Senior Software Engineer – Foundation

About BlockTech BlockTech is a fast-paced algorithmic trading firm facilitating global cryptocurrency derivatives and spot trading while expanding into new markets. As we continue to grow rapidly, we are looking for a Software Engineer to join our Foundation team amid our exciting scale-up phase! You will Build & optimize: Design, develop, and maintain high-reliability, low-latency, and high-throughput foundational systems that enable our trading and technology teams to scale efficiently. Ingest & aggregate: Collect trading business data with minimal latency impact and ingest both public and private exchange information into our trading system. Store & stream: Develop and maintain infrastructure for real-time data aggregation and long-term storage, as well as our Kafka-based messaging systems. Collaborate & support: Work closely with multiple teams, assisting them in integrating with and making the most of our foundational systems. Innovate: Drive projects from concept to deployment with full ownership, and explore new tools, frameworks, and approaches to keep our infrastructure best-in-class. The Foundation team develops core software infrastructure (libraries, frameworks, and systems) for BlockTech, solving common problems and lending its expertise to enable other teams to stay focused on their respective domains. They own, develop, and configure a wide variety of critical, high-reliability software, ranging from low-level ultra-low-latency shared memory IPC libraries to high-throughput data buses and data aggregation systems including Kafka, NATS, PostgreSQL, and Iceberg. They work primarily in Rust, but also use Python and SQL. If you thrive on low-level problem-solving, building robust frameworks from scratch, and enabling others to move faster, this role is for you. What We're Looking For Essential: 5+ years of experience as a Software Engineer, with a strong focus on systems-level optimisation and awareness of hardware constraints Proficiency in Rust (or C/C++ with the willingness to work primarily in Rust) Relevant domain experience: a background in trading and/or hands-on experience with the data infrastructure we rely on, such as Postgres, ClickHouse, Kafka, Redpanda, Iceberg, and/or NATS, ideally self-hosted rather than via managed or cloud services Solid understanding of distributed systems Strong problem-solving skills and a very strong sense of end-to-end ownership Bonus points for: Familiarity with observability tooling such as Grafana Understanding of WebSockets, compiler engineering, embedded programming, and/or systems security How we work This is an on-site role in our Amsterdam office, built around a high degree of autonomy and end-to-end ownership. You will have hard problems to own from concept through to production, and the freedom to solve them your way. It is a strong fit for people who are energised by deep technical challenges, working with a wide variety of technologies, and a high level of responsibility. What is in it for you? A full-time position in a relaxed and modern office in Amsterdam Competitive compensation consisting of a base salary combined with a very attractive bonus plan based on individual and company performance Outstanding performance is rewarded with the opportunity to buy into the trading fund Pension plan, company laptop, and reimbursement of your internet costs at home An extensive in-house training program and an annual learning & development budget The opportunity to work at the forefront of automated trading using state-of-the-art technology, in an environment that embraces AI to both accelerate productivity and advance our systems and models Gym membership reimbursement and the opportunity to engage in various sports during working hours, including kickboxing, CrossFit, fitness, and soccer Regular social events, including weekly Friday drinks, monthly outings, quarterly sports competitions and bi-annual trips abroad Daily breakfast and warm lunch. Additionally, snacks and drinks are provided throughout the day For internationals: All-in relocation package and Dutch classes Our culture At our core, we are a team of passionate trading and tech enthusiasts committed to revolutionizing trading through automation. Our collaborative approach ensures that everyone contributes to achieving our ambitious goals. In this role, you will be both challenged and stretched, with ample opportunities for growth and development, both within and beyond your main responsibilities. We invest in our people by offering competitive compensation and benefits, fostering innovation, and celebrating success. Our commitment to personal development transcends traditional norms; we provide an equal playing field, promote reverse leadership, and offer boundless growth opportunities for all our employees. Join us to unlock your potential and drive innovation in the exciting world of algorithmic trading.