Low Latency Developer

Barclays; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Barclays in London is seeking a Low Latency Developer to design, develop and optimize high-performance trading systems that underpin our markets platform. You will contribute to latency-sensitive algorithmic rollouts and ensure the platform remains fast, stable, and precise in a dynamic trading environment.

The role emphasizes secure coding, performance tuning, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver reliable software for critical market activity.

Qualifications

• Experience with low-latency and high-performance Java development.
• Strong OS and network tuning knowledge.
• Experience with low-latency messaging and middleware.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver high-quality software solutions with scalable, maintainable, and performance-optimized code.
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and engineers to define requirements and ensure alignment with business goals.
• Participate in code reviews and promote a culture of code quality and knowledge sharing.
• Stay informed of industry technology trends and contribute to technology communities.
• Adhere to secure coding practices to mitigate vulnerabilities and protect data.
• Implement effective unit testing to ensure code reliability.

Skills

Low latency Java

Lock-free programming

Performance tuning

OS & network tuning

Low latency messaging

Tools

KDB+

Time-series databases

Middleware protocols

Job description

Join Barclays as a Low Latency Developer and become part of a technology team responsible for building and enhancing high performance trading systems that support critical business activity across our markets platform.

This role is focused on the ongoing development and optimisation of a key platform supporting algorithmic trading capability and strategic revenue growth across the business. You will work on mission-critical, latency-sensitive applications where speed, stability, and precision are essential, helping to deliver new algorithm rollouts and ensure the platform continues to meet the demands of a fast-moving trading environment.

To be successful as a Low Latency Developer you must have the following essential skills :

• Low latency and advanced Java knowledge (lock free patterns, zero allocation development, performance tuning).
• OS and network tuning knowledge and hard on experience (mechanical sympathy).
• Working with low latency messaging (protocols, middleware).

Some other highly valued skills may include:

• FX market micro-structure knowledge.
• KDB (or equivalent large scale time series databases).
• Testing for low latency applications at scale.

You may be assessed on key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, communication skills and interaction with a diverse range of stakeholders, as well as job-specific technical skills.

This role will be based in London.

Purpose of the role

To design, develop and improve software, utilising various engineering methodologies, that provides business, platform, and technology capabilities for our customers and colleagues.

Accountabilities

• Development and delivery of high-quality software solutions by using industry aligned programming languages, frameworks, and tools. Ensuring that code is scalable, maintainable, and optimized for performance.
• Cross-functional collaboration with product managers, designers, and other engineers to define software requirements, devise solution strategies, and ensure seamless integration and alignment with business objectives.
• Collaboration with peers, participate in code reviews, and promote a culture of code quality and knowledge sharing.
• Stay informed of industry technology trends and innovations and actively contribute to the organization’s technology communities to foster a culture of technical excellence and growth.
• Adherence to secure coding practices to mitigate vulnerabilities, protect sensitive data, and ensure secure software solutions.
• Implementation of effective unit testing practices to ensure proper code design, readability, and reliability.

Vice President Expectations

• To contribute or set strategy, drive requirements and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/ processes; deliver continuous improvements and escape breaches of policies/procedures..
• If managing a team, they define jobs and responsibilities, planning for the department’s future needs and operations, counselling employees on performance and contributing to employee pay decisions/changes. They may also lead a number of specialists to influence the operations of a department, in alignment with strategic as well as tactical priorities, while balancing short and long term goals and ensuring that budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements..
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others..
• OR for an individual contributor, they will be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. They will lead collaborative, multi-year assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment.
• Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda.
• Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business.
• Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and business strategies.
• Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In-depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes.
• Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.