How to apply for Software Engineer

About ICAP Energy AS

ICAP Energy AS is a leader in driving sustainable markets through innovative energy and commodities brokering. Working here means contributing to a mission that balances profitability with environmental responsibility, all within a dynamic, global trading environment.

About the role

As a Software Engineer on the fixed income trading system team, you will design and deliver scalable solutions that directly impact trading operations. Your ownership of key features and mentorship of junior engineers will drive technical excellence in a high-stakes, fast-paced domain.

A typical day

A typical day might start with a stand-up to align with the team on feature progress, then diving into C++ development for a new trading algorithm. You'd collaborate with architects on design decisions, review code from junior engineers, and debug a production issue with the fixed income system, ensuring stability and performance.

Who ICAP Energy AS is looking for

• Strong C/C++ expertise with Unix/Linux development experience, ideally in financial or trading systems.
• Hands-on experience with relational databases (Oracle, PostgreSQL) and messaging technologies like Solace or Google Protocol Buffers.
• Solid grasp of software design principles, secure coding, and Agile methodologies, with a track record of delivering high-quality software.
• Proven ability to mentor junior engineers and collaborate with architects on system design and best practices.

Tips for this application

• Tailor your resume to highlight specific C/C++ projects involving real-time or low-latency systems, especially in trading or finance.
• In your cover letter, explicitly mention your experience with Oracle/PostgreSQL and messaging technologies like Solace or Protobuf.
• Showcase any experience with fixed income or other financial instruments to demonstrate domain knowledge.
• Emphasize your mentorship and collaboration skills, as the role includes supporting junior engineers.
• Research ICAP's sustainable markets focus and mention how your work aligns with their mission in your application.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your proficiency in C/C++ and Unix/Linux development for scalable, real-time systems.', 'Experience with relational databases and messaging technologies (Oracle, PostgreSQL, Solace, Protobuf).', 'Your ability to own features end-to-end and mentor junior team members.', "Interest in contributing to sustainable energy markets and ICAP's innovative brokering solutions."]

Research before applying

• Understand ICAP's role in energy and commodities brokering, particularly their focus on sustainability.
• Familiarize yourself with the fixed income trading landscape and common system architectures.
• Review ICAP's technology stack and recent news about their trading platform innovations.
• Learn about the company's culture and values, especially around innovation and market integrity.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Design a scalable, low-latency component for a fixed income trading system using C/C++.
• How would you optimize database queries in Oracle or PostgreSQL for high-frequency trading data?
• Describe your experience with messaging technologies like Solace or Protobuf in a distributed system.
• Walk through a past project where you mentored a junior engineer and improved team practices.
• How do you ensure secure coding in a trading environment? Give examples of secure design patterns.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic resume without highlighting C/C++, Unix/Linux, or financial systems experience.
• Failing to mention specific messaging or database technologies listed in the requirements.
• Not demonstrating an understanding of the trading domain or the importance of low-latency, secure systems.