Senior Java / AWS Developer - compensation up to GBP 150k-230k

Ambition; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

High levels of ownership

Strong team environment

Job summary

Ambition is looking for a Software Engineer to design and build high-performance systems for live trading environments. This role involves creating scalable solutions for complex risk calculations and collaborating closely with risk managers and quantitative analysts.

Ideal candidates will have over 8 years of experience, strong foundations in computer science, and expertise in Java and related technologies. Competitive compensation and growth potential are offered.

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years’ experience in a software engineering role.
• Strong Computer Science fundamentals in data structures and algorithms.
• Experience with multi-threaded and distributed systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and build low-latency, high-performance systems.
• Architect scalable solutions for complex risk calculations.
• Collaborate with risk managers and quants on technical solutions.

Skills

Software engineering

Java

Microservices

SQL

Analytical mindset

Problem solving

Cloud exposure

Linux

Education

Master’s degree or strong academic background

Tools

AWS

Kubernetes

Redis

NoSQL technologies

Job description

This is an opportunity to work at the heart of a world‑class investment platform where risk, technology, and quantitative thinking intersect in real time. You’ll be building and owning systems that directly support portfolio managers and senior risk leaders, in an environment that values engineering excellence, speed, and thoughtful design. If you enjoy solving complex problems, working close to the business, and seeing your work used every day in high‑stakes decision‑making, this role offers both intellectual challenge and real impact.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Design and build low‑latency, high‑performance systems used in live trading environments
• Architect scalable solutions that support complex risk calculations across asset classes
• Work closely with risk managers, quants, and technologists to translate real‑world problems into elegant technical solutions
• Drive engineering best practices to improve reliability, performance, and scalability

What We’re Looking For

• 8–10+ years’ experience as a software engineer in a fast‑paced, production environment
• Strong Computer Science fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, system design)
• Commercial experience with Java, modern microservices, and the Spring ecosystem
• Solid SQL skills and experience working with large datasets
• A strong analytical mindset and a genuine interest in solving hard problems
• Comfortable working with ownership, autonomy, and responsibility
• Master’s degree or strong academic background
• Experience with multi‑threaded and distributed systems
• Cloud and modern infrastructure exposure (AWS, Kubernetes, Redis)
• Messaging systems, service‑oriented architecture, or event‑driven design
• CI/CD pipelines, testing frameworks, and production monitoring tools
• Strong Linux experience and exposure to NoSQL technologies

What’s on Offer

• Work on mission‑critical systems
• High levels of ownership and visibility
• A technically strong, intellectually curious team
• Competitive compensation and strong long‑term growth potential