Senior C++ Engineer (Hedge Fund)

Robert Half Hong Kong Limited; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Robert Half Hong Kong Limited is representing a premier crypto proprietary trading firm and hedge fund in Hong Kong. The role centers on designing, building, and maintaining low-latency C++ components for real-time market data processing, order execution, and high-throughput systems.

You will lead architecture discussions, optimize performance across CPU and memory, and mentor engineers while collaborating with traders, researchers, and product managers to deliver mission-critical trading

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in C++ system-level development (modern C++17/20 preferred).
• Proven track record architecting low-latency, high-throughput distributed trading systems.
• Deep understanding of threading models, memory layout, cache coherence, and CPU architecture optimisations.
• Advanced proficiency with Linux profiling and debugging toolchains (perf, gdb, valgrind, sanitizers).
• Solid knowledge of networking stack optimisation and protocols (TCP/UDP, kernel bypass, WebSockets).
• Experience with event-driven architectures and messaging queues/brokers (ZeroMQ, Kafka).
• Demonstrated technical leadership with design sessions, specs, and mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain low-latency C++ components for real-time market data processing and order execution.
• Lead system architecture decisions focusing on memory layout, concurrency, and IPC.
• Collaborate with backend/frontend teams to define robust API contracts and system boundaries.
• Identify latency bottlenecks and drive performance optimisations across CPU, memory, and networking layers.
• Partner with traders, researchers, and product managers to enhance mission-critical trading apps.
• Promote code quality via rigorous reviews and modern C++ best practices.
• Mentor junior engineers in system design and low-latency techniques.
• Stay ahead of industry trends in low-latency infrastructure and hardware acceleration.

Skills

C++

Low-latency systems

Distributed trading systems

Linux profiling

Networking protocols

Event-driven architectures

Technical leadership

Communication

Tools

Perf

GDB

Valgrind

AddressSanitizer

ThreadSanitizer

ZeroMQ

Kafka

Job description

Our client is a premier crypto proprietary trading firm and hedge fund. It combines research-driven discretionary and systematic trading strategies with strategic long‑term investments, emphasising relentless iteration, strict risk management, high‑frequency execution, and alpha generation.

The Role

• Core Systems Development: Design, build, and maintain low‑latency, high‑performance C++ components for real‑time market data processing, event handling, and order execution.
• Architecture & Design: Lead system architecture decisions with a focus on memory layout, concurrency models, fault tolerance/error recovery, and high‑efficiency inter‑process communication (IPC).
• API & Service Integration: Collaborate across cross‑functional backend and frontend teams to define robust API contracts and clear system boundaries.
• Performance & Optimisation: Identify latency bottlenecks, conduct deep system profiling, and drive continuous optimisation across CPU cache, memory, and networking layers.
• Business Collaboration: Partner closely with traders, quantitative researchers, and product managers to understand, design, and enhance mission‑critical trading applications.
• Engineering Excellence: Drive code quality through rigorous code reviews, emphasizing correctness, low overhead, maintainability, and modern C++ best practices.
• Mentorship & Ownership: Mentor junior and mid‑level engineers in system design patterns and low‑latency C++, fostering a strong culture of technical ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Domain Innovation: Stay ahead of industry trends in low‑latency infrastructure, hardware acceleration, and ultra‑fast trading technologies.

Your Profile

• 5+ years of professional experience in C++ system‑level development (modern C++17/20 preferred).
• Low‑Latency & High‑Throughput: Proven track record architecting and deploying low‑latency, high‑throughput, and fault‑tolerant distributed trading systems.
• Systems & Hardware Awareness: Deep understanding of threading models, lock‑free/wait‑free data structures, memory layout, cache coherence, and CPU architecture optimisations.
• Profiling & Debugging: Advanced proficiency with Linux profiling and debugging toolchains (e.g., perf, gdb, valgrind, Address/Thread Sanitizers).
• Networking Protocols: Solid working knowledge of networking stack optimisation and protocols (e.g., TCP, UDP, Kernel Bypass, WebSockets).
• Messaging & Architecture: Practical experience with event‑driven architectures, asynchronous processing, and messaging queues/brokers (e.g., ZeroMQ, Kafka, or custom IPC protocols).
• Technical Leadership: Experience leading architectural design sessions, writing comprehensive technical spec documents, and mentoring engineering teams.
• Communication: Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to bridge technical requirements across trading desks, backend, and frontend teams.

Reference Number: 67010-0013491171