Ben Hammond

Mobile:07808 726635
Email: ben@vorpalsystems.co.uk
http://www.vorpalsystems.co.uk/BenHammondCV.htm

Profile

SENIOR ANALYST PROGRAMMER with 13 years experience building high performance high availability low latency multithreaded realtime internet financial trading applications.
Last 11 years mostly using Java, IBM MQ Series, Sybase and Oracle, supported with C++ work to integrate libraries and Unix shell scripting.

Full lifecycle experience, from Business analysis through design, documentation, development and testing to business signoff and support handover, as part of a team and also working alone.

Available for contract work from January 2012.

Skills

Java (J2SE) including JDBC (11 years). Use of Java analysis tools (JProbe, YourKit and VisualVM) to examine and tune performance and memory usage.
TCP/IP socket level programming from Java and C++. Development and performance analysis of both proprietary and standard wire formats. Use of WireShark to analyse and debug network interactions.
Recent C++ experience in writing JNI interfaces to enable libraries to be accessed from Java
SpringFramework (2.5 & 3), Hibernate (3.1), Apache Tomcat, Mortbay Jetty (2 years), Apache Ant (4 years), Apache Maven(2 years), JUnit for test driven development (4 years), continuous integration and deployment using Hudson (3 years)
Java Swing and the Netbeans Rich Client Platform (2 years), IBM SWT and the Eclipse Rich Client Platform (1 year)
Apache Axis and Jcifs NTLM for communication and authentication with Microsoft Web Services
Interfacing with Murex using MxML
Configuration and usage of TanukiSoft JavaService Wrapper to reliably deploy java servers as Windows Services
Sybase (12.5), Oracle (9i) and MS SQLServer (2000) using JDBC and Hibernate
PL/SQL package programming on Oracle 9i, Schema, stored procedure, constraint, index and trigger design and optimisation. (2 years)
Real time data feeds using Tibco RendezVous Java APIs
Real time data feeds using IBM MQ Series Java API
XML using both DOM apis for simplicity and SAX apis for performance.
C++ using MFC on Windows (4 years)
Design processes for Object Orientated programming languages (Java, C++), Procedural languages (C, VB) and Functional languages (LISP, 2 years). Use of standard design patterns where appropriate.
Interest in dynamic JVM languages, Groovy, Grails, Scala and the Lift framework.
Excellent understanding of design an implementation of multi-threading for high-performance systems.
Strong refactoring, debugging and code-trouble shooting skills
K-shell and bourne shell scripting
Software design for object orientated languages (Java and C++, 7 years), procedural languages (C, Visual Basic, 5 years) and functional languages (LISP, 2 years). Use of standard design patterns where appropriate.
Business analysis for derivatives trading (Futures, Options, CFDs, Warrants), FX trading (Spots, Swaps and Outrights) and treasury (Loans/Deposits, FRAs, Overnight Deposit Swaps). FX decomposition for crosses and forwards. Margin trading systems.
Highly motivated with excellent written and verbal communication skills. Comfortable working alone or as part of a team.

Achievements

Redeveloped proprietary messaging for internet trading platform in Java.
- Replaced previous C and Visual Basic raw socket based messaging system.
- Introduced true multithreading to the messaging api.
- Object Orientated concepts allowed cleaner implementation.
- Wire format compatible with previous C++ socket based system ensured a smooth upgrade path
Re-engineered Pricing middleware server in Java for a major investment bank to improve reliability, performance and maintainability.
- Average price turnaround time halved.
- Sustained throughput increased 2.5 fold.
- Used IBM MQ Series to provide high scalability and availablility.
- JAXB inspired message handling allowed for fast and error-free maintenance to the XML messaging.
- Worked as a 1 man team on this project.
Implemented a server in Java to push sets of prices at preset intervals.
- Designed to be simple to configure; in particular the alteration of currency sets was designed to be straightforward.
- Interfaced to a Tibco Rendezvous based pricing platform.
- Design smoothly adapted to evolving business specifications.
Reengineered Backoffice software to replace legacy DOS based system.
- Collated requirements from dealers, accounts and compliance departments.
- Led a team that varied between 2 and 5 developers.
- Written in a combination of Java, SQL 92 and Oracle PL/SQL.
- Streamlined data entry procedure eased workload on busy dealing staff and reduced potential for human error.
- Improved response times and reliablity achieved from first night of operations; client statements were generated and emailed by midnight rather than 6am.
- Tight system of internal sanity checks reduced potential for accounting discrepancies to almost nil.
Re-engineered FX volatility contribution and calculation software to improve reliability, latency, throughput and maintainability
- Time taken for a full EURUSD update dropped five-fold
- System guarenteed to never lose any pending calculations, or else to immediately inform the user of system failure.
- System kept the user informed about progess of calculations resulting from an update to a master ccypair
- Calculations were asynchronous; users were able to resume using the software immediately

Professional Experience

Feb 2009 - December 2011	UniCredit S.p.A
Contract developer	Murex data feed service
Technologies	Java (J2SE), Swing Framework (3), JDBC, Murex client apis, TanukiSoft JavaServiceWrapper
Used to push volatility data into murex risk management engine Greatly improved system reliability in this sensitive area. Required mastery of a poorly-documented Murex API
Contract developer	UniMarker Volatility Contribution tool
Technologies	Java (J2SE), Java WebStart, Java Swing, NetBeans RCP, Maven, Hudson, Apache Axis, Jcifs NTLMv2
Used by traders to maintain ccypair volatility Reproduced then extended functionality from an Excel spreadsheet closely integrated with analytics library to automatically recompute cells as traders updated others
Contract developer	UniPricer FX Options Pricing Tool
Technologies	Java (J2SE), Java WebStart, Eclipse RCP, IBM MQ Series, Murex MxML, Maven, Hudson, Apache Axis, Jcifs NTLMv2
Pricing tool used by Sales and Traders Took Proof of Concept Options Pricer and industrialised it Wrote framework to supported new product types as Quants developed analytics libraries Integrated NTLMv2 authentication into Apache Axis to enable authenticated communication with SQLServer back end Implemented Straight Through Processing to push deals directly into Murex Risk Management Developed Continuous Integration and deployment system to enable quants and senior traders to give feedback on new functionality as it was developed Based on IBM Eclipse Rich Client Platform with JFaces. Deployed using Java WebStart.
March 2007 - December 2008	HSBC Investment Bank
Contract Developer	FX Options Pricing Service
Technologies	Java (J2SE), Spring Framework, Hibernate, Apache Tomcat, Tibco RV, MS Visual C++, MS Excel VBA, Sybase 12.5
Provided new functionality, performance enhancements and bug fixes to an fx (vanillas and exotics) options pricing platform.
February 2005 - February 2007	UBS Investment Bank AG
Contract Developer	FX pricing infrastructure
Technologies	Java (J2SE), IBM MQ Series, XML, JDBC, Sybase, C++, WindowsXP, Solaris 10
Re-engineered an on-demand pricing engine to increase responsiveness, scalability, maintainability and accuracy whilst reducing CPU overhead. Full software lifecycle from requirements (improve responsiveness of previous system), through to solution (re-engineer software), design, documentation, coding, testing, delivery to UAT and support of UAT processes. Handled pricing for a wide range of FX and Treasury instruments. 100% compatible with previous interfaces enabling a trivial deployment and rollback procedure. Developed a FX price-push server to deliver batches of FX prices to an external client at a set period. Worked flexibly with external development team to deliver software to an evolving specification.

January 2004 - January 2005	Personal projects. I spent a year travelling around Asia

June 2001 - January 2004	CMC Group PLC, Information Internet Limited
Principal Developer, System Architect, Technical Team Leader	Backoffice replacement project
Technologies	Java (J2SE), Oracle (9i), MS SQL Server 2000,
CMC Group Plc acquired Information Internet in May 2000. The job title and employer name subsequently changed but the role did not. Replacement of legacy, MSDOS based backoffice system. Took project through entire lifecycle from business analysis right through to the handover to support. Led a team of developers which varied in size between 2 and 10 Responsible for administering FX Rollovers CFD overnight financing charges Mark to Market calculations and cash postings on all client and dealer positions corporate actions Generation and email of client daily statements Generation of P&L and market exposure reports for accountants, dealers and directors. Creation of payment extract files enabling straight-through processing to external banking systems of client cash payments. Commission calculation and settlement with trading partners/brokers.

May 2000 - June 2001	Information Internet Limited
Senior Developer	MarketMaker Version 5.0
Technologies	Java (J2SE), MS SQL Server 2000, MS Visual C++
Joined this project mid-lifecycle, taking over from a leaver. Reimplementing the entire trading platform in Java. Designed and implemented real time messaging system Kept backward compatibility with previous version of messaging system. Designed and implemented business objects modelling the trading activity. Designed and implemented auto matching software. Designed and implemented Windows NT Service to keep the Java server software running on the server machines.

January 2000 - May 2000	Information Internet Limited
Technical Team Leader	Unibank project
Technologies	VB, C++, ADO, ActiveX, ATL, MFC, MS SQL Server, Access
Project to adapt a version of the MarketMaker trading platform for a Danish bank. Worked closely with the bank's business analysts to create functional specifications. Led a team of 3 developers. Project terminated prematurely due to political issues.

September 1999 - January 2000	Information Internet Limited
Technical Team Leader	Fimat project
Technologies	VB, C++, ADO, ActiveX, ATL, MFC, MS SQL Server, Access
Joined towards end of lifecycle. Brought in to ensure client satisfaction in managing last few outstanding issues in the project

March 1999 - September 1999	Information Internet Limited
Technical Team Leader	Investec MarketMaker Treasury
Technologies	VB, C++, ADO, ATL, MFC, MS SQL Server, MSAccess
Developed on client site (in dealing room) Worked closely with client's business analysts to produce functional specifications and incrementally deliver the system functionality. Developed flavour of FX trading system which handled call accounts, loans and deposits including a limited trade finance application Delivered software to bridge trading information from the MSSQL Server database into their BradyTrinity risk management system. Delivered software to calculate FX trade decomposition (via Spot USD) for all FX deals. Led team of 3 developers

September 1998 - March 1999	Information Internet Limited
Developer	Various pricefeeds
Technologies	C++, MFC, MS Access
Interfaced with a variety of external price feeds to convert into (and out of) MarketMaker format. These include ADP Systems, Reuters SFC, iNet Bridge, Dow Jones and various internal pricing models. Abstracted the interface details into a .dll. This meant that the same priceserver executable could be installed at all client sites, greatly easing the maintenance burden. Implemented using C++ and MFC Designed to handled a specified throughput of 1000 prices/second. In tests it exceeded this (slightly).

October 1997 - January 1999	Information Internet Limited
Developer	MarketMaker version 4.0
Technologies	VB, ODBC, MS SQL Server, Access
Worked on various applications building up the the rollout of version 4 of the system. Designed and Implemented software from specified requirements. Rollout of system both at CMC Group PLC in London and at Commerzbank in Frankfurt.

September 1995 - August 1997	Mirror Group Newspapers PLC
Technical Support Analyst
Unix and Windows NT system administration Troubleshooting a wide range of servers and desktop machines Insight into issues faced when providing 24/7 support for software developed in-house. Gained understanding of issues faced by medium sized IT departments.

Education

September 1991 - June 1995	University of Edinburgh
BSc Hons Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science (2.1)
Excellent grounding in theory and practice of good design Wide variety of computer languages ranging from Pascal through to Standard ML via C++ and M6809 Assembly on to LISP and Prolog. This gives an appreciation of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the different styles of programming language.