[jordan0day]

> Why would a developer work in such a place? I imagine you would be forced to be all professional yet always play second fiddle to the traders, no matter great your skills were.

This is generally the case at most places where software development is done, even when the software is the product.

For example, as any developer working at an "enterprise software" shop -- despite being the "producers", you're still beholden to (and less important than) the sales folks.

Not saying that's right or wrong, just that that is how it is.

[eitally]

But also in general, in places like that there is also a huge priority placed on having absolutely the best infrastructure & systems reasonably affordable in order to empower the traders. For example, of Fidelity's ~45,000 employees, about 14,000 work in technology roles (both internal IT and product stuff). To me that's an insane ratio for a non-tech company ...

... but, if you talk to any big-finance leaders these days, they'll probably admit to you that their tech is their competitive advantage (and not just in HFT, either).