Senior KDB+ Engineer (DRWN)

Darwin Recruitment; Devon and Torbay; Hybrid; GBP 129,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is seeking a Senior KDB+/q Engineer for a London-based, freelance assignment. You will design, build and run production KDB+/q platforms, owning delivery end-to-end in a capital markets context.

The role requires independent work, strong client communication, and hands-on architecture experience. The project is 6 months with likely extension, offering partially remote work (2–3 days onsite per week) in London.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on KDB+/q engineering.
• Experience building production KDB architectures.
• Experience in capital markets or hedge funds is a plus.
• Strong Unix/Linux and scripting skills.
• Confident communicator working with client teams.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on engineering of production KDB+/q platforms in a finance environment.
• Design, build and scale KDB architectures and deliver end-to-end solutions.
• Collaborate closely with client-side teams to make an impact from day one.

Skills

KDB+/q

Unix/Linux

Scripting

Client collaboration

Independent worker

Job description

Senior KDB+/q Engineer (DRWN)

Job title - Senior KDB+/q Engineer

Client Location - London, United Kingdom (City or Canary Wharf)

Remote work offering - Partially remote (2 to 3 days onsite a week)

Client Industry - Capital Markets / Investment Banking / Hedge Funds

Contract Length - 6 months (extension likely)

Contract type - Freelance (Outside IR35)

Project focus

Hands-on engineering of production KDB+/q platforms within a financial markets environment. You'll design, build and scale KDB architectures, take ownership of delivery and work closely with client-side teams to make an impact from day one.

Key skills and Experience required

• 7+ years of hands-on KDB+/q engineering
• Solid core KDB fundamentals backed by real engineering delivery
• Proven track record designing, building and scaling KDB architectures in production
• Experience within investment banks, capital markets or hedge funds
• Strong Unix/Linux and scripting skills
• Able to work independently and own deliverables end to end
• Confident communicator with experience working directly alongside client teams

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