Datacentre Network Engineer

The Firm 

XTX Markets is a leading algorithmic trading firm which uses state-of-the-art machine learning technology to produce price forecasts for over 50,000 financial instruments across equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities and crypto. It uses those forecasts to trade on exchanges and alternative trading venues, and to offer differentiated liquidity directly to clients worldwide. The firm trades over $250bn a day across 35 countries and has over 250 employees based in London, Singapore, New York, Paris, Bristol, Mumbai, Yerevan and Kajaani.

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 maximize the effectiveness of our proprietary trading algorithms. We are actively seeking new methods and ideas.

XTX Markets has an unrivalled level of computational resources in the trading industry, with a growing research cluster currently containing over 25,000 GPUs with 650 petabytes of usable storage. Teams across the firm include world-class researchers with backgrounds in pure math, programming, physics, computer science and machine learning.

At XTX Markets technology is our business and we are a diverse organization 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 Markets 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 Markets' long-term research objectives, and the compute power required to support it, we are constructing 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 Datacentre Network Engineer to help run the data centre network operations of data centre campus in Kajaani.

The role is full-time, permanent, 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 networks, industry best practices, and a proven track record in supporting large-scale HPC and network infrastructure.

Responsibilities 

• Play a key role in deploying new infrastructure, including network devices, cross-connects, structured cabling, and backbone/server-facing network connections
• Conduct 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.

• Handle inventory management and logistics, including navigating international shipping and supply chain challenges.

• Support the execution of large-scale projects, such as deploying over 1,000 servers.

• Contribute to network design by selecting, specifying, or customizing equipment to meet XTX Markets' requirements, including assessing performance, protocols, features, and comparing SKUs.

Essential Attributes 

• Extensive hands-on experience working in datacentres, especially with high-speed networking technologies such as fibre, transceivers, switches, and structured cabling.

• Strong working knowledge of networking hardware, software, and configuration, including installing, troubleshooting, and debugging network connections, as well as using monitoring and management tools.

• Familiarity with the mechanics and complexities of international shipping and supply chains.

• Proficient in both spoken and written English and Finnish for efficient communication in the workplace and with external stakeholders.

• Understanding and experience in implementing and maintaining network security measures.

• Outgoing and personable, with the ability to build positive relationships with colleagues, local/national stakeholders, and vendors.

• Punctual, reliable, and highly organized, capable of working hard to manage tasks effectively.

• Proactive and assertive in identifying opportunities and taking responsibility to follow through on them, demonstrating genuine enthusiasm for the role and its challenges.

Desired Attributes

• Relevant degree or work experience in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field.

• Hands-on experience with high-speed network hardware and supporting technical datacentre systems (e.g., BMS, EMS, SCADA) is advantageous.

• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills to resolve technical challenges effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to handle multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.

• Comfort working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.