The KDB+ talent pool is structurally constrained. Q Partners addresses this at source — building new engineering capability and deploying it through managed regional delivery models.
Translate business intent into cohesive operating models and target architectures for KDB+ environments.
Comprehensive strategy aligned to business objectives and financial constraints.
Assess operating model against strategic objectives and capability gaps.
Identify and prioritise KDB+ use cases that deliver maximum business value.
Define governance frameworks and operating standards.
Delivery of key programmes implementing, upgrading, and optimising KDB+ platforms utilising our specialist bench model.
Production-grade KDB+ platforms from the ground up, or legacy modernisation.
Operational excellence through monitoring, alerting, and automated recovery.
Quantitative modelling, ML pipelines, and AI-driven analytics on KDB+ data stores.
Optimise ingestion, transformation, and distribution for maximum throughput.
Rather than competing for a fixed pool of existing engineers, we build new KDB+ capability and deploy it through managed delivery teams in your strategic regional hubs.
We identify high-potential graduates with strong quantitative aptitude and put them through intensive, purpose-built KDB+/q development programmes.
Engineers developed and based in hub locations across multiple geographies, delivering structural cost advantages.
Co-managed or Q Partners-led structures, with full governance, reporting, and escalation management.
Defined transition aligned to capability transfer objectives. Free internalisation after 24 months.
The total number of experienced KDB+ engineers worldwide is estimated in the low thousands. For a technology that underpins most of the global sell-side front office, this is a structural constraint that conventional sourcing cannot resolve. We address this at source — building new capability rather than competing harder within a fixed pool.
Our consultants are trained and assessed on their ability to engage directly with front-office quants, strats, and business stakeholders — mirroring New York and London engagement standards.
Significantly lower cost per resource versus core financial hubs. The two-year cost differential is typically measured in millions.
KDB+ positions commonly remain unfilled for three to six months. Our model delivers production-ready engineers in under 10 weeks.
Zero attrition in regional hubs, delivering the continuity and stability that core locations struggle to maintain.
Limited competition for KDB+ talent in-region, aligned to North American and European trading hours.
Defined capability transfer after 24 months. Structured transition ensuring continuity and validated knowledge handover.
Engineers report directly to the client's delivery lead. Q Partners retains a dotted-line governance role, providing delivery oversight, ongoing support, and structured reporting.
Preferred where pre-existing KDB+ capability does not currently reside. Engineers report to a Q Partners Technical Lead, accountable for delivery against agreed scope and milestones.
Scope, delivery approach, and governance framework agreed prior to commencement.
Review of trained consultant bench. Additional associates entered into cohort as required.
Industry-led KDB+/q training. Consultants assessed for front-office environments.
Client-led interviews. Validation of technical fit and deployment readiness.
Compliance, security, project orientation, and environment access.
Delivery oversight, performance management, and structured reporting.
Structured transition ensuring continuity and validated knowledge handover.
Core q syntax, data structures, qSQL, and time-series manipulation.
Tickerplant, RDB, HDB, gateways, and real-time data flows.
Loading, querying, enriching, and analysing market-style datasets.
Trade lifecycle, asset classes, front-to-back operating models.
Structured communication, investigation practices, production processes.
Full KX certification plus Q Partners proprietary assessment.
Scaling the global KDB+ function to support growing FICC demands. 3 consultants deployed.
KDB/Q CoE supporting London FX and Fixed Income e-trading. 1 SME and 2 consultants.
Expanding equities into a strategic Canadian office. KDB+ for local quant teams. 3 consultants.
Our services span KDB+ Strategy and Architecture, Engineering and Optimisation, and Regional Development and Cost Optimisation — including the design and stand-up of regional KDB+ hubs to expand delivery capacity, improve resilience, and align with long-term growth plans.
Platinum Capital Markets is a global technology practice offering advisory and consulting services across five core pillars. Our goal is to offer clients a vendor-agnostic approach to improving the efficiency and resilience of their trading operations.
Enterprise roadmap definition, maturity benchmarking, and target operating model design.
Implementation and optimisation of front-to-back trading, risk, and post-trade platforms.
Low-latency connectivity, market data, and platform modernisation.
Data strategy, governance frameworks, and advanced analytics including KDB+/q.
Regulatory change, compliance technology, and audit readiness programmes.
Connor Dowling · Managing Director
Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London