C++ Senior Lead Software Engineer Athena Hydra - Vice President

Location: LONDON, LONDON, United Kingdom

Job Family: Software Engineering

About the Role

At JPMorgan Chase, we are at the forefront of financial innovation, and our Corporate & Investment Bank division powers the world's leading financial markets. As a C++ Senior Lead Software Engineer on the Athena Hydra team at the Vice President level, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing our distributed database capabilities that underpin critical trading, risk management, and analytics functions. Athena Hydra is a cornerstone of our technology stack, designed to handle massive datasets with unparalleled speed and reliability in the fast-paced world of global finance. Based in our state-of-the-art London office, you will drive significant business impact by tackling diverse challenges, from optimizing query performance for real-time market data to ensuring seamless scalability during peak trading volumes. In this leadership position, you will spearhead the technical direction for Athena Hydra, collaborating with elite engineers, quantitative analysts, and business stakeholders to deliver robust solutions that support JPMorgan Chase's commitment to client excellence. Your expertise in C++ will be instrumental in architecting low-latency systems that comply with stringent regulatory requirements, such as those from the FCA and MiFID II. You will mentor a high-performing team, foster a culture of innovation, and integrate cutting-edge technologies to evolve our database infrastructure, ultimately contributing to the firm's competitive edge in electronic trading and portfolio management. We value engineers who thrive in dynamic environments and are passionate about solving complex problems that directly influence financial outcomes. Joining JPMorgan Chase means becoming part of a global community dedicated to responsible banking and technological advancement. This role offers unparalleled opportunities for growth, exposure to sophisticated financial systems, and the chance to make a lasting impact on how the world conducts business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of the Athena Hydra distributed database to support high-volume financial transactions
• Drive architectural decisions for scalability, reliability, and performance in low-latency trading environments
• Mentor and guide a team of senior engineers, fostering innovation and best practices in C++ development
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including traders, quants, and compliance to align technical solutions with business needs
• Implement and maintain robust testing frameworks to ensure system integrity in a 24/7 financial operations setting
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues in production systems, minimizing downtime for critical risk management functions
• Contribute to the evolution of Athena Hydra by incorporating emerging technologies like machine learning for data optimization
• Ensure adherence to regulatory standards and security protocols specific to the financial services industry
• Participate in code reviews, technical documentation, and knowledge sharing within the global engineering community

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with at least 5 years in C++ development
• Proven track record leading engineering teams in building and maintaining high-performance distributed systems
• Deep expertise in database systems, particularly distributed databases like Athena Hydra
• Strong understanding of financial services technology, including low-latency trading systems and risk management platforms
• Experience with agile methodologies and CI/CD pipelines in a regulated environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science with focus on distributed systems or databases
• Prior experience at a major financial institution, such as developing trading or risk platforms
• Familiarity with JPMorgan Chase's Athena platform and its integration with Hydra
• Contributions to open-source projects involving C++ or distributed computing
• Certifications in cloud technologies (e.g., AWS) or financial compliance (e.g., FINRA)

Required Skills

• Expert-level C++ programming (C++11/14/17 standards)
• Distributed systems design and implementation
• Database optimization and query performance tuning
• Low-latency system development for financial applications
• Leadership and team management in agile environments
• Problem-solving in high-stakes, real-time scenarios
• Knowledge of concurrency, multithreading, and parallel processing
• Experience with version control (e.g., Git) and build tools (e.g., CMake)
• Understanding of financial protocols and risk modeling
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS) and containerization (e.g., Docker)
• Proficiency in debugging tools and performance profiling
• Adaptability to regulatory changes in banking
• Analytical thinking for complex data structures

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and performance-based annual bonus
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Generous 401(k) matching and pension plan contributions
• Paid time off including vacation, sick leave, and parental leave
• Professional development opportunities through JPMorgan's internal training programs and tuition reimbursement
• Employee stock purchase plan and financial wellness resources
• Hybrid work model with flexibility for work-life balance in London
• Access to global mobility programs and career advancement paths within JPMorgan Chase

JP Morgan Chase is an equal opportunity employer.