Senior C++ Software Engineer

Airswift; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Airswift is seeking a Senior C++ Software Engineer to join a fast-paced trading platform team in London. You will develop and optimise low-latency trading systems and build robust exchange connectivity across FIX, WebSocket and native protocols.

Work closely with traders and quantitative teams to implement strategies, improve reliability, and drive performance in a globally distributed environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of commercial C++ development in financial markets.
• Strong understanding of exchange-traded derivatives and the full trade lifecycle.
• Experience with global futures exchanges and native exchange protocols.
• Expertise in multithreading, asynchronous programming and distributed systems.
• Strong knowledge of algorithms and data structures.
• Experience with Python, SQL, PowerShell, C# or similar scripting/programming languages.
• Proven experience supporting production trading systems and application deployments.
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical problem-solving capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimise low-latency, high-performance trading systems in C++.
• Build and maintain exchange connectivity solutions using FIX, WebSocket, HTTP and native exchange protocols.
• Implement and enhance algorithmic trading strategies alongside traders and quantitative teams.
• Improve system reliability, scalability, observability and monitoring capabilities.
• Investigate and resolve production issues, performance bottlenecks and trading platform incidents.
• Support application deployments, testing frameworks and release activities.
• Research exchange behaviour and optimise connectivity through kernel bypass and network performance tuning.
• Collaborate across engineering, trading and operations teams within a fast-paced trading environment.

Skills

C++

Low-latency

Multithreading

Asynchronous programming

Distributed systems

Trading systems

Python

SQL

PowerShell

C#

Kernel bypass

Exchange protocols

Troubleshooting

Analytical problem solving

Tools

FIX protocol

WebSocket

HTTP

Job description

Senior C++ Software Engineer – Trading & Supply

Workload: Full time hours

Setup: PAYE contract inside IR35

Sponsorship: Not Provided

Location: London (3 days onsite)

Our client is seeking a Senior C++ Software Engineer to join a high-performing team developing and enhancing a global algorithmic trading platform supporting exchange-traded derivatives markets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and optimise low-latency, high-performance trading systems in C++.
• Build and maintain exchange connectivity solutions using FIX, WebSocket, HTTP and native exchange protocols.
• Implement and enhance algorithmic trading strategies alongside traders and quantitative teams.
• Improve system reliability, scalability, observability and monitoring capabilities.
• Investigate and resolve production issues, performance bottlenecks and trading platform incidents.
• Support application deployments, testing frameworks and release activities.
• Research exchange behaviour and optimise connectivity through techniques such as kernel bypass and network performance tuning.
• Collaborate across engineering, trading and operations teams within a fast-paced trading environment.

Must-Have Skills:

• 5+ years commercial C++ development experience within financial markets, trading, capital markets or investment banking.
• Strong understanding of exchange-traded derivatives and the full trade lifecycle.
• Experience with global futures exchanges and native exchange protocols.
• Expertise in multithreading, asynchronous programming and distributed systems.
• Strong knowledge of algorithms and data structures.
• Experience with Python, SQL, PowerShell, C# or similar scripting/programming languages.
• Proven experience supporting production trading systems and application deployments.
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical problem-solving capabilities.

Nice-to-Have:

• Experience with kernel bypass and low-latency network optimisation.
• Exposure to Rust or TypeScript.
• Knowledge of exchange SDK integrations.
• Experience working directly with traders and quantitative teams.