The APAC finance sector is evolving rapidly, with elite hedge funds and proprietary trading firms expanding their teams across engineering, infrastructure, and research.
In this edition of APAC Trading Insights, Peter Hopkinson, Principal Recruiter at Tribus, shares expert insights on the most in-demand skills, where the opportunities are, and how top candidates are setting themselves apart in 2025.
Strong fund performance, expanding tech ecosystems, and a competitive global landscape are fuelling rapid hiring across major cities like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai.
Firms are scaling quickly and competing for talent who can deliver commercial value from day one.
Technologists with deep experience in C++17, C++20, or C++23, and a track record of writing fast, memory-efficient code are in high demand, particularly in quant trading and HFT environments.
While some teams are exploring languages like Rust and OCaml, C++ remains dominant among firms hiring for performance-critical systems.
Beyond software optimisation, firms are investing heavily in hardware acceleration, including FPGA and ASIC teams, to drive nanosecond-level latency gains.
Infrastructure is being colocated with exchanges, and in some cases, hardware is embedded directly into execution paths, bypassing CPUs entirely.
In 2025, hiring managers want more than just technical ability.
Candidates who understand market microstructure, alpha generation, and the link between technology and P&L are far more likely to stand out.
Hiring trends also show increased demand for specialists in AI/ML, data engineering, quant development, and Python-driven research platforms.
Firms are building lean, high-performance teams where individual impact is visible.
They're prioritising candidates who bring a low-ego, high-accountability mindset, and who thrive in collaborative, feedback-driven environments.
Thinking beyond your own technical silo, working cross-functionally, and contributing to long-term optimisation efforts are key qualities in demand.
You can read the full article on LinkedIn for a detailed breakdown of hiring trends and in-demand skills. If you're exploring new opportunities, browse our current roles across trading, infrastructure, and research.
And to stay ahead of the curve, subscribe to APAC Trading Insights for the latest updates direct to your inbox.
About the author
Peter Hopkinson is a Principal Consultant at Tribus with over a decade of experience in technology recruitment across London and Sydney. He specialises in software engineering and partners with clients throughout Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Pete brings deep market knowledge and a hands-on approach to building high-performing tech teams across APAC.
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