---
title: 'Software Engineer, Machine Lifecycle at Tower Research Capital'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-machine-lifecycle-tower-research-capital-new-york-wbr58k69c5js'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Software Engineer, Machine Lifecycle at Tower Research Capital

- **Company:** Tower Research Capital
- **Location:** New York, NY
- **Posted:** 2026-08-11
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://www.tower-research.com/open-positions/?gh_jid=8099782

## Job description

Tower Research Capital is a leading quantitative trading firm founded in 1998. Tower has built its business on a high-performance platform and independent trading teams. We have a 25+ year track record of innovation and a reputation for discovering unique market opportunities.

Tower is home to some of the world’s best systematic trading and engineering talent. We empower portfolio managers to build their teams and strategies independently while providing the economies of scale that come from a large, global organization.

Engineers thrive at Tower while developing electronic trading infrastructure at a world class level. Our engineers solve challenging problems in the realms of low-latency programming, FPGA technology, hardware acceleration and machine learning. Our ongoing investment in top engineering talent and technology ensures our platform remains unmatched in terms of functionality, scalability and performance.

At Tower, every employee plays a role in our success. Our Business Support teams are essential to building and maintaining the platform that powers everything we do — combining market access, data, compute, and research infrastructure with risk management, compliance, and a full suite of business services. Our Business Support teams enable our trading and engineering teams to perform at their best.

At Tower, employees will find a stimulating, results-oriented environment where highly intelligent and motivated colleagues inspire each other to reach their greatest potential.

Summary:

This role owns the journey of every machine in our fleet: from the moment a server is racked, cabled, and powered on, to the moment it is fully configured, validated, and available for users. Your mission is to make that journey zero-touch.

You will design and build the automation pipeline that takes a machine through discovery, firmware and BIOS configuration, OS installation, configuration management, health validation and burn-in, and finally handoff into production, treating each stage as code that lives in Git, runs through CI/CD, and can be reviewed, tested, and rolled back like any other software.

The guiding principle is GitOps for physical infrastructure: the desired state of the fleet is declared in a repository, and automation continuously reconciles reality against it. A new machine shows up as a commit; a decommission is a deletion; drift is detected and corrected by the pipeline, not by a person with a checklist.

Responsibilities:

- Design and build the end-to-end machine lifecycle pipeline: from power-on and network boot through OS install, configuration, validation, and production handoff.
- Automate hardware bring-up via out-of-band management (BMC, Redfish, IPMI): firmware updates, BIOS settings, boot order, and inventory discovery.
- Automate OS provisioning with network boot (PXE / UEFI HTTP boot) and unattended installation, so no one ever installs a machine by hand.
- Write and maintain the Ansible and Python that configure machines into their final roles, replacing manual runbooks with reviewed, versioned code.
- Apply GitOps and CI/CD principles to the fleet: desired state in Git, changes through merge requests, pipelines that test and apply them, and reconciliation that catches drift.
- Build automated validation and burn-in: health checks, stress tests, and acceptance criteria a machine must pass before users ever see it.
- Model the lifecycle as a state machine (new, provisioning, validating, in-service, needs-repair, decommissioned) with clear, automated transitions and an auditable history.
- Instrument the pipeline with metrics and logging so we always know where a machine is in its lifecycle, and where the process is slow or failing.
- Work with the HPC and datacenter teams to fold their hard-won operational knowledge into the automation, one stage at a time.

Qualifications:

- A smart, curious engineer who learns fast and is genuinely excited by the challenge of automating physical infrastructure end to end. This matters more to us than any specific line on your resume.
- Strong Python for building automation, tooling, and services, not just scripts.
- Hands-on Ansible experience: writing playbooks and roles you would be happy to code-review, not just run.
- A solid grasp of CI/CD principles: pipelines, testing, staged rollouts, and the discipline of driving change through version control.
- An automation-first, GitOps mindset: you believe infrastructure state belongs in Git, and that any task done by hand twice should be code.
- Working knowledge of Linux: comfortable with the boot process, system services, and debugging when a machine does not come up the way it should. Depth here is a real plus, but interest and trajectory count.
- Sound engineering judgment: you design workflows that fail safely, retry sensibly, and leave an audit trail.
- Clear communication and the patience to turn tribal operational knowledge into reliable, documented automation.

Nice to Have:

- Experience with bare-metal provisioning tooling such as MAAS, Tinkerbell, Foreman, Ironic, or a home-grown equivalent.
- Familiarity with out-of-band management: BMCs, Redfish, IPMI, and vendor variants like iDRAC or iLO.
- Exposure to hardware validation and burn-in: stress testing, firmware qualification, or failure prediction at fleet scale.
- Experience with GitOps tooling or declarative infrastructure management in general.
- Prior work in datacenter, HPC, or large-fleet environments where machines number in the hundreds or thousands.

Anticipated annual base salary range $150,000-$250,000, plus eligible for discretionary bonus.

Tower’s headquarters are in the historic Equitable Building, right in the heart of NYC’s Financial District and our impact is global, with over a dozen offices around the world.

At Tower, we believe work should be both challenging and enjoyable. That is why we foster a culture where smart, driven people thrive – without the egos. Our open concept workplace, casual dress code, and well-stocked kitchens reflect the value we place on a friendly, collaborative environment where everyone is respected, and great ideas win.

Our benefits include:

- Generous paid time off policies
- Savings plans and other financial wellness tools available in each region
- Hybrid working opportunities
- Free breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily
- In-office wellness experiences and reimbursement for select wellness expenses (e.g., gym, personal training and more)
- Company-sponsored sports teams and fitness events (JPM Corporate Challenge, Cycle for Survival, Wall Street Rides FAR and more)
- Volunteer opportunities and charitable giving
- Social events, happy hours, treats, and celebrations throughout the year
- Workshops and continuous learning opportunities

At Tower, you’ll find a collaborative and welcoming culture, a diverse team and a workplace that values both performance and enjoyment. No unnecessary hierarchy. No ego. Just great people doing great work – together.

Tower Research Capital is an equal opportunity employer.

## About Tower Research Capital

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Tower Research Capital is an American quantitative trading firm that builds high-performance technology platforms for systematic trading across all asset classes, markets, and time horizons.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Privately Held)
- **Headquarters**: New York, New York, United States
- **Founded**: 1998
- **Founders**: Mark Gorton, Alistair Brown

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Financial Services (Quantitative Trading, High-Frequency Trading, Liquidity Provision)
- **Target customers**: Institutional (the firm trades for its own capital; it provides a platform for systematic portfolio managers and quantitative trading teams)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To create an environment that empowers quantitative trading teams to innovate and reach their greatest potential, powered by a high-performance technology platform [tower-research.com](https://tower-research.com/)

## Products & Services
- **Quantitative Trading Platform**: A proprietary, high-performance technology stack supporting every aspect of trading and research — market access, data management, quantitative research, compute infrastructure, compliance, and risk management.
- **Systematic Portfolio Management**: A platform that allows dozens of independent trading and research teams to build and execute strategies while benefiting from economies of scale.
- **Liquidity Provision**: Market-making and liquidity services across a massive range of asset classes, products, regions, and venues.
- **Tower Ventures**: An investment arm for evaluating business opportunities and supporting new ventures.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue of $600.0M (estimated, per LinkedIn data) [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tower-research-capital)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: The firm is founder-owned; no external venture investors listed. Key partners include exchanges and trading venues globally.
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount of 997 employees (+15.3% YoY, +191 people); operates in 21 countries with 11 offices (New York, Chicago, South Charleston, Montreal, London, Amsterdam, Gurgaon, GIFT City, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai); 64 active job postings; 204,460 LinkedIn followers (+20.7% yearly growth) [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tower-research-capital)

## Competitive Advantages
- **25+ Year Track Record**: One of the longest-standing quantitative trading firms, with a proven ability to adapt to new market opportunities.
- **Platform-First Model**: Unlike many hedge funds, Tower provides a shared high-performance platform (technology, data, infrastructure, risk management, compliance) that allows independent trading teams to focus purely on alpha generation.
- **Continuous Investment**: Robust, ongoing investment in market access, data, research, compute infrastructure, low-latency technology, and machine learning.
- **Team-Based Structure**: Dozens of independent trading and research teams operate autonomously while benefiting from the firm’s scale, creating an entrepreneurial environment within a stable organization.
- **Cutting-Edge Engineering**: Engineers work on the latest advances in machine learning, wireless telecommunication, hardware acceleration, and low-latency programming.

## Strategic Focus
- **Talent Acquisition**: Continuous investment in top trading, engineering, and business support talent as the firm’s primary growth driver.
- **Technology Leadership**: Building the fastest, most scalable, highest-performing trading technology stack in the industry.
- **Global Expansion**: Operating across 21 countries with a growing presence in key financial hubs (GIFT City, Singapore, etc.).
- **Diversification**: Expanding across asset classes, products, regions, and venues to capture new market opportunities.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Values excellence, teamwork, integrity, respect, and innovation. Described as a stimulating, results-oriented environment that values entrepreneurs and self-starters [tower-research.com](https://tower-research.com/about-us/)
- **Work Style**: Team-based structure with autonomy and independence; cross-functional collaboration encouraged. "Calm and Focus" is a stated value — the firm emphasizes maintaining composure when the unexpected occurs [tower-research.com](https://tower-research.com/careers/)
- **Remote/Hybrid**: "Possibilities for hybrid work" are mentioned as a perk [tower-research.com](https://tower-research.com/careers/)
- **Perks**:
    - Discretionary and team-based bonuses
    - 5 weeks of paid vacation per year
    - Robust medical benefits plans
    - 401(k) with company matching (US employees)
    - Complimentary in-office meals daily
    - Regular social gatherings and events
    - Professional development workshops
    - Donation matching program
- **Engineering Culture**: Engineers work on cutting-edge problems in machine learning, wireless telecom, hardware acceleration, and low-latency programming. The interview process is described as straightforward — "no gotcha questions, random logic problems, or abstract, overly academic discussions" [tower-research.com](https://tower-research.com/careers/)
- **Career Growth**: Commitment to supporting employee growth with professional development workshops and a focus on helping employees reach their full potential.

## Sources
1. [tower-research.com](https://tower-research.com/)
2. [tower-research.com/about-us/](https://tower-research.com/about-us/)
3. [tower-research.com/careers/](https://tower-research.com/careers/)
4. [linkedin.com/company/tower-research-capital](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tower-research-capital)

## Other roles at Tower Research Capital

- [Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/intern-tower-research-capital-gift-city-pte2q446tt8w) — Gift City, India
- [Software Engineer III](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-iii-tower-research-capital-gurugram-f0zmyzw5zcyc) — Gurugram, India
- [Trade Operations Associate](https://feeny.ai/job/trade-operations-associate-tower-research-capital-singapore-71cj18f66ntn) — Singapore
- [Technical PMO Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-pmo-analyst-tower-research-capital-london-10b9hfmgv7x7) — London, United Kingdom
- [Quantitative Trader/Researcher Summer Internship 2027 (2028 Graduates)](https://feeny.ai/job/quantitative-trader-researcher-summer-internship-2027-2028-graduates-tower-w6ydrb0kfgzq) — London, United Kingdom
- [Quantitative Trader/Researcher Graduate Programme 2027](https://feeny.ai/job/quantitative-trader-researcher-graduate-programme-2027-tower-research-capital-2e1gewfsfdcj) — London, United Kingdom
- [Quantitative Researcher Intern, Bachelor's or Master's](https://feeny.ai/job/quantitative-researcher-intern-bachelor-s-or-master-s-tower-research-capital-nwmmr77a28k2) — Singapore, Singapore / Hong Kong, China / Shanghai, China / Sydney, Australia
- [Quantitative Researcher Intern, PhD or Postdoc](https://feeny.ai/job/quantitative-researcher-intern-phd-or-postdoc-tower-research-capital-singapore-ac8nek7tjyrx) — Singapore, Singapore / Hong Kong, China / Shanghai, China / Sydney, Australia
- [Network Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/network-engineer-tower-research-capital-singapore-b11jcftja9pk) — Singapore
- [Business Management](https://feeny.ai/job/business-management-tower-research-capital-singapore-48e0rcka65yk) — Singapore