Senior Software Engineer – Automated Trading Systems

Much has changed since our early days as floor traders at the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. Today, Optiver leverages technology to solve a variety of complex problems: optimising for scarce bandwidth, responding to market events with nanosecond speed, automatically pricing complex sets of financial instruments with extremely low error tolerance, and analysing huge volumes of data. Our systems are built to add to the stability of the market, not detract from it; therefore they must operate at peak efficiency in the most extreme market conditions. To achieve this, our user interfaces must present coherent, responsive, real-time visualisations of market activity and system performance while providing intuitive control of a highly complex system. The atmosphere we work in is fast, but incredibly exciting. This makes Technology at Optiver a great challenge in which expertise, innovation and fun go hand-in-hand every day.

WHO WE ARE:

Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 50+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates.

Our Amsterdam office is where it all began. Over 35 years ago, Optiver’s business started with a single trader on the floor of Amsterdam’s European Stock Exchange. Since our 1986 founding, Optiver’s Amsterdam office has grown into one of the most dynamic and exciting trading floors in Europe. Our culture reflects the Dutch capital city’s progressive, innovative and inclusive nature. With its unique spirit, Amsterdam is the ideal hub for our teams to trade a wide range of products from listed derivatives to cash equities, ETFs, bonds and foreign exchange. 

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

As part of our Trading Technology Team, you'll be responsible for the full stack of applications required to run the trading business. Activities range from developing ultra-low-latency exchange protocol encoders and decoders, writing and fine-tuning our automated trading strategies, to helping our monitoring and analysis effort by creating and extending user interfaces to provide the Traders with more information and control. You'll interact closely with Traders and Researchers to understand the business needs and design effective solutions. Sitting in the heart of the action on our trading floor – one of the most dynamic you will be amidst the action and get instant feedback on the results of your work. 

In this video, you can watch Dovile Vitonyte and David Gross, both Software Engineers at Optiver, describe what Engineering entails within an electronic trading firm and what you need to join our Trading Technology Team.

WHO YOU ARE:

• Mastery of one or more OOP languages (e.g. C++, C# or Java)
• 4+ years of experience in Industry (doesn't require experience in Finance)
• The ability and desire to write simple and clean code
• A solid grasp of computer science, algorithms, memory-, and concurrency models, CPU-architecture, operating systems, relational databases, etc.
• An entrepreneurial attitude and interest in the financial industry
• An ambition to stay on top of things and keep improving

WHAT YOU'LL GET:

• The chance to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries.
• Our performance based bonus structure is unmatched anywhere in the industry. We combine our profits across desks, teams and offices into a global profit pool fostering a truly collaborative environment to work in.

Alongside this you will get great secondary benefits such as 25 paid vacation days, fully paid first-class commuting expenses, training opportunities, discounts on health insurance, breakfast and lunch facilities, sports and leisure activities, Friday afternoon drinks and even weekly in-house chair massages.

Being highly international, we are accustomed to guiding expats through their relocation, offering competitive relocation packages and providing visa sponsorship where necessary.

HOW TO APPLY:

Apply directly via the form below for the position of Software Engineer – Automated Trading Systems. Please provide us with a CV and letter of motivation in English. Applications without a letter of motivation will not be reviewed. When we think there is a potential match, you will hear from us sooner than you expect. If you have any questions feel free to contact our Recruiter Tommy Smith via tommysmith@optiver.com. Please note, we cannot accept applications via email for data protection reasons.

Please note, if you are selected from your application to proceed to the next round for the position of Software Engineer – Automated Trading Systems you will be required to take an online assessment.

Kindly note that we do not require any assistance from third-parties including agencies in the recruitment of this role.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

As an intentionally flat organization, we believe that great ideas and impact can come from everyone. We are passionate about empowering individuals and creating diverse teams that thrive. Every person at Optiver should feel included, valued and respected, because we believe our best work is done together.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is hardwired through every stage of our hiring process. We encourage applications from candidates from any and all backgrounds, and we welcome requests for reasonable adjustments during the process to ensure that you can best demonstrate your abilities.

More information on how Optiver Europe processes your personal data can be found in our Privacy Policy.