Senior C++ Software Engineer – Critical Engineering

About Optiver

Founded in Amsterdam in 1986, Optiver is a prominent global market maker featuring nearly 2,000 employees worldwide. We specialize in supplying liquidity to financial markets, trading instruments such as listed derivatives, cash equities, ETFs, bonds, and foreign currencies using our own capital and risk. Our Sydney office, established in 1996, serves as a key hub for the Asia-Pacific region, actively engaging with exchanges across Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan.

Role Overview

Join the Critical Engineering APAC team in Sydney, responsible for constructing and managing the platforms enabling Optiver's trading operations. Our systems handle vast real-time data volumes, price thousands of instruments, and support millions of trade decisions with safety and determinism. Your role will involve owning systems underlying this platform, including trade lifecycle infrastructure, risk control, and trading-integrity services.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain key components of the APAC trading platform, leading the delivery of important cross-team initiatives.
• Produce robust, low-latency, real-time C++ code supporting large-scale trading services.
• Define and uphold technical direction and architecture within your area of responsibility.
• Collaborate closely with diverse stakeholders to convert business challenges into effective technical solutions.
• Oversee deployment processes to minimize risk and provide necessary production support.
• Ensure system quality through rigorous code reviews, automated testing, and thorough monitoring.
• Champion continuous enhancement efforts by modernizing legacy systems and improving operational workflows.
• Mentor junior engineers, setting high standards and fostering team growth.

Candidate Profile

• Proficient in C++ programming from the outset with solid software engineering expertise.
• Strong foundation in computer science principles including operating systems, algorithms, data structures, and networking.
• Comfortable working within Linux/Unix environments and familiar with at least one scripting language, such as Python.
• Minimum five years’ experience in developing and maintaining production software, with proven results in delivering complex engineering projects.
• Experience encompassing the entire software development life cycle: analysis, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and operational maintenance.
• Demonstrated ability to solve challenging technical problems and deploy solutions for end users.

Preferred Additional Expertise

• Knowledge of distributed systems concepts, monitoring and observability tools, and continuous integration/deployment pipelines.
• Experience creating real-time, low-latency, or high-volume processing systems.
• Familiarity with relational databases or modern data architectures.
• Understanding of trade lifecycles for various financial instruments.
• History of assuming architectural responsibility and influencing technical strategies.
• Experience in DevOps practices including incident management, service-level objectives, and capacity planning.

What You Will Gain

• Participation in a performance-driven bonus program pooling profits across teams and locations to promote collaboration.
• Opportunity to work with a talented, diverse group of colleagues in an innovative and supportive environment.
• Access to ongoing training, mentorship, and growth opportunities tailored to your career development.
• Complimentary daily breakfast and lunch, supported by an in-house barista service.
• Gym membership benefits and weekly onsite chair massages.
• Regular social activities including a biennial company trip.
• Assistance with relocation, including competitive packages and visa sponsorship as required.

Diversity and Inclusion

Optiver prioritizes inclusivity and encourages applicants from all backgrounds. We welcome accommodations during the recruitment process upon request.