The Software Engineer L7 interview at Optiver is a rigorous process designed to assess candidates for their advanced technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and leadership potential. This role requires a deep understanding of computer science fundamentals, experience in designing and implementing complex systems, and the ability to mentor junior engineers. The interview process typically involves multiple rounds, including technical assessments, system design discussions, and behavioral evaluations, to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the candidate's fit for the role and the company culture.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~21d
Experience·8 - 15 yrs
Comp band·US$180000 - US$250000
Interview time·210 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 05 phases
01 / 05Phase 01 of 05
Weeks 1-2: DSA - Advanced topics, implementation practice (2-3 problems/day).
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover advanced topics like graphs, dynamic programming, and complexity analysis. Practice implementing these in your preferred language. Aim for 2-3 medium/hard problems per day.
Phase 02 of 05
Weeks 3-4: System Design - Patterns, architectures, databases, caching, load balancing.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into System Design. Study common design patterns, architectural styles (microservices, monolithic), database choices (SQL vs. NoSQL, trade-offs), caching strategies, load balancing, and message queues. Work through case studies of designing large-scale systems.
Phase 03 of 05
Week 5: Distributed Systems - CAP theorem, consistency, consensus, concurrency.
Week 5: Concentrate on Distributed Systems and Concurrency. Understand concepts like CAP theorem, eventual consistency, distributed transactions, consensus algorithms (Paxos, Raft), and thread synchronization primitives. Read relevant papers or blog posts.
Phase 04 of 05
Week 6: Behavioral - STAR method, leadership examples, Optiver values.
Week 6: Prepare for Behavioral and Leadership Questions. Reflect on your career experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Prepare examples demonstrating leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, and handling conflict. Research Optiver's values.
Phase 05 of 05
Week 7: Mock Interviews - Technical & Behavioral, identify weaknesses, refine answers.
Week 7: Mock Interviews and Refinement. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors covering both technical and behavioral aspects. Identify weak areas and refine your answers and explanations. Review any specific technologies or domains relevant to Optiver's work.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 03 locations
01 / 03Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
System Design · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round focuses on your ability to design complex software systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem statement (e.g., design a distributed caching system, a real-time analytics platform, or a trading execution system) and expected to discuss requirements, identify components, define APIs, choose technologies, and analyze trade-offs. The interviewer will probe deeply into your design decisions and explore potential failure points and scalability concerns.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a distributed key-value store.
How would you design a system to track stock prices in real-time for millions of users?
Design a notification service.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical / Coding Interview · 60 min · Software Engineer
This round involves solving one or two challenging coding problems. You'll typically be expected to write code in a shared editor or on a whiteboard. The focus is on your ability to apply data structures and algorithms to solve problems efficiently and correctly. Expect questions that test your understanding of complexity, edge cases, and clean coding practices.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a list of stock trades, find the maximum profit that can be made.
Implement a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
Design and implement a data structure that supports insertion, deletion, and getRandom O(1) time complexity.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral & Leadership Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Principal Engineer
This round assesses your behavioral competencies, leadership potential, and cultural fit. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, focusing on how you've handled challenges, worked in teams, led projects, and dealt with conflicts. The interviewer aims to understand your working style, motivations, and how you align with Optiver's collaborative and high-performance environment.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to lead a team through a difficult technical challenge.
Describe a situation where you had a conflict with a colleague and how you resolved it.
How do you stay updated with new technologies and industry trends?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial / Executive Interview · 45 min · Director of Engineering / VP of Engineering
This final round, often with a senior leader, focuses on your strategic thinking, understanding of the business context, and long-term career aspirations. You'll discuss how technology aligns with business objectives, your vision for technical leadership, and your career goals. This is also an opportunity for you to ask high-level questions about the company's direction and culture.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
What is your vision for the future of trading technology?
How do you see technology impacting the financial markets in the next 5 years?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years, and how does Optiver fit into that plan?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Optiver loops
Other guides
