Engineering Manager, Trading Backend & AI

Kraken; Ireland; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Kraken is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead a team responsible for core trading backend services, including the matching engine and data gateways. You will guide modernization efforts, stay hands-on when needed, and drive performance and data quality across the stack.

You will collaborate with product and other engineering pods, promoting AI-driven improvements and delivering on ambitious timelines in a global, open-finance environment.

Qualifications

• Experience managing engineering teams, with a preference for managers who stay technically engaged rather than purely administrative
• Prior hands-on experience in Linux-based distributed/highly-concurrent systems or low-latency/high-volume transaction environments
• Proficiency in Rust and/or C++, comfortable in a team split across C++, Rust, Go, and Python
• Demonstrated knowledge of order types, trading systems, and financial products
• Experience with Aeron or similar messaging/transport systems a strong plus
• Comfort with multicast-based market data distribution a plus
• Cryptocurrency/blockchain familiarity highly preferable
• Proactive mindset with the ability to prioritize across a technically deep team and adhere to aggressive deadlines
• BS in a technical or quantitative field

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a team of 8-10 engineers owning core trading backend services, including the matching engine, market data gateways, and order entry systems
• Guide the team through the ongoing evolution of our trading stack, from legacy systems to their modern replacements
• Stay technically close enough to the stack to unblock, review, and contribute to architecture discussions across matching engine, market data, and order entry work with ability to jump in and assist with coding
• Champion performance and market data work as top priorities, while also supporting the team's broader technical scope
• Bring AI-assisted engineering practices into the team's workflow and help engineers adopt them
• Partner cross-functionally with product and other engineering pods to drive roadmap execution
• Represent the team technically with peer teams and stakeholders, communicating tradeoffs and progress clearly

Skills

Team management

Rust/C++

Linux systems

Aeron messaging

Go

Python

Trading systems

Cryptocurrency familiarity

Multitask prioritization

Education

BS in technical/quantitative field

Tools

Rust

C++

Go

Python

Aeron

Job description

Kraken is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead a team responsible for core trading backend services, including the matching engine and data gateways. You will guide modernization efforts, stay hands-on when needed, and drive performance and data quality across the stack.

You will collaborate with product and other engineering pods, promoting AI-driven improvements and delivering on ambitious timelines in a global, open-finance environment.