Meet the Teams: Pune Engineering

Decades ago, Pune earned its nickname as the “Oxford of the East” due to its having the highest number of colleges and universities of any city in India. However, over the last decade, the city, which is ranked the second most livable city in India, has evolved into a regional tech powerhouse.

Located about 90 miles southeast of Mumbai, Pune is one of the world’s top automotive manufacturing hubs and the home of Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines. The city attracts brilliant software engineers from all over the country to work in its thousands of startups and global financial organizations that have established operations there. Bloomberg opened its Engineering Office in Pune in 2014 to tap into this talent pool and grow its presence in this region.

Today, three of Bloomberg’s global engineering teams include small teams of engineers who call this regional office home. The Asset & Investment Manager (AIM) Engineering team builds Bloomberg’s award-winning buy-side order management system (OMS), which is used by hundreds of institutional money managers globally with more than $18 trillion in assets under management. The Exchange Trading Connectivity (ETC) Engineering group facilitates trading connectivity between Bloomberg’s clients, internal order management systems/execution management systems, and trading venues. And, a new Sell-Side Repo (repurchase agreements) Ticketing and Lifecycle Engineering team is part of the larger Sell-Side Engineering team, which develops products that provide comprehensive multi-asset solutions to the sell-side that cover all front-office trading and sales-trading workflows.

AIM Engineering

First, let’s meet Rohan Bhindwale, who leads the team within Asset & Investment Manager (AIM) that works in Pune.

Tell us about your role as Team Leader for the Asset & Investment Manager (AIM) Engineering team in Pune and what the team is responsible for.
I oversee teams working in the Compliance solution within AIM. We work on several projects: creating and managing regulatory rules that are evaluated at multiple points in the trade life cycle; building a solution that will allow stand-alone use of our Compliance system; and creating a framework for client workflow management. We also work on Automation and several other product initiatives that help portfolio managers, traders, and compliance officers use cutting-edge technology to manage their day-to-day trading activities, all the way from trade ideation to trade settlement.

In addition, I am responsible for expanding the office and adding teams and product areas. I also coordinate various office activities, such as engaging top universities for internship and entry-level recruiting, organizing different tech training labs, and collaborating with various technical conferences.

What are some of the unique technical challenges your team tackles?
My team is helping grow and scale AIM into a cutting-edge solution for the largest buy-side firms. The software we create has to cater to the needs of some of the largest asset managers, who require workflow sophistication, fault tolerance, high throughput, and low latency, while also reducing their time to market.

A challenge that we deal with on a regular basis is maintaining quality in a complex product while ensuring timely delivery. To address this, we follow a structured design process that emphasizes quality and testing, while following an Agile development methodology.

Tell us about your career path.
I interviewed for Bloomberg in New York in 2004 right after graduate school and was impressed by the energy in the office and the strong technical background of my team members. At that point in my career, I was focused on growing my technical skills, and Bloomberg offered me the perfect environment in which to do that. My initial years were spent in the Software Infrastructure group helping build low-level libraries and frameworks used in the majority of Bloomberg’s applications. During that time, I got a great foundation in software design and learned how to build complex, large-scale systems.

After working in a number of different teams and departments at Bloomberg, I moved to Pune from New York City four years ago. Mobility is strongly encouraged at Bloomberg, and I benefited from the company’s support during my relocation. For the last year and a half, I have been managing the AIM team in Pune, working on projects in Trading and Analytics. This has provided me with a greater appreciation of the financial markets, and how Bloomberg supports clients across those markets globally. This is a fast-paced and dynamic domain, and I really enjoy the challenges that I get to solve daily.

What’s your strategy for choosing team members?
Diversity and inclusion is in our company’s DNA, and it’s a high priority when recruiting for my team and for the office. I believe that well-rounded, diverse teams with colleagues having a multitude of skills, experiences, and attitudes is important for the success of the team. We try to attract candidates from different backgrounds in our recruiting process. As an example, last year we conducted a couple of events at a women-only engineering college with the aim of providing female candidates internships and full-time opportunities.

I try to understand the strengths and growth areas of different candidates. Just because some candidates may not be a perfect fit for a specific job opening does not mean that they cannot be successful in a different role. With that in mind, I try to find the right team fit and create a supportive environment that will give them the best opportunity to be successful. As we grow the Pune office, diversity will continue to play an important part in our expansion.

What skills do you look for when hiring engineers for your team?
I look for self-motivated individuals who are continuously looking to learn and grow. Bloomberg gives people a lot of ownership and asks them to wear multiple hats. To be successful at Bloomberg, someone must take responsibility, take measured risks, and collaborate well with others. Open communication and teamwork are at the core of how we work.

In terms of technical skills, I look for problem solvers and people that have shown mastery over some technology. In my team, we work on different languages, technologies and tech stacks, so we embrace team members with all technological experiences and backgrounds.

What are some of the factors driving the expansion of your office in this region?
Bloomberg is looking to expand its Engineering presence across Asia. As Pune is the heart of India’s technology and financial industry, it’s a great opportunity for us to expand our roots here, especially given the exceptional talent and top-tier schools based in the region.

I am lucky to have an amazing set of colleagues in my team and in the Pune office. Their successful execution of projects has provided a greater appetite by the Engineering department’s leadership to locate new teams that are responsible for additional product areas in this office. We have more than doubled the size of the Pune office in the past couple of years, and now host teams from different areas of our Trading & Analytics Engineering group.

We have also had success with tapping into the strong talent pool in Pune and across India. We have established connections with top universities in the country and have had success building the Bloomberg Pune brand across them. Through our internship and entry-level recruiting program, we have found exceptionally talented new hires that have hit the ground running and are knowledgeable about all the technologies that we work on. The rate of uptake from them has been impressive, and it motivates us to nurture this pipeline.

We are still in a nascent stage of our office growth, and I am optimistic that as our new hires settle in they can act as a force multiplier and drive us towards more rapid growth.

How do you foster culture on your team?
I encourage a people-centric culture built on collaboration, communication, and inclusiveness. Communication is an important part of this equation. A team that works well together, grows together, and enjoys each other’s success will eventually do amazing things.

“To be successful at Bloomberg, someone must take responsibility, take measured risks, and collaborate well with others. Open communication and teamwork are at the core of how we work.”

– Rohan Bhindwale

Shreya Krishnan is a Team Lead for the Compliance Rules Management team under AIM. She is also Bloomberg’s D&I Champion for Engineering in APAC. She’s been with Bloomberg for nearly four years, and is focused on building big, complex systems that can scale. 

Tell us about what you’re working on now and what your biggest challenge is. What inspires you most about it?
I lead AIM’s growing Compliance Rules Management team. We are working on re-architecting and implementing a full stack rules management system for use across Trading Systems Compliance for both buy-side and sell-side trading workflows. Our systems enable clients to manage regulatory compliance. We’re building robust systems to meet scaling and latency requirements as we onboard larger clients.

I’m motivated to lead a people-first team, while also excelling in delivering on our product goals as per our vision. The team is as strong as its people, and my team keeps me motivated and inspired.

What is it like moving to different teams within Bloomberg? How have you adapted?
Prior to Bloomberg I worked in multiple IT Services firms for more than 12 years. When I joined Bloomberg in New York in 2018, I worked with the teams focused on TOMS (Trade Order Management System), Bloomberg’s Sell-Side OMS, and its Repo solution. I relocated to the Pune office in mid-2020 and joined the AIM Rules Management team. I received a lot of support from my team and managers during my move, and I was able to ramp up fairly quickly. The constant learning and growth opportunities have motivated me to take on more. Today, this team has grown five-fold.

You’re very involved in a variety of D&I initiatives. Tell us about why this is important to you and some of the things you’ve played a role in to make our workplace more inclusive.
D&I is very close to my heart and I am very passionate about this topic. As an organization, Bloomberg is heavily invested in D&I and I see everyone across our management chain is committed to it. As part of my role as the APAC D&I Champion for Engineering, I strive to organize initiatives to ensure we’re inclusive and everyone at the organization is well represented. For example, I hosted multiple #IamRemarkable workshops across APAC to educate our people on the challenges faced by underrepresented groups and to empower them to advocate for self promotion.

“As part of my role as the APAC D&I Champion for Engineering, I strive to organize initiatives to ensure we’re inclusive and everyone at the organization is well represented.”

– Shreya Krishnan

Rohit Bhalerao is a Team Lead within AIM’s Portfolio Management group.

Tell us about what you’re working on now and what your biggest challenge is. What inspires you most about it?
I was initially responsible for setting up teams in the Compliance, Decision Support, and Order Management areas. Moving forward, Pune will mainly focus and grow in two areas, namely Compliance and Decision Support. Once we’ve established ourselves in these areas, we may focus on bringing in new product areas.

I am now managing and growing multiple teams under the Decision Support area, with an initial focus on ensuring high availability of position data and rebalancing. Providing the latest position data is key to our flagship Portfolio Manager Workspace (PM <GO>) solution, while the rebalancing of portfolios is one of that application’s key features. Our challenge has always been maintaining the balance between short-term wins and long-term goals as we execute on the vision for the application.

This is a latency-sensitive space where performance and availability play key roles. Understanding the domain better, working closely with Product to push the application boundaries, and collaborating with the very talented peer teams keeps me motivated.

Bloomberg has a distinctive culture. What attracted you to it?
Before returning to Bloomberg, I worked for multiple banks and hedge funds for over 18 years. I rejoined Bloomberg’s Pune office in May 2020 and joined the AIM Engineering team. Working closely with my manager in Pune and the very supportive peer teams in different regions helped me have an impact in a very short time. The work environment at Bloomberg gives people a platform to be independent and impactful; that’s what makes its culture special.

Tell us about the mentorship you’re receiving at Bloomberg.
I was really fortunate to receive great mentorship during my two years at Bloomberg. Both my team lead, Rohan Bhindwale, and my manager in New York, Abhinav Rai, have played a crucial role in my success. During my journey to becoming a Team Lead, I was fortunate to have received immense support from senior management of both the AIM team and our wider Engineering department, which has made me a better leader and person. The relationships that you build during mentoring aren’t short-term, and they stay with you through your journey with Bloomberg.

“The work environment at Bloomberg gives people a platform to be independent and impactful; that’s what makes its culture special.”

– Rohit Bhalerao

Exchange Trading Connectivity (ETC) Engineering

Sarang Chandaikar is the Team Lead for the Exchange Trading Connectivity (ETC) team in Pune. He has worked for Bloomberg since 2014.

Tell us about your role as team leader for the ETC team and what the team is responsible for?
Our group is responsible for facilitating connectivity for transactions made by Bloomberg’s various order- and execution-management systems to exchanges. Our primary focus is to provide several connectivity applications called “Gateways,” which provide direct connectivity to exchanges used by various Terminal-based order- and execution-management systems and also provide a layer of translation between them.

Our team develops numerous connectivity gateways, which include various financial protocols including FIX, OUCH, OM, and other native exchange protocols. Apart from that, the team has the ownership of infrastructure libraries that will help develop a new DX connectivity gateway, which is responsible for abstracting away the nuances of a trading venue’s protocol, while maintaining a standardized protocol for modules within Bloomberg to integrate with. The team is also responsible for Exchange Proxy Service (EPS), which is the specification API that outlines the handshake agreements and message specifications for connecting Bloomberg products and clients to ETC-supported venues.

In addition, I also coordinate various office activities along with Rohan and Rohit especially in organizing philanthropy events and training sessions.

Briefly tell us about your career path.
After graduation, I started my career at First Futures Software, where I developed a trading system, technical indicators, and different analysis tools. From requirement gathering to development to deployment, the company helped me understand lots of different intricacies in the finance domain. A few years ago, RTS Realtime Systems acquired First Futures, and I got a much broader exposure to different technologies, products, and people.

Then, in 2014, Bloomberg acquired RTS, and I moved from C# and .Net to C++ and trading systems, and then to Exchange Trading Connectivity, an area that concentrates more on low-latency and high accuracy. A couple of years later, I became the full-time Team Lead for ETC’s extraordinary and diverse team in Pune.

How do you foster a collaborative, inclusive environment at work?
Clear and transparent communication within the team helps to build the team’s culture, and I believe the team’s culture is the real key to its success. It affects the productivity and quality of the deliverables. Persistent communication within a team helps to get to know each person and eventually, benefits the team in multiple ways.

As a team lead, we need to discover and establish numerous ways to increase communication and collaboration within the team. This helps create understanding among our people and helps them develop the required amount of empathy. This approach encourages people to share their ideas, experiences, and knowledge they have learned so far.

Team leads also have to generate multiple opportunities for the team members to take more responsibilities and eventually, a sense of ownership. The “project lead” concept in the team has enabled us to embed this sense of ownership of a project. Project leads are encouraged to make decisions on their own around the project. This has helped us discover people who have the potential to lead a bigger project or small team. If everyone in the team takes responsibility and has this kind of sense of ownership, it definitely helps build a team environment that promises to deliver astounding results.

What skills do you look for when hiring engineers for your team?
We look for engineers who are enthusiastic and have passion for their work and especially in the software field. Most importantly, we look for those who are willing and able to learn new things quickly. While selecting someone, we generally look for the value this person brings to our team and the balance it creates.

Skill-wise, our team expects candidates to have a decent coding fluency in C++, a solid understanding of data structures and algorithms, and strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

“If everyone in the team takes responsibility and has this kind of sense of ownership, it definitely helps build a team environment that promises to deliver astounding results.”

– Sarang Chandaikar

Ankita Tapadia joined Blomberg after graduating in 2014, and is now a Team Lead managing the FIX Configuration & Management System (FCMS).

Tell us about what you’re working on now and what your biggest challenge is. What inspires you most about it?
I’ve spent eight years as part of the Exchange Trading Connectivity (ETC) team, which developed solutions that enable internal teams and clients to route transactions via the connections that we build with exchanges around the globe, without them having to worry about each exchange’s specifications.

Starting this August, I am now in charge of setting up and managing the FIX Configuration & Management (FCMS) team under the umbrella of ETC. Our primary responsibility is to set up the FIX connections which are used to route messages to venues. This includes configuring, monitoring, and deploying these sessions to various instances of our FIX Server.

During my time with ETC, I have seen this group evolve. Beyond our routine projects, I’m inspired by opportunities to work on a project for a different team, which exposes us to new tech stacks, participating in various tech talks, and going through various training sessions that help enhance our skill set. Also, in Bloomberg, personal growth is as important as team growth.

How do you foster a collaborative, inclusive environment at work?
Bloomberg’s work environment features transparency about issues, goals, and decisions, along with a judgment-free idea-sharing culture. This encourages everyone to participate freely and to share a variety of diverse opinions to help make the best decisions.

We follow a similar approach when we have discussions about various topics. Suggestions are welcomed and worked upon. We also believe in appreciating individuals – as well as the whole team – for their efforts and providing constructive feedback when necessary. This has also helped us build a strong bond between our teammates and also a healthy relationship with other stakeholders across the organization.

Do you feel like Bloomberg offers clear opportunities for upward mobility? Considering that, what are your career aspirations in the next two years?
Yes. Bloomberg supports and encourages career mobility. I was encouraged to explore the path of leadership, which proves how much Bloomberg values mobility and employee progress. I recently participated in a leadership training program where I learned about different aspects of leadership and enhancing my skill set. I am being guided in developing a plan for the next stage of my career, and I am now a Team Lead. Over the next two years, I will concentrate on setting up my team, hiring more talent, achieving our set goals, and ensuring the smooth functioning of my team, while also working on developing my leadership skills.

“Bloomberg’s work environment features transparency about issues, goals, and decisions, along with a judgment-free idea-sharing culture. This encourages everyone to participate freely and to share a variety of diverse opinions to help make the best decisions.”

– Ankita Tapadia

Sell-Side Engineering

Sandip Gaikwad leads the Sell-Side Repo Ticketing and Lifecycle team, and has been with Bloomberg for nearly 8 years.

Tell us about what you’re working on now and what your biggest challenge is. What inspires you most about it?
Repurchase agreements are the backbone of a financial system. A repurchase agreement, or ‘repo’, is a short-term agreement to sell securities in order to buy them back later at a slightly higher price. Repos and reverse repos are used for short-term borrowing and lending by various financial institutes. The team is currently working on building a next-generation sell-side repo ticketing and lifecycle management system. It is also responsible for maintaining existing workflows for repurchase agreements.

I am responsible for building a brand new team in Pune that will assume responsibility for Sell-Side Repo Lifecycle Management. My team will work closely with other teams in New York and London to build and deliver enhanced workflows around repo lifecycle management, and will play a very important role in developing our business strategy for two new asset class modules (ACMs), namely Repo ACM and Securities Lending ACM.

Our biggest challenge will be working with teams spread across various regions around the globe. I will also have to bridge the gap between our product partners in New York and the team here in Pune.

What made you decide to join Bloomberg after working in both healthcare/life sciences and finance with other firms?
I had heard about Bloomberg while doing previous work with some companies in banking and finance. I always loved working with C++ and wanted to continue working with it. I had also learnt that Bloomberg tech stack leverages C++ heavily. I had unsuccessfully tried to apply for a role at Bloomberg before. So, when I heard about this opportunity, I jumped on it. I started as a contractor in 2014 and joined as a full-time employee in 2015. Fast forward a few years and I am now leading the same team.

Why has your team chosen to grow itself in Pune?
During the COVID pandemic, I missed being close to my family in India. Towards the end of 2021, I came across an opportunity with the AIM team in Pune and decided to explore it. Bloomberg encourages internal mobility and I am very grateful for my managers allowing me to explore this opportunity.

After some thought, I expressed the desire to change teams and relocate to Pune. My managers saw this as an opportunity to grow the Sell-Side team in Pune, as this will allow us to tap into a new talent pool for meeting our hiring needs. Also, sell-side has big plans around the repo and securities lending spaces, so it made sense to start building the team to focus on that area.

What else should we have asked you about? What else would you like to share about your Bloomberg experience?
I enjoy Best of Bloomberg (BOB) volunteering events. I was lucky to participate in a few before the pandemic, and especially enjoyed the Thanksgiving events where our entire team helped decorate the gift and lunch bags. We were responsible for sketching and painting. I am looking forward to the various activities that I can volunteer to participate in after relocating to Pune.

“Bloomberg encourages internal mobility and I am very grateful for my managers allowing me to explore this opportunity.”

– Sandip Gaikwad