Performance Engineer

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

IMC is seeking a Performance Engineer in Sydney for a full-time onsite role to analyse and optimise how our systems interact with exchange infrastructure, working with traders and engineers to uncover performance gains across the trading stack. You will perform black box reverse engineering and analysis, design experiments and prototypes, and translate findings into improvements while analysing terabytes of network data to validate hypotheses. Core skills include deep Linux and computer internals knowledge, networking, low-level optimisation, plus Python and/or C++/Java. Highlight concrete results such as latency reductions or throughput gains, show autonomous collaboration and edge-seeking problem solving, and tailor your CV and cover letter to relevant hardware familiarity. Apply with a concise, impact-driven summary of your best wins.

As a Performance Engineer at IMC, you will play a pivotal role in analysing, optimising, and tuning our systems interaction with exchange systems holistically. Working closely with cross-functional teams, you’ll be tasked with uncovering performance improvements across the trading stack. This role combines technical ingenuity with creative problem-solving to outsmart competition in one of the most demanding technical landscapes.

Your Core Responsibilities: 

• Black Box Reverse Engineering and Analysis: Analyse and understand the behaviour of complex systems using black-box techniques, identifying performance bottlenecks and optimisation opportunities. Designing and performing statistical experiments to explain emergent real world phenomena.
• Experimentation & Prototyping: Design, implement, and test innovative ideas, experiments and technologies. Develop quick internal prototypes to evaluate performance and real-world applicability.
• Collaboration & Communication: Liaise effectively with traders, software and hardware engineers, and infrastructure teams to share insights and implement solutions.
• System Analysis: Analyse terabytes of network data to identify patterns, validate hypotheses, and optimise system performance.

Your Skills and Experience: 

While not all of the below is required a deep understanding in at least one of the following areas would be an advantage

• Strong understanding of computer internals, Linux systems, and networking. Familiarity with tools and techniques for reverse engineering, kernel tuning, system-level optimisation, and low-level network optimisation.
• Proven commercial experience with Python and/or languages like C++ or Java.
• Familiarity with low-latency hardware technologies, such as Intel CPUs, FPGA, and microwave links.
• Understanding of complex, bespoke networks and networking stacks.
• Hands-on experience with performance tuning, and system-level optimisations.
• Experience with data and system analysis.
• Capable of working autonomously while contributing to a multidisciplinary team. Always looking for ways to gain an edge.