Durlston Partners

We’re working with a crypto trading firm which prides itself on having some of the most high performance trading infrastructure in the industry. Sure, there are limits to how fast the orders can reach an exchange but this team has future-proofed its infra all the same. 

So what skills do these engineers have and what would they like you to share expertise in?

They’ve come from firms where the work they did was measured in nanos, not micros and typically have the following skills:

Optimising hardware for performance (CPU / GPU).

• Can you leverage SIMD and multiple cores?

Exceptional memory management skills.

• Would you know why reference-counted smart pointers (e.g., std::shared_ptr) still lead to memory leaks?

Networking skills which reduce OS kernel involvement for direct hardware access. 

• When comparing RDMA and DPDK; which one is your go-to for HFT?

The team has not lost any Engineers since they joined the team. What does this tell us? They are paid market-leading compensation and the work they do is intellectually stimulating enough, that they don’t need to go elsewhere for the most fun challenges in crypto trading.

Prior experience in HFT is heavily preferred but if you have a strong track record solving these problems outside of that niche, you may still have a shot!

Work authorisation in Singapore and the US will be required. Sponsorship is available for exceptional candidates to relocate to the UK.

Imagine joining a team of elite engineers, quants, and traders at the forefront of digital asset trading. This is your chance to step into an all-hands-on-deck start-up environment where cutting-edge technology meets high-performance finance.

This company, backed by some of the world’s most renowned VCs, is on a mission to redefine liquidity provisioning in the digital asset space. Their proprietary high-frequency trading (HFT) technology, built with advanced machine learning and stochastic control, gives them an edge in both centralized and decentralized markets. Now, they’re scaling their technology across the full crypto infrastructure value chain, and they need you to help make it happen.

The Role: Fullstack Engineer

In the first six months, you’ll be fully immersed, working side-by-side with traders and developers, delivering quick, high-impact solutions. This isn’t just about writing code, it’s about architecting and optimizing the very foundations of the company’s trading and infrastructure.

• Build and connect – Develop internal tools, improve trading infrastructure, and create seamless integrations across trading, finance, and compliance.
• Move fast, think smart – Tackle immediate deliverables while laying the groundwork for scalable, long-term solutions.
• Sit with the traders – Work directly with the Head of OTC Trading, a seasoned pro with a background in FX and traditional finance, who moves fast and provides direct feedback.
• Shape the company’s future – In a team of just 15, everyone plays a pivotal role. Your contributions will be visible and impactful from day one.

What You Bring:

• Must-have: Python (core backend; this isn’t a web dev role) & JavaScript
• Big plus: AWS and Pulumi / GUI development experience
• Good to have: Some C++ exposure
• Education: A strong academic background in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Mindset matters: Entrepreneurial. Proactive. Ready to own problems and build solutions. This isn’t for someone who waits for direction, you’ll thrive if you take initiative and love a challenge.

Why Join?

• Work with an elite team of builders and innovators in an ultra-fast-moving space.
• Direct access to leadership, no red tape, just execution.
• A once-in-a-career opportunity to shape a company’s trajectory in a high-growth industry.

This is an urgent hire, the team needs this person now. If you’re ready to dive in and build the future of digital asset trading, let’s talk.

Apply now! If you don’t receive a response within three days, unfortunately, your application has not been successful.

A crypto trading firm is on the lookout for Python Software Engineers to join their dynamic team. Specialising in quantitative trading, this firm is empowering blockchain projects and traditional financial institutions to thrive.

As a Python Software Engineer, you’ll work alongside developers, traders, and quantitative researchers on high impact projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain systems for trading data, automated settlements, and real-time reconciliation.
• Work with cross-functional teams to enhance infrastructure and data systems.
• Ensure performance, scalability, and reliability of services.

Looking For

• 2+ years of Python experience and familiarity with C++ is a bonus.
• Experience with SQL databases and Linux.

If you’re a proactive, passionate developer with an interest in crypto, we want to hear from you! We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and value potential over experience, if you’re eager to learn, we’re here to support you.

Note: If you don’t hear back within 3 days, your application was unfortunately not successful.

A top Crypto Quant fund (backed by TradFi) is looking to hire a Quantitative Researcher to spearhead their Execution research function. This is a unique opportunity to be the first dedicated hire in this area, with the potential to shape and lead execution strategies and infrastructure.

Role Overview

As the Execution Quantitative Researcher, you will play a pivotal role in establishing and advancing execution research efforts. This is an exciting opportunity to be the inaugural hire in this domain, allowing you to define and lead our execution strategies from the ground up and learn on the job.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy Development: Create and enhance execution strategies aimed at capitalising on new alpha signals over various time frames, ranging from seconds to hours.
• Slippage Minimisation: Optimise order placement and scheduling techniques to effectively reduce slippage during trades.
• Market Impact Modeling: Develop comprehensive market impact models and seamlessly integrate them into the portfolio optimisation framework.
• Backtesting Validation: Leverage internal trading data to validate and improve backtesting engines, ensuring robust performance analysis.
• Collaborative Research: Work closely with fellow researchers to contribute to the overall development of trading strategies and methodologies

Qualifications and Skills

• 2-8 years in Quant trading and Execution Research
• Strong background in market microstructure analysis, transaction cost analysis (TCA), and simulator design
• Proficient in Python; C++ knowledge is a plus
• Familiarity with utility function design, rules-based logic for order execution, and multi-period optimization preferred
• Advanced degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics)
• Crypto trading experience is a plus but not required

Work remotely and build the orderbook for a decentralised exchange in Rust!

Did employers learn nothing from the pandemic, for what they need to do to gain access to some of the best Software Engineers in the world? If you’re currently working for a firm which isn’t continuing to give you the flexibility you’d like; this could be a good fit for you.

You’ll be joining a lean team of engineers who are predominantly based in Europe, so it’ll be useful for you to be based -/+ 3 hours from UTC. They pride themselves on bullet-proof computer science fundamentals, collaboratively solving problems and shipping new features for a decentralised trading venue.

What can they be flexible on?

You might currently speak fluent C++ or Java but they’d be happy to interview you, providing you’re happy with the following points:

1. You back yourself to complete an interview process in Rust (which will include a take home assignment)
2. You have built a high performance execution engine in either crypto or TradFi before

What they can’t be flexible on?

1. You needing an office
2. Sponsorship; you’ll need to have the right to work where you are based currently
3. If you have no experience building an execution engine before

Keen to work remotely and develop expertise in Rust’s ecosytem whilst building one of the most promising projects in DeFi? Please apply!

Become employee #9 for a DeFi Exchange?

When it comes to teams in the crypto space, not all are made equal. Some don’t have the right backing, because the market doesn’t want what they’re building. Others have great backing but don’t have the right execution.

This team has the right backing AND the right execution. I’ve been recruiting for crypto firms for almost 8 years and have yet to see a team backed by so many of the biggest names in the industry, with real A-players responsible for building the product.

Sure, the headcount is currently small but the backing is mighty and there are unlikely to be many opportunities giving you the chance to have this amount of impact.

“Cool, so what will I be doing?”

You’ll be employee #9 of a firm building brand new services which will be powering onchain transactions. It’s likely to be a good fit for you if you love owning and shipping new features as quickly as possible, especially if you’d like to do so using modern web technologies. This may include:

• Creating a real-time UI for use by external trading counterparties, ensuring load times that are as fast as possible
• Implementing Web3 functionality; interacting with smart contracts, and handling transactions using libraries like web3.js or ethers.js

“How do I know if I’m a good fit?”

• You’ve built high-performance UIs for real-time systems before; it’s likely you’ll have done this in the quantitative trading space
• You’re comfortable working asynchronously with remote team members
• You pride yourself on having bullet-proof Computer Science fundamentals which may or may not have come from a top school
• You know modern JavaScript frameworks inside out and have a strong track record creating dynamic and scalable UIs
• You have a demonstrable interest in working in crypto to tackle novel engineering problems

Quantitative Developer – Crypto Hedge Fund – London

Looking for stability in crypto? We’ve got you.

If you’ve already dipped your toes into the exciting (and often chaotic) world of digital assets but are now craving something more solid and structured – this is where you want to be.

Why Now?

You’ve seen crypto evolve, and the industry is maturing fast, with institutional-grade infrastructure and serious players stepping up. But there’s still so much potential to tap into – the industry is in a similar position to traditional hedge funds in the late 90s / early 2000s, with inefficient and fragmented markets and strong retail participation.

Why Here?

This hedge fund combines the agility of a start-up with the stability of a well-established brand and reputation. You’ll build a greenfield crypto market-making platform from scratch in Java, and will write and improve the trading strategies, in an environment that prioritises innovation and impact.

You’ll join a close-knit team that values your input and your experience. Whether it’s improving automation, optimising execution, or introducing new tools and tech, your ideas will be heard. Plus, you’ll work side-by-side with Senior and Lead Developers who has 20 years of systematic trading and low latency expertise. It’s a place where you can grow, without the bureaucracy.

Why You?

• You’re already working in crypto and have hands-on experience building trading systems.
• You’ve have a knack low-latency tuning and optimisation.
• Your Computer Science fundamentals are rock-solid – you know your algorithms and data structures inside out.
• You’ve led projects or owned significant builds, and you’re ready for the next big challenge.

This role is designed for a crypto insider who’s ready to swap the volatility of start-ups for the stability and resources of a hedge fund. You’ll still be on the cutting edge, building and innovating.

For an informal discussion and to discuss your expectations apply now – [email protected]

If this role isn’t right for you, but you know of someone who might be interested, we have a market-leading referral scheme in place to thank anyone who refers a friend who is successfully placed! T&Cs apply.

Options Strategist

A senior team is looking for an Options Strategist to join their mission of establishing a comprehensive options trading capability. This team focuses on systematic options trading within the group and aims to implement strategies across a wide array of asset classes, including equities, FX, and commodities. The strategist will be instrumental in developing options trading strategies that align with the fund portfolio. This is a pivotal moment to join, with the team and platform in the early stages, offering an opportunity to influence the future direction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify trading opportunities by analyzing market trends
• Engage in alpha research and strategy development, including idea generation and quantitative analysis
• Conduct extensive back-testing and performance evaluation
• Execute systematic trading with medium holding periods
• Initially concentrate on equities, with plans to expand into FX and commodities

Essential Qualifications:

• Proven experience in executing systematic options trading strategies
• Advanced degree (MSc/PhD) in a quantitative field such as Computer/Data Science, Physics, Statistics, Applied Math, or Finance
• Over 5 years of experience in financial markets
• Strong programming skills in Python, R, or similar languages
• Entrepreneurial mindset and approach

Infrastructure Engineer – Proprietary Trading – Dubai – up to $100k USD base + bonus + equity

Are you ready to join the ranks of industry legends and become a key player in the world of digital assets trading? If you thrive in an environment where bureaucracy is a foreign word, and your dedication is rewarded with equity partnership, then we have an opportunity waiting for you in the UAE.

How can you determine whether this might be right for you?

• You can relocate to Dubai. To save time, let’s make sure that the conversation with anyone else relocating with you, happens before you receive an offer.
• One of your specialist subjects on Mastermind is: network architecture design, cloud infrastructure optimisation, trade monitoring infrastructure.

• Working in a small team to achieve outsized impact is a badge that you wear with pride.

What does a small team mean from a practical standpoint?

• Limited bureaucracy.
• Direct end-user feedback; Traders and Quants will be able to see exactly how you create value for them.
• Short development cycles; idea, prototype, implementation and tuning over a matter of days, not months.
• Transparency; two-way clarity on expectations and deliverables.
• Tax Free Income; the unrivalled feeling of opening your payslip and seeing a big fat zero next to Deductions.

There’s a lot I’ve intentionally left out, because your interview will assess you on more than how many years you’ve used Python, or if you have an AWS certification. That said, experience in a systematic trading environment will go a long way so best to assess this before hitting apply.

Apply with your most recent CV and I will answer any questions you may have!