Lead Engineer - UI

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Engineer - UI
Company: Citi
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Engineering / Technology / Finance
Date Posted: 2025-12-18
Experience Level: Mid-Senior (5-10 years)
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and development of sophisticated front-end solutions for eTrading and Algorithmic trading platforms, emphasizing robust architecture and scalable implementation.
• Provide critical technical oversight and guidance across various systems and applications, ensuring alignment with enterprise engineering standards and best practices.
• Drive the enhancement and ongoing support of existing infrastructure and applications, leveraging a diverse technology stack including Angular, .Net, and WPF.
• Champion engineering excellence throughout the application development lifecycle, balancing rapid client delivery with stringent governance, compliance, and audit requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Lead Engineer, indicating a need for not only strong technical development skills but also leadership in technical direction, mentoring, and potentially guiding junior engineers. The focus on eTrading and Algo platforms within a financial institution like Citi suggests a high-stakes, performance-critical environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, and implement high-performance, large-scale UI applications using Angular, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, ensuring seamless integration with backend services.
• Design and build real-time communication mechanisms between the UI and backend systems, utilizing protocols like HTTP and WebSockets.
• Implement and optimize reactive programming paradigms (RxJS, NgRx) for enhanced state management and application responsiveness.
• Collaborate closely with UX designers to translate visual designs into functional and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, adhering to style guides and brand standards.
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines (e.g., TeamCity, Jenkins) within Cloud Native environments to automate build, test, and deployment processes.
• Conduct thorough performance tuning and troubleshooting of UI applications to ensure optimal speed, stability, and user experience.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and code reviews for a team of engineers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure all development adheres to robust coding standards, development practices, and compliance mandates relevant to the financial industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on coding, architectural design, and leadership. The emphasis on "large-scale," "high-performant," and "real-time communication" points to the critical nature of these platforms in a trading environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience is required.
• Master's degree is preferred.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of proven experience in designing, building, testing, maintaining, and supporting large-scale, high-performant UI applications.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new business concepts and technologies quickly and thoroughly.
• Experience in following good development standards and practices.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in core UI Technologies: Angular, JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML, and CSS.
• Strong experience in designing and developing distributed applications and architectures.
• Expertise in performance tuning and troubleshooting of UI applications.
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines (e.g., TeamCity, Jenkins) in Cloud Native environments.
• Thorough understanding of real-time communication between UI and backend using HTTP and WebSockets.
• Understanding of Reactive programming paradigms (RxJS and NgRx).
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Innovator mindset: drives the adoption of new approaches, solutions, and tools.

Preferred Skills:

• Previous experience in delivering electronic trading solutions.
• Previous experience in the financial industry, with knowledge of Spread Products (Bonds, Loans, CDS/CDX & Index Tranches).
• Experience with .Net and WPF is a plus.
• Familiarity in implementing styles based on UX designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-10 years" experience level, combined with "Lead Engineer" title, suggests this role is for an individual contributor with significant technical depth and the ability to influence technical direction, rather than a people management role. The preferred skills in financial products are a strong indicator of the specific domain within Citi.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 complex UI projects demonstrating expertise in Angular, TypeScript, and real-time communication protocols.
• For each project, clearly articulate the technical challenges faced, the architectural decisions made, and the specific UI patterns and technologies employed.
• Provide evidence of performance optimization strategies implemented, including metrics on load times, responsiveness, and stability improvements.
• Detail your experience with CI/CD integration, including examples of automated testing and deployment workflows you have contributed to.
• Include case studies that highlight your ability to translate complex business requirements (especially in financial trading) into user-friendly and efficient front-end solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate understanding of the full application development lifecycle, from requirements gathering and design to implementation, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance.
• Highlight experience with agile methodologies and iterative development processes, including participation in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives.
• Showcase your approach to code quality, including experience with unit testing frameworks, code reviews, and static analysis tools.
• Present examples of how you have contributed to process improvements or automation initiatives within previous development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead Engineer role, the portfolio should emphasize architectural contributions, problem-solving at scale, and leadership in technical implementation, rather than just individual feature development. Demonstrating impact on performance and efficiency is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Lead UI Engineers with 5-10 years of experience in London, UK, the estimated salary range for this role is between £85,000 and £120,000 per annum. This estimate considers the specialized nature of financial trading platforms and Citi's standing as a major global financial institution.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and public holidays.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching contributions (e.g., pension scheme).
• Opportunities for professional development, including training, certifications, and conference attendance.
• Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses and stock options.
• Access to Citi's global network and career advancement opportunities.

Working Hours:

• Standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week.
• While the role is on-site, there may be flexibility for occasional remote work or adjusted hours, subject to team and project needs.
• Occasional overtime may be required to meet project deadlines or address critical production issues, particularly given the nature of financial trading systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical market rates for similar roles in London. Actual compensation will be determined by the candidate's experience, skills, and performance during the interview process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services and Banking. Citi operates as a global financial services giant, offering a wide range of banking and financial products and services to consumers, corporations, and governments worldwide. This industry demands high levels of security, compliance, and precision.

Company Size: Citi is a very large, multinational corporation with hundreds of thousands of employees globally. This scale implies a structured environment with established processes, diverse teams, and significant resources.

Founded: 1812. With a long history, Citi has a deep-rooted presence in the financial sector, suggesting a culture that values stability, tradition, and long-term strategic vision, while also embracing innovation to stay competitive.

Team Structure:

• The UI Engineering team for eTrading and Algo platforms likely comprises highly specialized engineers focused on front-end development for critical trading applications.
• Reporting structure will likely involve a direct manager (e.g., Engineering Manager, Head of Front-End Development) with potential for matrixed reporting to product owners or business stakeholders.
• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving close partnerships with backend engineers, quantitative analysts, product managers, QA teams, and potentially compliance and risk management departments.

Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are crucial for understanding trading patterns, user behavior, and system performance, driving iterative improvements.
• Workflow planning and optimization are paramount in a high-frequency trading environment to ensure minimal latency and maximum efficiency.
• Automation and efficiency practices are heavily utilized, especially through CI/CD pipelines, to accelerate development cycles and reduce manual errors in a regulated industry.

Company Website: https://www.citi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Working in a large financial institution like Citi means adhering to rigorous standards. The operations and technology teams are critical for delivering reliable and compliant trading platforms.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a "Lead Engineer" level, signifying a senior individual contributor position. It requires deep technical expertise, the ability to mentor others, and influence technical direction within the team. It's a crucial step for engineers looking to specialize further or move towards technical leadership roles without necessarily managing people directly.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Engineer will likely report to an Engineering Manager or a similar technical lead. They will work closely with product managers, business analysts, and other engineering teams (backend, QA, DevOps) to deliver integrated solutions. This structure emphasizes collaboration and shared responsibility for successful project outcomes.

Operations Impact: The UI Engineer's work directly impacts the efficiency, speed, and usability of critical eTrading and Algorithmic platforms. This has a direct effect on the firm's ability to execute trades effectively, manage risk, and generate revenue in competitive financial markets. High-quality UI development is essential for trader productivity and client satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced front-end frameworks, real-time data visualization, or specific financial trading technologies.
• Architectural Leadership: Progress to roles like Senior Principal Engineer or Architect, focusing on designing complex, enterprise-level UI systems.
• Team Guidance: Develop mentorship skills, lead technical initiatives, and potentially transition into a formal team lead or management role if desired.
• Domain Expertise: Become a subject matter expert in specific financial products (e.g., Spread Products) or trading strategies, increasing value within the financial technology domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title suggests a path for growth into more senior individual contributor roles or technical management, with a strong emphasis on technical mentorship and architectural input.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is designated as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment located in London. This setup facilitates direct collaboration, spontaneous problem-solving, and adherence to stringent security protocols common in the financial industry.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is London, England, United Kingdom. This central location provides access to a vibrant tech talent pool and positions the employee within a major global financial hub. Specific office details and amenities would be provided upon further engagement.

Workspace Context:

• Expect a collaborative and professional workspace designed for focused work and team interaction, typical of a large financial institution.
• Access to high-performance computing resources, robust network infrastructure, and specialized financial data feeds will be standard.
• Opportunities for direct interaction with a diverse team of engineers, product specialists, and traders will be frequent, fostering a dynamic problem-solving environment.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is expected.
• Given the 24/7 nature of global financial markets, some flexibility may be required, potentially involving early morning or late evening collaboration with teams in different time zones, or occasional on-call duties for critical system support.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in a major financial hub like London suggests a fast-paced, demanding, yet highly rewarding work environment focused on precision and collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely conduct an initial screening to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
• Technical Interview(s): Expect multiple rounds of technical interviews. These may include:
  • Coding Challenges: Live coding sessions on platforms like CoderPad or HackerRank, focusing on algorithms, data structures, and UI implementation (e.g., building a component, debugging a piece of code).
  • System Design: Discussions on designing scalable, high-performance UI architectures for trading platforms, including considerations for real-time data, state management, and error handling.
  • Behavioral Questions: Standard STAR method questions assessing problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, and handling challenging situations.
• Lead/Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager or a senior technical lead to delve deeper into your experience, leadership style, and alignment with team goals.
• Final Round: May involve a panel interview or a presentation of your portfolio to senior stakeholders.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 2-3 of your most impactful UI projects that best showcase your expertise in Angular, TypeScript, real-time systems, and performance optimization.
• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline:
  • The problem statement/business need.
  • Your specific role and contributions.
  • The technologies used and why.
  • Key technical challenges and how you overcame them.
  • Measurable outcomes (e.g., performance improvements, adoption rates, efficiency gains).
• Highlight Financial Relevance: If possible, include projects with financial applications or that demonstrate an understanding of complex data visualization and real-time updates critical in trading.
• Prepare for Technical Deep Dives: Be ready to discuss your code, architectural decisions, and trade-offs in detail.

Challenge Preparation:

• Algorithm & Data Structures: Brush up on common algorithms, time/space complexity analysis, and appropriate data structures.
• Angular & TypeScript Mastery: Be prepared for questions on Angular lifecycle hooks, component communication, RxJS operators, NgRx patterns, and TypeScript features.
• System Design for Trading: Practice designing systems that handle high-volume, low-latency data streams, focusing on UI responsiveness and data synchronization. Consider WebSocket implementation, state management strategies, and error handling for critical operations.
• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Think about how you would approach common UI development issues like performance bottlenecks, cross-browser compatibility, accessibility, and integration with complex backend APIs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a lead role at a firm like Citi will be rigorous. Demonstrating not just technical skill but also leadership potential and a deep understanding of the financial trading domain will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UI Frameworks: Angular (expert level), potentially React or Vue.js (familiarity is a plus).
• Languages: TypeScript (expert), JavaScript (expert), HTML5, CSS3.
• State Management: NgRx, RxJS (reactive programming).
• Build Tools: Webpack, potentially Vite.
• Testing Frameworks: Jasmine, Karma, Protractor (or Cypress/Playwright for end-to-end testing).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Performance Monitoring Tools: Tools like Lighthouse, WebPageTest, or integrated APM solutions for UIs.
• Analytics Libraries: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or custom event tracking for user behavior analysis.
• Dashboarding: Experience with tools that integrate with front-end metrics for reporting to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• CI/CD Tools: TeamCity, Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps.
• Cloud Platforms: Familiarity with cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP) and cloud-native practices.
• Version Control: Git (proficient).
• Collaboration Tools: Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Angular, TypeScript, and reactive programming (RxJS, NgRx) is critical. Experience with CI/CD in cloud-native environments is also a key requirement for modern development practices.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity & Trust: Essential in financial services, ensuring all development adheres to the highest ethical and compliance standards.
• Client Focus: Driving innovation and delivering solutions that meet the complex needs of traders and financial institutions.
• Excellence & Innovation: Striving for best-in-class engineering solutions, embracing new technologies and methodologies to improve performance and efficiency.
• Collaboration: Fostering a team-oriented environment where knowledge is shared, and collective problem-solving is encouraged across functions.
• Accountability: Taking ownership of tasks and projects, ensuring delivery with quality and within deadlines.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The team actively collaborates with backend engineers, product managers, quantitative analysts, and business stakeholders to ensure seamless integration and alignment of trading platforms.
• Process Review Culture: Regular code reviews, architecture discussions, and post-mortems are common to refine processes and improve system robustness.
• Knowledge Sharing: Emphasis on sharing best practices, technical insights, and lessons learned through internal presentations, documentation, and pair programming.

📝 Enhancement Note: Citi's culture likely emphasizes a strong sense of responsibility due to the financial industry's nature, alongside a drive for technological advancement within a collaborative framework.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High-Performance Demands: Delivering UI applications that must be extremely fast, responsive, and stable under heavy load, critical for trading environments.
• Complex Financial Domain: Understanding and translating intricate financial concepts, products (e.g., Spread Products), and trading workflows into intuitive user interfaces.
• Stringent Compliance & Security: Navigating and adhering to rigorous regulatory requirements, audit mandates, and security protocols inherent in the financial sector.
• Legacy System Integration: Potentially integrating modern front-end solutions with existing, complex backend systems, requiring careful architectural planning.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Financial Technology: Gain in-depth knowledge of eTrading, algorithmic trading, and various financial instruments and markets.
• Cutting-Edge UI Technologies: Stay at the forefront of front-end development by working with the latest versions of Angular, TypeScript, and emerging UI patterns.
• Global Exposure: Work within a large, international organization with opportunities to collaborate with teams across different regions and business lines.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Benefit from mentorship from experienced engineers and architects, and develop leadership skills to guide technical initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the high-stakes nature of financial trading technology, offering significant learning opportunities for ambitious engineers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed and implemented a high-performance UI for a critical application. What were the key technical challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on real-time aspects, performance tuning, and architectural choices).
• "How would you approach designing a real-time dashboard for traders that needs to display numerous rapidly changing data points with minimal latency?" (Assess understanding of WebSockets, state management, and optimization techniques).
• "Walk me through a complex UI bug you encountered. How did you diagnose it, what steps did you take to fix it, and what did you learn from the experience?" (Evaluate problem-solving methodology and debugging skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working at Citi, specifically within the eTrading technology space?" (Showcase research into Citi's financial services and your understanding of the role's impact).
• "How do you stay updated with the latest trends in front-end development and how would you propose adopting new technologies within a regulated environment like ours?" (Demonstrate proactive learning and awareness of industry best practices).
• "Describe your experience working in a highly collaborative team environment. How do you handle disagreements or differing technical opinions?" (Assess teamwork and communication skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business value and technical achievements of your projects, emphasizing measurable improvements (e.g., reduced load times by X%, increased user engagement by Y%).
• Technical Depth: Be prepared to discuss your architectural decisions, trade-offs, and the specific implementation details of your chosen technologies (Angular, TypeScript, RxJS, NgRx, WebSockets).
• Problem-Solution Framing: Structure your case studies around a clear problem, your proposed solution, the implementation details, and the delivered results.
• Engagement: Treat the portfolio review as a collaborative discussion. Be open to questions and engage in a dialogue about your work and technical approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare specific examples that directly relate to the requirements of the role, especially regarding performance, real-time data, and complex application development within a regulated industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Engineer - UI position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Citi's careers portal.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your expertise in Angular, TypeScript, real-time communication, performance optimization, and any experience in the financial industry or with trading platforms. Quantify achievements wherever possible.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong UI projects that showcase your skills in Angular, TypeScript, and your ability to build high-performance, scalable applications. Be ready to present these with a clear narrative on challenges, solutions, and outcomes.
• Practice Technical Interviews: Revisit core computer science fundamentals, JavaScript/TypeScript concepts, Angular specifics, and system design principles relevant to high-performance UIs. Practice coding challenges.
• Research Citi and Its Technologies: Understand Citi's position in the financial market, its commitment to technology, and the specific challenges of building trading platforms.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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