OnHires is hiring a Head of Trading Platform - Crypto Exchange (UAE)

On-site | UAE | Crypto/Fintech | Senior Leadership | UAE Residence is a must About the Opportunity We are a recruitment partner supporting a fintech company in the final stages of launching a regulated cryptocurrency exchange in the UAE (CMA licence). The company is building a fully compliant trading platform designed to serve both retail and institutional clients under the UAE regulatory framework. As part of the licensing process, they are assembling a core leadership team and are looking for a Head of Trading Platform - a critical role responsible for the performance, resilience, and regulatory compliance of the exchange’s trading infrastructure. Why This Role Is Unique - Own and build the trading platform function in a regulated crypto exchange. - Act as a key senior management role accountable to the UAE regulator (CMA). - Join at an early stage with strong growth ambitions. - High level of ownership over trading systems, performance, and market integrity. - Direct impact on platform scalability, stability, and regulatory compliance. What You Will Be Doing Trading Platform Strategy & Leadership - Define and execute the trading platform strategy aligned with business and regulatory requirements. - Build and lead the trading platform function, including operations and market controls. - Collaborate with Compliance, Risk, Operations, and Technology teams. - Ensure strong governance focused on market fairness, stability, and transparency. Platform Performance & Infrastructure - Oversee the design, scalability, and performance of trading systems (matching engine, OMS, APIs). - Ensure platform resilience, latency management, and high availability under peak conditions. - Participate in technology roadmap decisions, including vendor selection and integrations. - Maintain high standards for system reliability and operational efficiency. Market Integrity & Surveillance - Ensure fair, orderly, and transparent market operations in line with CMA requirements. - Implement and oversee market surveillance frameworks to detect: - market manipulation. - abusive trading practices. - suspicious activity - Define procedures for trading halts, circuit breakers, and trade corrections - Escalate and report market integrity issues to Compliance and regulators Operational Resilience & Incident Management - Own incident management processes, including outages and root cause analysis. - Ensure Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCP/DR) frameworks are in place and tested. - Lead response during critical incidents and ensure proper escalation. - Conduct regular stress testing and failover exercises. Risk & Regulatory Compliance - Identify and manage risks related to trading platform operations. - Work with Risk teams on KRIs, thresholds, and risk frameworks. - Ensure compliance with CMA requirements related to trading systems, audit trails, and change management. - Support audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews. Regulatory Interaction & Reporting - Act as the main point of contact with the CMA on trading platform matters. - Ensure timely reporting of incidents, system changes, and market disruptions. - Maintain accurate records of orders, executions, and system activity. - Ensure full transparency and auditability of platform operations. What We Are Looking For - 10+ years of experience in trading platforms, exchanges, or fintech. - 5+ years in a senior leadership role managing trading systems or infrastructure. - Strong experience in regulated financial environments (CMA or equivalent). - Deep understanding of trading systems, market structure, and execution models. - Experience with market surveillance and market abuse prevention. - Proven ability to manage high-impact incidents and operate under pressure. - Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills. - Fluent English (Arabic is a plus). Nice to Have - Experience with regulated exchanges or trading venues. - Background in crypto markets or digital asset trading. - Experience with market surveillance tools and technologies. - Involvement in regulatory inspections or incident reporting. Location & Conditions 📍 Abu Dhabi, UAE - on-site role. 🏠 UAE residency required (or willingness to relocate). 💰 Competitive compensation, discussed individually. Why Join Us - Opportunity to build and own a critical trading function from day one. - Direct exposure to regulators and executive leadership. - Join a high-growth crypto business entering a regulated market. - Work in a high-impact role with real ownership and decision-making power. Please note: this role is subject to regulatory approval. Certain restrictions may apply based on regulatory requirements.