C++ Software Engineer - Data Platform

WorldQuant develops and deploys systematic financial strategies across a broad range of asset classes and global markets. We seek to produce high-quality predictive signals (alphas) through our proprietary research platform to employ financial strategies focused on market inefficiencies. Our teams work collaboratively to drive the production of alphas and financial strategies—the foundation of a balanced, global investment platform.

WorldQuant is built on a culture that pairs academic sensibility with accountability for results. Employees are encouraged to think openly about problems, balancing intellectualism and practicality. Excellent ideas come from anyone, anywhere. Employees are encouraged to challenge conventional thinking and maintain an attitude of continuous improvement.

Our goal is to hire the best and the brightest. We value intellectual horsepower first and foremost, and people who demonstrate outstanding talent. There is no roadmap to future success, so we need people who can help us build it.

Technologists at WorldQuant research, design, code, test, and deploy firmwide platforms and tooling while working collaboratively with researchers and portfolio managers. Our environment is relaxed yet intellectually driven. We seek people who think in code and are motivated by working alongside like-minded professionals.

The Role

Our distributed platform combines high-performance storage, compute, and service layers for processing and serving massive, structured, time-series datasets. It is built in C++ with a distributed system architecture, real-time streaming, RPC-based data transfer, and columnar on-disk storage that powers data processing and analytics workflows.

• Design, develop, and maintain core components across our distributed storage, compute, and service platforms, including storage engines, query and compute execution, RPC/networking layers, and distributed coordination (routing, partitioning, replication).
• Partner with internal stakeholders across research and engineering teams to translate data-access, compute, and performance requirements into concrete design and implementation work.
• Investigate and resolve production issues, including correctness bugs and performance regressions.
• Participate in code review, system design, feature development, and productionization.

What You’ll Bring

• Degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• 2+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Strong fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, and systems-level thinking (memory management, concurrency, I/O).
• Proficiency in modern C++ (C++11 or higher) and comfort with STL.
• Solid working knowledge of UNIX/Linux development environments.
• Experience using AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, OpenCode) to accelerate development.
• A clear, proactive communicator who works well with a globally distributed team.

Nice to Have

• Python.
• Exposure to distributed systems concepts (replication, sharding, consensus), query/compute engines, or columnar/analytical storage formats.
• Experience with RPC frameworks.