HPC Infrastructure Support Engineer

The Firm

XTX Markets is an algorithmic trading firm that actively trades tens of thousands of instruments on over eighty venues with a daily volume of almost three hundred billion USD. We partner with counterparties, exchanges, and e-trading venues globally to provide consistent liquidity in the Equity, FX, Fixed Income, Commodity & Options markets, helping market participants throughout the world obtain the best prices in the various assets classes we cover.

We leverage the talent of the people who work here, modern computational techniques and state-of-the-art research infrastructure to analyse large data sets across markets quickly and efficiently, to maximise the effectiveness of our proprietary trading algorithms. The models that drive our trading strategies have evolved considerably over the last 10 years, from econometric methods that gave our company its name, to trees, to neural networks, to modern deep learning architectures. We are actively seeking new methods and ideas.

At XTX Markets technology is our business and we are a diverse organisation which attracts outstanding talent from across all industry backgrounds. We are focused on teamwork and our people collaborate on all aspects of the business, working openly and with respect for each other, our clients and the market. Our culture is non-hierarchical and one where everyone is valued. We strive for excellence in everything we do.

 

The Role

The success of XTX is underpinned by its research that applies modern computational techniques to analyse large data sets across markets quickly and efficiently, to maximise the effectiveness of our proprietary trading algorithms.

This research is performed on its state-of-the-art high performance computing infrastructure (“HPC Cluster”), built from thousands of CPU and GPU optimized servers, hundreds of petabytes of high-density storage and flash arrays, connected by a high throughput, non-blocking network layer.

Having conducted a thorough review of the XTX’s long-term research objectives, and the compute power required to support it, we have committed to construct a fully owned and managed data centre campus to house the HPC Cluster in Kajaani, Finland, designed with flexibility and capacity in mind allowing for future scalability without constraints or impediments.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced HPC Infrastructure Support Engineer to help run the physical layer of HPC Cluster in Kajaani.

The role is full-time, permanent based, with the primary work location in Kajaani.

Due to the nature of our research activities, on-call availability outside of shift hours is required, which may include weekend and public holiday work (in both cases, with time-off in lieu). Overtime may be necessary during peak operational periods or for planned maintenance and upgrade activities.

The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of datacentre infrastructure, industry best practices, and a proven track record in supporting large-scale HPC and network infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• You will play a key role in the deployment of new infrastructure including servers, switches, storage, cross connects/structured cabling and so forth.
• Perform hardware installations, upgrades, and repairs, including the replacement of faulty hardware.
• Coordinate with IT vendors and third parties for regular maintenance, support, and warranty services.
• You will play a key role on inventory management and logistics, including the challenges of international shipping and supply chains.
• You will support the execution of large projects (e.g. >1,000 server deployments).
• You will perform server integration work (e.g. fitting components such as GPUs and NICs into servers).
• An ideal candidate would also be interested in participating in platform design, which would involve selecting, specifying, or customising IT equipment for XTX considering requirements such as power, cooling, and the pros and cons of different CPU/GPU/Storage SKUs.

 

Essential Attributes

• You will have extensive experience working in datacentres with a good understanding of high-speed networking (for example different kinds of fibre and transceivers).
• You will be comfortable working inside servers (for example installing PCIe cards).
• You will be familiar with the mechanics and intricacies of international shipping.
• Proficient in both spoken and written English and Finnish.
• Working knowledge of networking, hardware, and server software.
• Experience of using hardware monitoring and management tools.
• Personable and enthusiastic with a genuine desire to take on responsibility.
• Have the assertiveness to spot new opportunities and follow through with them.
• Must be punctual, organised, reliable and willing to work hard.
• Outgoing and able to build rapport with colleagues, local and national stakeholders, and vendors.

 

Desirable Attributes

• Relevant degree or work experience in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.
• Comfortability with working in a fast-paced environment.
• Hands on experience supporting Direct Liquid Cooling infrastructure is advantageous.