About the Role

Morgan Stanley is looking to hire a C++ Software Engineer into its Ultra Low Latency Exchange Connectivity team in Hong Kong / Tokyo. This role involves designing, implementing, and deploying sophisticated software and hardware systems that offer our quantitative trading clients the lowest latency and safest market access across major Asian exchanges.

Educational Background

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field.

Technical Experience

• Strong proficiency in C/C++ (low-level systems development).
• Good understanding of Linux/Unix internals, real-time OS tuning, and kernel bypass technologies (e.g., Solarflare/Open Onload, DPDK).
• Knowledge of TCP/IP, UDP, multicast, and exchange-specific protocols (FIX, OUCH, ITCH).
• Familiarity with high-performance NICs, hardware timestamping, and latency measurement tools; FPGA experience is a plus, but not required.
• Proven track record in profiling and optimizing for low latency.

Industry Experience

• Prior experience building or maintaining trading systems or market data feeds (equities, derivatives, FX, etc.).
• Understanding of colocation environments and exchange connectivity (direct market access).

Additional Skills

• Experience with scripting languages (Python, Bash) for automation and monitoring.
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills, especially under production load.
• Knowledge of compliance and exchange regulations related to connectivity (e.g., MiFID II, SEC rules) is beneficial.

Soft Skills

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Collaborative mindset; experience working across quant, trading, and infrastructure teams; mentoring junior engineers is a plus.

Candidates with less experience will also be considered.

What You Can Expect From Morgan Stanley

We are committed to maintaining the first-class service and high standard of excellence that have defined Morgan Stanley for over 89 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren't just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you'll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There's also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

To learn more about our offices across the globe, please visit https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunities employer. We work to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals can maximize their full potential. Our skilled and creative workforce is comprised of individuals drawn from a broad cross section of the global communities in which we operate and who reflect a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences. Our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion is evident through our constant focus on recruiting, developing, and advancing individuals based on their skills and talents.