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Graduate Software Engineer

IMC Trading · Chicago, IL · Development (Group)

Posted Sep 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a project where you had to learn a new language or technology quickly.

What they are checking: Ability to learn fast, which the posting says is part of the daily work.

Tell me about a bug that took you a long time to find. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Problem solving persistence and the lessons they take from hard debugging.

What interests you about financial markets, even if you don't know much about them yet?

What they are checking: Real curiosity about markets, since the posting says prior knowledge isn't needed but interest is.

What would you do

A trader asks for a change that you think will cause problems later. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can work closely with non-engineers and explain risks without being dismissive.

How do you know your code is ready to ship to a system that trades real money?

What they are checking: Their sense of testing and care for the full development lifecycle.

You're working with engineers in another time zone on a shared feature. How do you keep things moving?

What they are checking: Collaboration with global teams, which the posting names as a core responsibility.

About the work

Implement an LRU cache and explain the complexity of each operation.

What they are checking: Strong data structures knowledge, which the posting says is a must for this role.

In Java or C++, what happens when you pass an object to a function, and why might that matter in a fast system?

What they are checking: Understanding of copies, references and memory, which affects performance in trading code.

How would you design a component that matches buy and sell orders by price and time?

What they are checking: Whether they can apply algorithms to a realistic trading problem with clear structure.

What's the difference between a hash map and a tree map, and when would you choose each?

What they are checking: Whether they choose data structures based on ordering and performance needs.

Explain what a race condition is and how you'd prevent one.

What they are checking: Basic concurrency knowledge needed for trading systems that do many things at once.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by IMC Trading.

Having the best technology drives our business. As a Software Engineer at IMC, you will drive the development of our cutting-edge trading algorithms. You will be responsible for spotting new opportunities, solving problems and developing innovative technologies. Software development here is innovative, pragmatic and fun, even as complexity grows. Your Core Responsibilities: • Build and maintain our trading platform and software stack • Bring our trading strategies and technology platform to the next level • Collaborate with Traders, Quant Researchers and other Engineers both locally and globally • Develop expertise within the entire software development lifecycle • Learn new technologies and programming languages in a dynamic environment Your Skills and Experience: • Current university student graduating between September 2026 – July 2027 that is pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technology field • Must have strong knowledge of algorithms and data structures • Proficiency in a programming language is required (Java or C++ preferred) • Strong analytical skills and interest in solving complex problems programmatically • Desire to interact and work closely with non-engineers in a dynamic environment • Interest in the Financial Markets; previous knowledge is NOT required • Must be available for full-time employment starting in February or August 2027 You may submit one application per role each year.  We strongly encourage you to focus on applying to a single role that best matches your skills and interests.  Though you may apply to multiple roles, please note that each application will be evaluated based on the specific criteria established for that particular role. If you have already applied for this position during the current recruitment season and were not selected, you may reapply when the next recruitment season begins in 2027. The Base Salary range for the role is included below. Base salary is only one component of total compensation; all full-time, permanent positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and benefits, including paid leave and insurance. Please visit Benefits - US | IMC Trading for more comprehensive information. Base Salary: $200,000 #LI-DNP About Us IMC is a research-driven trading firm where quantitative modeling, machine learning, and engineering shape how modern markets are traded. A stabilizing force in markets since 1989, we provide liquidity across trading venues, delivering the best outcome in value and risk management to investors. Using our own technology and capital, we build proprietary systems and algorithms that operate across global markets. Our researchers, traders, and engineers work as a collective, combining rapid experimentation, advanced infrastructure, and real-time feedback to turn insight into execution and execution into advantage.  

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