Senior Java Developer - Smart Order Routing (SOR) - Equities Electronic Trading

Citi; Jersey City (NJ); On-site; USD 142,000 - 213,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k)

Life, disability insurance

Wellness programs

Job summary

Citi in Jersey City, New Jersey seeks a VP-level Smart Order Router Developer to design, develop and optimize our core low-latency execution platform within Equities Electronic Trading. You will spearhead high-performance Java microservices, implement complex routing logic, and collaborate with product, quantitative researchers, and other technology teams to advance market-leading trading capabilities.

You will drive testing, CI/CD and deployment practices to ensure best execution, robust

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in high-performance, low-latency systems.
• Expert Core Java, JVM tuning and memory management knowledge.
• Proven experience designing automated trading systems, especially SOR.
• Familiarity with FIX protocol and market data handling.

Responsibilities

• Take a leading role in the design, development, and optimization of high-performance, low-latency microservices and applications, focusing on the Smart Order Router.
• Implement and enhance complex routing logic, venue analysis models, and performance optimizations for best execution and stability.
• Lead technical design discussions, and conduct rigorous code reviews to uphold quality and architectural standards.
• Partner with product, quantitative researchers, and other tech teams to deliver new trading capabilities.
• Drive CI/CD, testing improvements, and deployment processes in a low-latency environment.
• Analyze business requirements and system processes to resolve complex technical challenges.
• Apply deep knowledge of system architecture, data flow, and development standards for coding, testing, and debugging.
• Build and maintain monitoring, reconciliation, and recovery solutions for the trading platform.

Skills

Low-latency systems

Core Java

Automated trading

FIX protocol

Microservices

CI/CD

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Solace

AMPS

Chronicle

Ansible

Job description

What We do / The Team

Equities Technology at Citi is undertaking a bold, multi-year transformation to build a best-in-class global platform across execution, prime, clearing and cross-product margining. We are re-engineering our technology estate to achieve world-leading performance and resiliency, enabling new capabilities in advanced execution, global market connectivity, and modernized post-trade, clearing and margin processes. Our ambition is to deliver a seamlessly integrated, highly automated platform that drives outstanding client outcomes and accelerates growth across our global franchise. As part of the team, you'll collaborate closely with high-calibre engineers and deeply engaged business and product partners - working together to define and deliver the next generation of Equities technology at Citi.

Role Overview/What will you do:

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Smart Order Router (SOR) Developer to join our Equities Electronic Trading team. This is a VP-level position responsible for the design, development, and optimization of our core low-latency execution platform. The overall objective of this role is to drive the technical implementation and innovation of our SOR, a critical component of our electronic trading infrastructure, utilizing modern, high-performance Java and microservices architecture.

• Take a leading role in the design, development, and optimization of high-performance, low-latency microservices and applications, with a primary focus on the Smart Order Router.
• Implement and enhance complex routing logic, venue analysis models, and performance optimizations to ensure best execution and system stability.
• Participate in and lead technical design discussions and conduct rigorous code reviews to ensure the highest standards of quality, performance, and architectural integrity.
• Partner with product development, quantitative researchers, and other technology teams to deliver new trading capabilities and enhance existing systems.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in testing frameworks, development tools, and deployment processes for our low-latency and high-throughput environment.
• Resolve complex technical challenges through in-depth analysis of business requirements, system processes, and industry best practices.
• Apply expert knowledge of system architecture, data flow, and development standards for coding, testing, debugging, and implementation.
• Build and maintain robust solutions for trading platform monitoring, trade reconciliation, and application recovery.
• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency.

Key Skills and Experience required:

• Hands-on experience in software development with a strong focus on high-performance, low-latency systems.
• Expert-level technical knowledge in Core Java, including a deep understanding of JVM internals, concurrency, garbage collection, and memory management in a low-latency context.
• Proven experience designing and developing automated trading systems, specifically with Smart Order Routers in Equities or other similar financial domains.
• Solid understanding of financial market protocols (e.g., FIX) and practical experience handling order and market datasets.
• Experience with microservices architecture and developing distributed systems.
• Demonstrable experience with modern testing frameworks, Agile methodologies, and Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) processes.
• Excellent communication skills with a demonstrable ability to present and grasp complex technical and business concepts.
• Familiarity with messaging and data grid technologies (e.g., Solace, AMPS, Chronicle) and infrastructure automation tools (e.g., Ansible) is a plus.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree/University degree

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Job Family Group: Technology

Job Family: Applications Development

Time Type: Full time

Primary Location: Jersey City New Jersey United States

Primary Location Full Time Salary Range: $142,320.00 - $213,480.00

In addition to salary, Citi's offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.

Most Relevant Skills: Please see the requirements listed above.

Other Relevant Skills: For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

Anticipated Posting Close Date: Sept 23, 2026

Automated Processing and AI

We use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi.

Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision-making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details.

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