Low-Latency C++ Performance Engineer - Production Impact

Portofino; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Portofino Technologies in London is seeking experienced C++ engineers to design and optimise low-latency trading systems. You will work across the trading stack, from exchange connectivity to core components, delivering production-grade solutions with measurable impact.

The role focuses on performance across CPU, memory, and networking, with ownership from design to deployment in a live production environment.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in modern C++ (C++20+)
• Experience building low-latency or performance-critical systems
• Solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and system design
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills (e.g. GDB, Valgrind)
• Experience analysing and optimising performance (benchmarking, profiling)
• Understanding of networking and hardware-level behaviour
• Familiarity with thread pinning, CPU isolation, shared memory, kernel bypass
• Ability to work independently and take ownership from design to production

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimise performance-critical components across the trading system
• Work on exchange connectivity, core infrastructure, and system architecture
• Analyse system performance and identify bottlenecks across CPU, memory, and network layers
• Improve latency, throughput, and reliability of trading systems
• Design and build new applications and system components from scratch
• Collaborate closely with traders and engineers to deliver robust, production-ready solutions

Skills

C++20+

Low-latency systems

Data structures & algorithms

Debugging & profiling

Networking & hardware

Thread pinning & CPU isolation

Production ownership

Tools

Docker/Kubernetes

Boost.Asio

TBB

Disruptor

Kernel bypass concepts

Job description

Portofino Technologies in London is seeking experienced C++ engineers to design and optimise low-latency trading systems. You will work across the trading stack, from exchange connectivity to core components, delivering production-grade solutions with measurable impact.

The role focuses on performance across CPU, memory, and networking, with ownership from design to deployment in a live production environment.