Head of High-Frequency Market Data Engineering

Two Sigma; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & dental insurance

401k with company match

Life & disability insurance

Onsite gym

Tuition reimbursement

Generous time off

Hybrid work policy

Job summary

Two Sigma is seeking a senior leader to own the market data engineering function for its hedge fund and market-making businesses. You will define the multi-year roadmap, drive end-to-end architecture for ultra-low-latency data, and oversee global exchange connectivity, leveraging FPGA acceleration and time-series storage expertise.

The role requires building and mentoring a top-tier engineering team, with strong C++ performance focus and Python support for research interfaces.

Qualifications

• Experience leading market data or low-latency engineering teams.
• Expertise in C++ for performance-critical, low-latency systems and Python for research surfaces.
• Experience with exchange connectivity, feed handlers, and market data protocols.
• Knowledge of hardware-accelerated solutions (FPGA) and clock synchronization (PTP).

Responsibilities

• Define and own the multi-year roadmap for market data engineering, balancing latency, coverage, cost, and resilience.
• Own end-to-end architecture for tick data capture, normalization, and internal distribution.
• Oversee direct exchange and venue connectivity across global markets.
• Lead deep technical work on low-level tick data constructs and storage strategies across asset classes.
• Build, mentor, and retain a high-caliber engineering organization with strong C++ standards.

Skills

Leadership

C++ (latency)

Python

Exchange connectivity

FPGA hardware

Time-series storage

Job description

Position Summary

Two Sigma is a leading quantitative investment management and trading firm. The company applies a scientific approach to investing, combining cutting‑edge technology, artificial intelligence, data science, and quantitative research with rigorous human inquiry to capitalize on market opportunities and deliver alpha for investors. Our team of engineers, quantitative researchers, and data scientists looks beyond the traditional to test hypotheses and develop creative solutions to some of the world’s most complex economic problems. We’re seeking someone to lead the high‑frequency market data engineering function supporting our hedge fund and market‑making businesses. This is a senior technical leadership role accountable for the strategy, architecture, and execution of the firm’s market data platform—from the wire to the strategy, and from live order book construction through long‑term historical storage. The successful candidate will own the full lifecycle of ultra‑low‑latency data consumption, normalization, distribution, and storage across asset classes, and will partner closely with portfolio managers, quantitative researchers, and trading desks whose requirements are demanding, diverse, and constantly evolving.

You Will Take On The Following Responsibilities

• Vision and Strategy: Define and own the multi‑year roadmap for market data engineering, balancing latency, coverage, cost, and resilience
• Execution and Delivery: Convert strategy into delivered systems with clear milestones and measurable latency and reliability targets and own the end‑to‑end architecture for tick data capture, book building, normalization, and internal distribution
• Exchange Connectivity: Oversee direct exchange and venue connectivity across global markets
• Tick Data and Book Construction: Provide deep technical leadership on low‑level tick data constructs: full order book building, level 1/2/3 reconstruction, sequencing and recovery semantics, timestamping accuracy, and the nuances that differ across asset classes
• Hardware and Capture Methodology: Be closely involved with the strategy for hardware‑accelerated solutions and precision packet capture – FPGA‑based feed handling, NICs and kernel‑by‑pass stacks, hardware timestamping, PTP/clock synchronization, and capture device selection
• Storage and Data Management: Own the strategy and architecture for market data storage end to end
• Engineering Leadership: Build, mentor, and retain a high‑caliber engineering organization. Set technical standards, raise the bar on C++ and systems engineering quality, and develop the next layer of leadership

You Should Possess The Following Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading market data or low‑latency engineering functions in a hedge fund, proprietary trading, market‑making, or exchange/HFT environment, with proven ability to both create and execute technical vision and strategy
• Expertise in C++ for performance‑critical, low‑latency systems and others such as Python for the research‑facing surface
• Experience with exchange connectivity: feed handlers, market data protocols, recovery and arbitration, and colocation operations and proven vendor management experience
• Deep knowledge of low‑level tick data constructs: order book building, sequencing, packet capture devices and methodologies, and asset‑class‑specific data semantics
• Experience designing and scaling storage and time‑series data solutions for high‑volume market data
• Demonstrated success building and leading senior engineering teams along with working through complex and varying user requirements
• Demonstrated experience with hardware‑accelerated solutions – FPGA‑based feed handling, kernel‑by‑pass networking, hardware timestamping, and clock synchronization (PTP)

You Will Enjoy The Following Benefits

• Core Benefits: Fully paid medical and dental insurance premiums for employees and dependents, competitive 401k match, employer‑paid life & disability insurance
• Perks: Onsite gyms with laundry service, wellness activities, casual dress, snacks, game rooms
• Learning: Tuition reimbursement, conference and training sponsorship
• Time Off: Generous vacation and unlimited sick days, competitive paid caregiver leaves
• Hybrid Work Policy: Flexible in‑office days with budget for home office setup

The base pay for this role will be between $250,000 and $325,000. This role may also be eligible for other forms of compensation and benefits, such as a discretionary bonus, health, dental and other wellness plans and 401(k) contributions. Discretionary bonus can be a significant portion of total compensation. Actual compensation for successful candidates will be carefully determined based on a number of factors, including their skills, qualifications and experience.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Two Sigma is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. If you believe you need an accommodation, please visit our website for additional information.