Job Description
The Platform Lead: Digital Pricing & Market Making (DPMM) is accountable for the strategic technology direction, delivery, operational management and continuous evolution of the electronic pricing, market making and execution technology ecosystem within Global Markets.
The role leads a multidisciplinary team of Functional and Technical Specialists, Java Developers, DevOps Engineers and Subject Matter Experts responsible for the technical design, implementation, support and enhancement of mission-critical electronic trading platforms across FX, Fixed Income, Money Markets, Commodities and Equities.
The Platform Lead is responsible for balancing run-the-bank and change-the-bank activities, ensuring platform resilience, operational excellence and continuous delivery of business value through an agreed roadmap. The role partners closely with Trading, Sales, Product, Risk and other Technology stakeholders to deliver competitive pricing, execution, risk and market making capabilities that enable business growth and client value creation.
This role reports to the Electronic Trading Technology Head and is accountable for all platform delivery commitments, platform sustainability, stakeholder management and people leadership responsibilities.
The key responsibilities of the role are:
- Lead and develop a high-performing team of technology professionals supporting Digital Pricing and Market Making capabilities.
- Define and execute the platform technology strategy and roadmap in partnership with business stakeholders.
- Manage the delivery and operational management of mission-critical electronic trading platforms.
- Drive platform resilience, scalability, automation and observability.
- Partner with Product and Front Office stakeholders to enable growth, efficiency and innovation through technology.
- Ensure appropriate platform governance, risk management and operational controls.
- Ensure platforms are appropriately monitored, controlled and maintained.
- Establish effective operational support models and technical monitoring frameworks.
- Lead major incident management and coordinate timely resolution of production issues.
- Drive root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- Ensure systems remain fit for purpose and capable of supporting future business growth.
- Continuously identify opportunities to improve platform quality, performance and operational efficiency.
- Manage relationships with vendors, service providers and strategic technology partners.
- Provide leadership across architecture, delivery, platform capability, operational support and technology modernization initiatives.
Management and Leadership:
- Manage a team of developers, technical specialists and subject matter experts using Agile and DevSecOps delivery practices.
- Own platform roadmaps, release plans and prioritisation processes.
- Partner with Product, Trading and Business stakeholders to define and sequence work based on business value.
- Manage capacity planning and allocation of resources across projects, planned BAU and unplanned BAU.
- Coordinate delivery across technology teams and vendors to ensure seamless implementation.
- Ensure initiatives are appropriately governed and aligned to delivery frameworks.
- Lead collaborative planning processes balancing business priorities against team capacity.
- Ensure high quality design, testing, deployment and implementation standards are consistently achieved.
- Oversee release management activities and ensure alignment with enterprise governance requirements
Qualifications and Experience:
- A graduate qualification in Computer Science, Mathematical Finance, Engineering or Technology – combination an advantage
- 10+ years’ experience in a variety of technical management roles, managing teams preferably within a Global Markets or Banking environment
- Strong understanding of multiple asset classes and financial markets products and how they are priced and executed.
- Experience in electronic trading, exchange market structure, algorithmic trading and market making technologies.
- Java (0 GC), C++ (low latency and complexity), co-location, FIX Protocol, integration and connectivity architectures.
- Good understanding of Agile work methods
- Good understanding of project/program management.
- Strong stakeholder management skills and networking
- Experience managing vendor and third-party technology relationships.
General Requirements:
- Keep abreast of changes within the financial technology industry to ensure that all relevant market and regulatory impacts and changes are planned for and adopted.
- Proven track record in delivery of projects, production excellence and in managing teams
- Ability to supervise implementations
- Good teamwork and motivation skills
- Strong interpersonal skills to drive strong stakeholder engagement
- Ability to be hands on technically where needed
Behavioural Skills:
- Have the ability to lead a cross functional team
- Influence people and resolve conflicts
- Building and maintain relationships
- Have a collaborative mindset
- Adopt a broad, long-term perspective
- Have a strategic mindset when designing solutions that enable standardization and efficiency
- Contribute to the success of the team; co-operate with other employees to improve personal and team performance
- Mentor and guide team members
Competencies:
- Strong analytical thinking and problem solving
- Solid understanding of applications, domains, toolsets and processes in area of expertise
- Ability to make decisions and initiate action
- Ability to effectively plan and organize
- Ability to present and communicate (verbal and written)
- Ability to work independently as well as produce results as part of a group
- Demonstrate sensitivity to, and respect for, a diverse user group
- Completer / Finisher
- Commitment to operational and service excellence
- Keep abreast of changes and trends in systems and relevant technologies
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Important Closing Date Note
Take note that applications will not be accepted on the below date and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below.
24/09/26
All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan. The Bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.