Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerL4Medium to Hard

This interview process is for a Software Engineer (L4) role at DRW. It is designed to assess technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the company.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·4 - 7 yrs

Comp band·US$120000 - US$160000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical depth and breadth in relevant programming languages and data structures.
  • Problem-solving approach and analytical thinking.
  • System design and architectural skills.
  • Communication and collaboration abilities.
  • Cultural fit and alignment with DRW's values.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps, sorting, searching).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
  3. Brush up on system design principles, including scalability, reliability, and performance.
  4. Understand common software design patterns.
  5. Prepare for behavioral questions by thinking about past projects and experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  6. Research DRW's business, culture, and recent news.
  7. Be ready to discuss your resume in detail, highlighting relevant projects and accomplishments.
  8. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 2-3 problems/day.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, hash tables) and algorithms (sorting, searching, recursion, dynamic programming). Practice 2-3 problems per day. Review Big O notation for time and space complexity.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
  • Design a system like Twitter's news feed.
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder.
  • How would you optimize a database query that is running slowly?
  • What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
  • Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of.
  • How do you stay updated with new technologies?
  • Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
  • What is a deadlock and how can it be prevented?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Chicago

Interview focus

Understanding of DRW's specific trading systems and infrastructure.Adaptability to fast-paced, high-stakes trading environments.Familiarity with low-latency systems and performance optimization.

Common questions

  • Describe a challenging technical problem you solved at DRW.
  • How do you handle disagreements within a team regarding technical direction?
  • What are your thoughts on the current market trends in quantitative trading technology?

Tips

  • Research DRW's core business areas and technologies.
  • Be prepared to discuss your experience with high-frequency trading or similar domains.
  • Highlight any experience with C++, Java, or Python in performance-critical applications.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.

DSA

Coding questions at DRW.

Frequently reported on DRW loops

View all at DRW

Other guides

More at DRW.