Front Office Java Developer - Vice President

PowerToFly; New York (NY); On-site; USD 155,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan Stanley's Technology division seeks a senior software engineer at the VP level to design, develop and maintain trading systems in the Agency department. You will collaborate with product leads, apply strong technical judgment, and deliver high‑quality software in a fast‑moving environment.

Responsibilities include triage, fixes, performance improvements, and clear communication with front‑office users.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience is typically expected for this role.
• Strong technical judgment and ownership in delivering high‑quality software.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with product leads across the technology organization about opportunities to improve existing and future technology solutions.
• Design, develop, review, test, and improve software in complex existing systems.
• Learn new languages and technologies as needed and use AI coding tools where appropriate.
• Work directly with front‑office users in a fast‑moving trading environment.
• Familiarity with relational databases and SQL.

Skills

q/kdb

Java

Scala

C++

Python

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering

Job description

In the Technology division, we leverage innovation to build the connections and capabilities that power our Firm, enabling our clients and colleagues to redefine markets and shape the future of our communities. This is a Software Engineering position at the Vice President level, which is part of the job family responsible for developing and maintaining software solutions that support business needs.

Morgan Stanley is an industry leader in financial services, known for mobilizing capital to help governments, corporations, institutions, and individuals around the world achieve their financial goals.

Interested in joining a team that’s eager to create, innovate and make an impact on the world? Read on.

We’re seeking someone to join our Agency department within FICFX. This is a senior hands‑on role requiring strong technical judgment, independent execution, clear communication, and ownership. The role includes product support for time‑sensitive Agency trading systems, where issues often require quick triage, clear trader communication, and follow‑through on fixes or stability improvements. The right candidate will bring a solid engineering foundation, learn new technologies and business workflows as needed, and take responsibility for high‑quality delivery in a fast‑moving trading environment.

What you’ll do in the role:

• Communicate regularly with product leads across the technology organization and discuss opportunities for improvement to existing and future technology solutions.

• Experience with at least two of the following, with willingness to learn additional technologies as needed: q/kdb, Java, Scala, C++, Python.

• Strong engineering fundamentals, with the ability to design, develop, review, test, and improve software in complex existing systems.

• Ability to learn new languages, technologies, code bases, and business workflows, including through creative use of AI coding tools.

• Strong ownership, communication, and problem‑solving skills.

• Ability to work directly with front‑office users and operate effectively in a fast‑moving environment.

• Familiarity with relational databases and SQL.

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Ability to effectively manage multiple functions or guide junior staff and initiatives.

• Advanced understanding of business line and discipline with some knowledge of competitive environment and other disciplines.

• Knowledge of Agency MBS products, especially TBA or specified pool trading.

• Familiarity with Agency pass‑through pricing, analytics, pool characteristics, adjacent Agency products, or hedging workflows.

• Experience with q/kdb, real‑time data, distributed systems, shell scripting, databases, Agile delivery, or DevOps tooling.

• Experience working across backend, UI, or data‑oriented systems in a front‑office environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

• At least 10 years’ relevant experience would generally be expected to find the skills required for this role.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work‑life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

To learn more about our offices across the globe, please copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices into your browser.

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $155,000 and $215,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long‑term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross‑section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

For more information, please visit: https://www.morganstanley.com/people-opportunities/eeo.