Alphagrep

Role: Analyst - Trading Systems

College: IIT Kharagpur

Interview Date: September 1, 2023

Interview Type: Placement drive

Result: Selected

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate (Coding Questions in OA)

Rounds: 1 Online Assessment, 3 Interview Rounds

Topics Asked: C++ (language constructs, intermediate-advanced), Probability, Statistics, Operating Systems (memory management), Computer Networks, Data Structures, Algorithms (designing for throughput and memory footprint), Trading Infrastructure (order book, dashboard)

Experience:

Pavan Sai Chandra, a B.Tech graduate in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, was offered the role of Analyst - Trading Systems by AlphaGrep Securities during the placement drive.

Online Assessment: This round included 2-3 coding questions, which were described as easy-moderate, and around 15-20 MCQs. The MCQs covered C++ language constructs, probability, and statistics. Approximately 20 students were shortlisted for both systems and quant roles based on this assessment.

First Interview: This round focused on Operating Systems, Networks, and intermediate-advanced C++ constructs. In OS, there was a major emphasis on memory management techniques and how they map to C++ constructs.

Second Interview: This interview was more intensive in C++, data structures, and algorithms. Questions involved designing various data structures and their interaction for specific situations to improve throughput while being conscious of the memory footprint.

Final Interview: This round was specific to trading infrastructure. The candidate was asked to build an abstract order book and subsequently a dashboard using various data structures and C++ constructs. Some questions also involved manipulating input data using a given set of data structures for a particular objective.

Preparation Advice: Proficiency in C++ is expected due to AlphaGrep's low-latency codebase. Operating Systems, Networks, and Computer Architecture are crucial, with an understanding of their relation to C++ constructs. A good DSA course is recommended, and practicing on Codeforces and LeetCode is beneficial.