Director - C++ Software Engineer

Morgan Stanley•New York, NY

About The Position

Design, implement, and maintain next-generation packaging and containerization infrastructure for C++ projects, integrating with modern build systems and developer environments. Design and develop modern C++ libraries and a low-latency networking stack, collaborating with a global team to ensure scalability, reliability, and performance. Identify current technology gaps and propose solutions that improve developer productivity and application performance firmwide. Evaluate, experiment with, and recommend technologies that will form the basis of the firm's next-generation systems. Collaborate closely with internal clients and development teams to understand requirements, improve build and runtime performance, and streamline developer workflows. Maintain and support existing C++ libraries and infrastructure components, ensuring stability and quality. Promote best practices in your own work and across the wider firm C++ community. Experience developing on Linux, including hands-on work with build systems, packaging, and containerization (e.g., CMake, Conan/vcpkg, Bazel; Docker). Proficiency in Python for tooling, automation, and integration tasks; experience with other scripting languages is a plus. Solid modern C++ skills (C++20/C++23), with experience building high-performance systems, ideally including networking, concurrency, memory management, and low-latency optimization. Experience with C/C++ toolchains, compilers, linkers, and static/dynamic analysis tools. Strong collaboration and communication skills. A curiosity-driven mindset, comfortable with experimentation, deep dives, and pragmatic engineering trade-offs. Experience with network protocols, kernel-bypass/zero-copy techniques, async I/O, and latency-sensitive systems. Background in CI/CD systems (GitHub Actions, Jenkins) or development environment tooling. Familiarity with performance profiling, benchmarking, and diagnostics across both build pipelines and runtime systems. Exposure to financial markets or algorithmic trading environments is a plus, but not required. What we're looking for Experience developing on Linux, including hands-on work with build systems, packaging, and containerization (e.g., CMake, Conan/vcpkg, Bazel; Docker). Proficiency in Python for tooling, automation, and integration tasks; experience with other scripting languages is a plus. Solid modern C++ skills (C++20/C++23), with experience building high-performance systems, ideally including networking, concurrency, memory management, and low-latency optimization. We do it in a way that's differentiated - and we've done that for 90 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. 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 copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices into your browser. Expected base pay rates for the role will be between 90,000$ and 150,000$ per year at the commencement of employment. Consequently, our recruiting efforts reflect our desire to attract and retain the best and brightest from all talent pools. We want to be the first choice for prospective employees. It is the policy of the Firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Requirements

Experience developing on Linux, including hands-on work with build systems, packaging, and containerization (e.g., CMake, Conan/vcpkg, Bazel; Docker)
Proficiency in Python for tooling, automation, and integration tasks; experience with other scripting languages is a plus
Solid modern C++ skills (C++20/C++23), with experience building high-performance systems, ideally including networking, concurrency, memory management, and low-latency optimization
Experience with C/C++ toolchains, compilers, linkers, and static/dynamic analysis tools
Strong collaboration and communication skills
A curiosity-driven mindset, comfortable with experimentation, deep dives, and pragmatic engineering trade-offs
Experience with network protocols, kernel-bypass/zero-copy techniques, async I/O, and latency-sensitive systems
Background in CI/CD systems (GitHub Actions, Jenkins) or development environment tooling
Familiarity with performance profiling, benchmarking, and diagnostics across both build pipelines and runtime systems

Nice To Haves

Exposure to financial markets or algorithmic trading environments is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and maintain next-generation packaging and containerization infrastructure for C++ projects
Design and develop modern C++ libraries and a low-latency networking stack
Identify current technology gaps and propose solutions
Evaluate, experiment with, and recommend technologies
Collaborate closely with internal clients and development teams
Maintain and support existing C++ libraries and infrastructure components
Promote best practices in your own work and across the wider firm C++ community

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