificial Intelligence, Consulting, Digital, Cloud & DevOps, Data, and Software Engineering, servicing an array of noteworthy financial services and technology firms. Through research and development initiatives in our FinLabs we develop solutions for modernization, from Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain to Data Science models, Digital Underwriting, mobile‑first applications and more. Over the last 20+ years, our company has been honored with multiple employer awards, recognizing our commitment to our talented teams. With top clients to boast about, Synechron has a global workforce of 14,700+ and has 55 offices in 20 countries within key global markets. For more information on the company, please visit our website or LinkedIn community.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity & Inclusion are fundamental to our culture, and Synechron is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative‑action employer. Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative ‘Same Difference’ is committed to fostering an inclusive culture – promoting equality, diversity and an environment that is respectful to all. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce helps build stronger, successful businesses as a global company. We encourage applicants from across diverse backgrounds, race, ethnicities, religion, age, marital status, gender, sexual orientations, or disabilities to apply. We empower our global workforce by offering flexible workplace arrangements, mentoring, internal mobility, learning and development programs, and more.

All employment decisions at Synechron are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to the applicant’s gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

About the Role

We are looking for a highly capable Java/Scala Developer to join a Front Office Equities technology team in Glasgow. This is not a traditional backend Java development role. The successful candidate will work directly with business stakeholders, traders, quants, and front‑office users to deliver technology solutions that support Equities trading and associated workflows.

Given the niche nature of the market, we are open to considering strong Core Java developers with Front Office Equities experience, even if their Scala exposure is limited. The ideal candidate is a business‑focused technologist who combines strong engineering skills with excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and support applications used within Front Office Equities trading environments.
• Work closely with traders, sales teams, quants, and business stakeholders to understand requirements and deliver technology solutions.
• Develop and enhance low‑latency, high‑performance applications using Java and/or Scala.
• Translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Participate in architecture discussions, application design, and strategic platform enhancements.
• Troubleshoot production issues and provide timely resolutions in a fast‑paced trading environment.
• Drive continuous improvements in application performance, stability, and user experience.
• Collaborate with global technology teams across multiple regions.

Required Skills & Experience

• Strong hands‑on development experience in Core Java.
• Experience within Front Office Equities technology environments.
• Strong understanding of Equities products, trading workflows, and market concepts.
• Proven experience working directly with traders or Front Office business users.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and business engagement skills.
• Strong problem‑solving ability with a commercial and business‑driven mindset.
• Good understanding of software engineering best practices, design patterns, and distributed systems.
• Experience with SQL and relational databases.

Preferred Skills

• Commercial experience with Scala.
• Experience building high‑performance or low‑latency trading applications.
• Knowledge of messaging technologies (Kafka, MQ, etc.).
• Experience with cloud technologies and modern engineering practices.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• A business‑facing developer rather than a purely technical programmer.
• Comfortable engaging directly with senior Front Office stakeholders.
• Strong communicator who can challenge requirements and influence decisions.
• Demonstrates ownership, commercial awareness, and a solution‑oriented mindset.
• Able to thrive in a dynamic Front Office trading environment.

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Finance, or a related discipline.

Keywords

Front Office, Equities, Electronic Trading, Cash Equities, Java, Scala, Trading Systems, Front Office Technology, Capital Markets, Low Latency, Electronic Markets, Investment Banking, Trading Platforms, Glasgow.

Recruiter Note: Candidates with strong Core Java and proven Front Office Equities experience should be prioritized, even if Scala experience is limited. Front Office business engagement and communication skills are considered more important than pure Scala expertise.