Optiver

Optiver, a privately held proprietary trading firm founded in 1986, has established itself as a significant player in the financial services industry, trading a diverse range of instruments across more than 50 exchanges globally. The company is renowned for its competitive compensation packages, often considered among the best in the industry, and offers a range of benefits including on-site dining and annual company trips. (en.wikipedia.org)

However, employee experiences at Optiver present a mixed picture. Many employees commend the high compensation and the opportunity to work with intelligent and driven colleagues. One employee noted, "Great place to work, they are very welcoming and accepting. Lots of freedom to drive your own projects and great support." (indeed.com)

Conversely, some employees have raised concerns about the company's culture and work environment. Reports indicate that the work can be intense, with long hours and high expectations. A review highlighted, "Long hours and demands things get done very fast (sometimes 12+ hours per day). Messy undocumented legacy code and nobody in the organization seems to even know the business requirements it solves so it's nearly impossible to rewrite." (glassdoor.sg)

In terms of company values, Optiver emphasizes a flat corporate structure that allows employees to take on significant responsibility from the outset. This structure is designed to foster a collaborative environment and promote knowledge exchange among teams. However, some employees have expressed concerns about management practices, citing issues such as lack of transparency and perceived favoritism. (glassdoor.com)

Overall, Optiver offers a dynamic and rewarding environment for individuals seeking high compensation and the opportunity to work with talented professionals. Prospective employees should weigh the potential for substantial financial rewards against the demands of a high-pressure work environment and consider how the company's culture aligns with their personal and professional values.

Question Types & Technical Focus

Optiver's interview questions primarily emphasize algorithmic problem-solving, data structures, and system design. Candidates are often required to implement functions that simulate real-world scenarios, reflecting the company's focus on trading algorithms and log systems. Many questions test the ability to manipulate and analyze data efficiently, often involving operations on lists, dictionaries, and custom classes to handle specific tasks like scheduling processes, tracking logs, or managing customer orders.

The technical focus is not just limited to coding; it also involves understanding complex interactions and dependencies between components. Candidates should expect scenarios that require them to devise solutions that are both robust and performant, given the context of high-frequency trading and real-time data processing.

Difficulty & Complexity

The difficulty level of Optiver's interview questions varies but leans towards the medium to high range. Problems often require a solid understanding of algorithmic concepts, with some questions necessitating advanced techniques such as recursion, graph traversal, or scheduling optimization. Candidates might encounter challenges that test their ability to manage state, handle edge cases, and ensure correctness under constraints, mirroring the complexities of a real trading environment.

Moreover, some questions involve multi-step reasoning, where candidates must analyze how different parts of the system interact, adding an extra layer of complexity. This makes preparation crucial, as candidates need not only to solve for correctness but also to optimize their solutions for performance.

Interview Format

Candidates can expect a structured interview format focused on technical skills, with an emphasis on coding exercises. The interview is likely to involve live coding sessions where candidates solve problems in real time, explaining their thought processes while doing so. Interviewers may also probe for understanding of the underlying concepts and logic behind the solutions.

In addition to coding, some interviews may include discussions around system design or optimization strategies, where candidates need to articulate their approaches and reasoning clearly. Behavioral questions may be less emphasized; however, demonstrating problem-solving ability and effective communication will be vital throughout the technical interviews.

Preparation Advice

To prepare effectively for Optiver interviews, candidates should focus on honing their algorithmic and data structure skills through consistent practice on coding platforms and mock interviews. Strengthening core concepts in areas like recursion, dynamic programming, graph theory, and scheduling algorithms will provide a solid foundation.

Additionally, engaging in design problems and real-time system scenarios can be helpful. Candidates should familiarize themselves with common patterns