Optiver, a leading global trading firm, is opening its doors for Summer 2025 Software Engineering Internships, specifically for the Chicago position. As part of its rigorous recruitment process, the firm has designed a detailed and challenging assessment to test candidates’ technical prowess. If you’re aiming for one of these coveted internship spots, here’s a comprehensive guide to Optiver’s hiring process, assessments, internship salary, and potential interview questions.
Optiver 2025 Online Assessment (OA)
Optiver’s recruitment for the Summer 2025 Software Engineering Internship follows a multi-step online assessment (OA) process. The first step is the Hackerrank assessment, followed by two other evaluations focused on coding knowledge and Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) design. Below, we break down the key aspects of each assessment.
1. Hackerrank Assessment (Part 1)
The first part of the online assessment consists of coding problems hosted on Hackerrank. Based on feedback from previous candidates, this section is known to focus on data structures and algorithms.
Key areas covered in the Hackerrank assessment:
- HashMaps
- Doubly Linked Lists
- Heaps
- Dynamic Programming (occasionally)
The difficulty of these problems can range from easy-medium to medium-hard, with a significant focus on solving the problems optimally.
Tips for Preparation:
- Prioritize practicing data structures and algorithms on platforms like LeetCode or Hackerrank.
- Focus on problems related to HashMaps, linked lists, and heaps.
- Time yourself to ensure you can complete the questions within the allocated time.
2. Coding Knowledge (Part 2)
The second stage of the assessment involves questions that test your general coding knowledge, such as:
- Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Design
- System Design (often at a high level)
Candidates are typically expected to solve problems that require a solid understanding of OOP concepts like inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, and abstraction. These problems may have lengthy descriptions and require deep thinking.
Example Topics:
- Design a simple memory management system.
- Implement classes for a bank account system with varying account types.
- Work with data structures in a way that emphasizes scalability and maintainability.
3. Zap-N (Part 3)
The third part of the assessment is more unique to Optiver and could involve a simulation of real-world trading scenarios or high-stress coding challenges. Feedback from candidates who’ve taken this test suggests it’s designed to evaluate your ability to manage stress and quickly adapt to changes while coding.
Preparation Tips for Zap-N:
- Stay calm and composed while solving problems.
- Practice coding under time constraints to simulate real-world pressure.
- Brush up on topics like multi-threading and concurrency, as these could feature in real-time system tests.
Optiver Internship Salary & Benefits
Optiver is known for offering competitive salaries to its interns, along with several benefits that make their internships attractive. While specific salary details can vary by region and role, here’s a rough breakdown for Optiver’s Summer 2025 internship program:
- Intern Salary: The base pay for interns is highly competitive compared to the industry standard. Interns typically receive compensation in the range of $40-$50 per hour, depending on their location and role.
- Benefits: Optiver interns also enjoy a range of perks, including:
- 401(k) match up to 50%
- Fully paid health insurance
- 25 paid vacation days, plus market holidays
- Extensive office perks, such as breakfast, lunch, and snacks, regular social events, clubs, and sporting leagues
Optiver Software Engineering Internship Interview Questions
The interview process for Optiver’s Summer 2025 SWE internship can be challenging and technical. Here are some potential interview questions and topics that candidates should be prepared for:
- Technical Questions:
- Data Structures:
- “How would you implement a priority queue using a heap?”
- “Explain the difference between a singly linked list and a doubly linked list.”
- Algorithms:
- “How would you approach solving a problem using dynamic programming?”
- “Can you explain the time complexity of quicksort vs mergesort?”
- Concurrency & Memory Management:
- “What is a race condition? How can you avoid it?”
- “Explain how garbage collection works in Java or Python.”
- Data Structures:
- System Design and OOP Questions:
- “Design a simple object-oriented system for a library.”
- “How would you design a recommendation system for a retail application?”
- Behavioral Questions:
- “Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult coding problem. How did you solve it?”
- “How do you approach debugging a system under pressure?”
Preparation Tips:
- Review algorithms and data structures intensively.
- Practice solving system design and OOP problems on LeetCode, CodeSignal, or GeeksforGeeks.
- Prepare for behavioral questions by using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Key Skills for the Optiver SWE Internship
Optiver is looking for candidates who possess a strong blend of technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and a keen interest in financial markets. Here’s what you should have to succeed:
- Coding proficiency in C++, Python, or Java
- Solid understanding of algorithms, operating systems, and memory management
- A passion for writing clean, efficient, and maintainable code
- Strong problem-solving skills and an analytical mindset
- Ability to collaborate with traders, engineers, and other team members
Optiver also places a premium on candidates who are adaptable, quick learners, and thrive in high-performance environments.
The Optiver 2025 Summer SWE Internship provides an excellent opportunity for aspiring software engineers to work at the intersection of technology and finance. With a competitive salary, challenging assessments, and a collaborative work culture, this internship can pave the way for a rewarding career in financial technology.
To prepare for the Optiver online assessments, focus on strengthening your problem-solving skills in algorithms and OOP design, and practice coding under time pressure. The internship itself offers a great mix of technical challenges, learning opportunities, and perks that are hard to beat.
Good luck with your application and assessment preparation!
