Senior Java Developer (Smart Order Router (SOR)) – Equities Electronic Trading
Engineer the future of global finance. At Citi, our Tech team doesn’t just support finance – we are helping to redefine it. Every day, $5 trillion crosses through our network.
Overview
Equities Technology at Citi is undergoing 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 modernised 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.
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.
Benefits
- 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
- A discretionary annual performance related bonus
- Private Medical Care & Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Pension Plan
- Paid Parental Leave
- Special discounts for employees, family and friends
- Access to an array of learning and development resources
Equal Opportunity
Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity, accessibility at Citi. View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.
