Senior Software Engineer Interview Experience - Australia
September 1, 2019
Positive ExperienceGot Offer
Process
There was an initial video conference where the interviewer asked basic questions about common practices used in the technical operation of trading.
After that, I had to take a HackerRank test. I was given 7 hours for 3 questions of medium difficulty.
Following that, there was an in-office, in-person interview. You're interviewed by pairs of current employees that will include the hiring manager.
If you pass that, it's HR and talent, and you have a job.
Questions
How do you keep your connection to the exchange optimal?
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 4 interview experiences for the Optiver Senior Software Engineer role in Australia.
Success Rate
25%
Pass Rate
Optiver's interview process for their Senior Software Engineer roles in Australia is very selective, failing most engineers who go through it.
Experience Rating
Positive50%
Neutral0%
Negative50%
Candidates reported having mixed feelings for Optiver's Senior Software Engineer interview process in Australia.
Optiver Work Experiences
1.0
Double-edged sword
Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
September 1, 2024
Pros: A good learning experience with lots of hands-on projects. It can give you a good career in the HFT field in the long term.
It is obviously very well-paid despite being stressful.
Cons: Extremely stressful.
Competitive internally.
Lots of layoffs for employees with no career growth, especially those that have been around for longer than 3 years without a plan to become a senior developer.
Direct feedback culture can be seen as toxic.
Hire too much in the short term and now the growth does not cover the cost anymore. Be careful to join as a new grad.
5.0
Nice, smart people
Senior Software Engineer • Former Employee
London, England, United Kingdom
March 31, 2025
Pros: Everyone is nice, everyone is smart, [and has an] entrepreneurial attitude.
Cons: Lots of engineers, even senior ones, lack outside experience. It's hard to get anything done outside of established boundaries. Lots of inertia around existing tech and a lack of outside perspective makes it hard to point out problems or suggest solutions outside of expectations.
2.0
Not inline with software industry best tools or practices
Senior Software Engineer • Former Employee
Chicago, Illinois, United States
September 3, 2020
Pros: The company truly cares about the employees.
Cons: Lots of practices and systems are not up to industry standards, and there is no appetite to improve them.
- 1.0Double-edged swordSenior Software Engineer • Current EmployeeSydney, New South Wales, AustraliaSeptember 1, 2024Pros: A good learning experience with lots of hands-on projects. It can give you a good career in the HFT field in the long term. It is obviously very well-paid despite being stressful.Cons: Extremely stressful. Competitive internally. Lots of layoffs for employees with no career growth, especially those that have been around for longer than 3 years without a plan to become a senior developer. Direct feedback culture can be seen as toxic. Hire too much in the short term and now the growth does not cover the cost anymore. Be careful to join as a new grad.
- 5.0Nice, smart peopleSenior Software Engineer • Former EmployeeLondon, England, United KingdomMarch 31, 2025Pros: Everyone is nice, everyone is smart, [and has an] entrepreneurial attitude.Cons: Lots of engineers, even senior ones, lack outside experience. It's hard to get anything done outside of established boundaries. Lots of inertia around existing tech and a lack of outside perspective makes it hard to point out problems or suggest solutions outside of expectations.
- 2.0Not inline with software industry best tools or practicesSenior Software Engineer • Former EmployeeChicago, Illinois, United StatesSeptember 3, 2020Pros: The company truly cares about the employees.Cons: Lots of practices and systems are not up to industry standards, and there is no appetite to improve them.
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