VP, C++ Developer (Market Access)
Job Description:
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Senior C++ Developer (VP level) to join our Market Access Technology team at a leading global financial institution in Hong Kong. This is a high-impact role within our front-office trading infrastructure, responsible for designing and maintaining the systems that connect directly to global exchanges and deliver real-time market data to our trading desks.
This is a hands-on, senior position where you will act as both a technical architect and a mentor within a team of 10 C++ engineers. You will design, develop, and optimize market connectivity solutions, pre-trade risk systems, internal matching engines, and position inventory management tools—all built with a focus on high-performance, low-latency, and resiliency.
This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of mission-critical systems that directly impact the firm's electronic trading business across APAC.
What You Will Do
- Drive Technical Strategy & Architecture: Lead architectural decisions for the entire market access stack, including network infrastructure, colocation setup, and system optimization—ensuring high-performance, low-latency, and resilient distributed systems.
- Build High-Performance Exchange Connectivity: Develop and maintain direct exchange connections for market data and order execution—working with proprietary exchange protocols and standard messaging formats such as FIX.
- Provide Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Guide and mentor junior engineers, conduct code reviews, set engineering standards, and promote best-practice development across the team.
- Drive Continuous Delivery & Automation: Build automated tests and enhance tooling for automated builds and deployments, supporting the team's Continuous Delivery approach.
- Collaborate with Trading Desks & Stakeholders: Partner with traders, quant researchers, and infrastructure teams to understand business requirements and deliver robust, reusable solutions.
- Troubleshoot & Optimize Complex Systems: Investigate and resolve production issues, optimize system performance, and ensure 24/7 reliability of market access systems.
What We Look For In You
Essential Requirements:
- 10+ years of relevant experience building trading systems, market connectivity, or market data platforms—whether at an investment bank, proprietary trading firm, buy-side institution, or crypto trading firm.
- Deep expertise in C++ development with solid experience across C++11/14/17/20 (or later), including multi-threading, concurrency, and template metaprogramming.
- Strong Linux systems knowledge with hands-on experience in network programming, socket programming, and low-level infrastructure.
- Proven experience building market connectivity systems with direct exchange integration—including knowledge of exchange proprietary protocols, FIX, or other market data/order execution protocols.
- Architectural mindset—able to make strategic technical decisions, design resilient distributed systems, and contribute to infrastructure planning (including colocation setup).
- Leadership and mentoring capabilities—experience mentoring junior developers, conducting code reviews, and setting engineering standards.
- Excellent communication skills in English, with the ability to collaborate effectively with trading desks, infrastructure teams, and global stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications (Not Mandatory):
- Experience with C++20/23 and modern metaprogramming techniques
- Knowledge of network adapters, CPU architectures, and kernel-bypass solutions
- Python scripting skills for automation and tooling
- Previous experience in a front-office trading environment
- Understanding of market microstructure, exchange behavior, and order book dynamics
Required Skills:
Environment Dynamics Performance APAC Messaging Data Connectivity Inventory Access Development Trading Ownership Reviews Mentoring Business Requirements Reliability Architecture Developers Infrastructure Inventory Management Automation Communication Skills Programming Strategy C++ Linux Planning Design Engineering Business English Python Leadership Communication Management