Ask HN: Moving to HFT as web/Java developer?

I am currently a java backend developer and I have enjoyed by C/C++ projects on my own. My current job is very boring and has become mostly devops and writing forms. I want to get a job programming again and I was curious about this area.

Some notes:

1. What is HFT actually like? What do I program? I know usually they have math graduates do the models, do I spend most of my time programming those models?

2. How hard is the transition with just a cs minor? I never got a cs major and have considered a masters considering how bad the job market is.

Thanks!