Senior Software Engineer (Options)
Posted Sep 22, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
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
You'd build trading applications and tools on an options desk with traders and quantitative researchers. Tell me about a tool you built that users relied on daily.
What they are checking: Experience building software that real users depend on, ideally in a fast trading environment.
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a researcher or trader about how something should be built.
What they are checking: Ability to push back respectfully and find solutions that work for both sides.
How do you mentor less experienced engineers on the team?
What they are checking: Senior-level contribution to growing the team beyond their own code.
Describe a design decision you made that you'd change now.
What they are checking: Honest reflection on past technical choices and what they would weigh differently with what they know now.
What would you do
A trader needs a feature by tomorrow's open. How do you balance speed with code quality?
What they are checking: Pragmatism under pressure while protecting system stability and long-term maintainability.
Walk me through how you'd debug a production issue during market hours.
What they are checking: Calm, careful troubleshooting when every minute of downtime matters.
About the work
How would you design a system that calculates live Greeks across a large options portfolio?
What they are checking: Combining performance engineering with options knowledge to deliver timely risk numbers.
How do you handle concurrency in a system that processes market data and trader input at the same time?
What they are checking: Solid understanding of concurrency patterns and their pitfalls in real-time systems.
How do you test trading software so you trust it with real money?
What they are checking: Rigorous testing practices, including simulation and replay, for high-stakes systems.
What do you understand about how options are priced and hedged?
What they are checking: Enough domain knowledge to understand what traders need and why.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by DRW.