Senior KDB+ Engineer (DRWN)

Darwin Recruitment; South Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 111,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is seeking a Senior KDB+/q Engineer for a 6-month freelance engagement in London. The role requires hands-on experience with production KDB+/q platforms, ownership of end-to-end delivery, and close collaboration with client teams in a capital markets context.

Ideal candidates will have 7+ years of KDB+/q engineering, strong Unix/Linux and scripting skills, and a track record in investment banks or hedge funds. Partially remote with 2–3 days onsite weekly.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on KDB+/q engineering.
• Strong Unix/Linux and scripting skills.
• Proven delivery of KDB architectures in production.
• Experience with investment banks, capital markets or hedge funds.
• Ability to work independently and own end-to-end deliverables.
• Confident communicator working with client teams.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on engineering of production KDB+/q platforms.
• Design, build and scale KDB architectures in production.
• Own delivery and coordinate with client-side teams.

Skills

KDB+/q

Unix/Linux

Scripting

Client facing

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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