DRW Interview Process & Prep

DRW is a diversified principal trading firm (options and futures market making, fixed income, crypto, real estate, and venture). Interviews lean on probability and expectation, brain-teasers and trading intuition, market-making and options basics, game theory, and clean coding. There is no scripted market-making game on this page -- the bar is sharp probabilistic reasoning and trading sense. Quant Trader, Quant Researcher, and Software Engineer tracks share a probability + intuition core.

Quant TraderQuant ResearcherSoftware Engineer
DRW interview questions DRW online assessment Open DRW roles

The DRW interview funnel

1. Online Assessment

45 min - QR/QT math (6 fill-in) OR 150 min - SDE (3 coding)

DRW's first filter is track-dependent. Quant Research / Quant Trader candidates get a 45-minute, ~6-problem math + probability assessment (fill-in answers; the numbers rotate each sitting - matrix unknowns, dice EV, covariance, CLT tails, Markov lane-switching, Gamma-integral areas). Software candidates get a 150-minute, 3-problem coding OA (no hidden-test feedback). Take the timed bank below.

2. Recruiter / Phone Screen

Phone - behavioral + light technical

An intro conversation about background and interest in trading, sometimes with a quick probability or mental-math warm-up.

3. Probability & Brain-Teasers

45-60 min - video

Probability, expectation, and brain-teasers with follow-ups -- the core quant screen. Streaks, gambler's ruin, waiting times, and order statistics are common.

4. Trading Intuition & Market Making

45-60 min - estimation + games

Market-making estimation drills (quote a market, update on responses), options/finance basics, and game theory (pirate game, AKQ poker, Penney's game). Trading sense over formulas.

5. Coding (Engineering)

60 min - algorithms

For engineering roles: clean algorithm and data-structure problems (and often C++). State complexity and optimize.

6. Onsite / Final Rounds

Multiple rounds - full technical bar

The full loop spans probability, brain-teasers, trading intuition, options/game theory, and coding. This round surfaces the complete set of reported DRW problems across all topics.

DRW interview — FAQ

What is the DRW interview process?

DRW is a diversified principal trading firm (options and futures market making, fixed income, crypto, real estate, and venture). Interviews lean on probability and expectation, brain-teasers and trading intuition, market-making and options basics, game theory, and clean coding. There is no scripted market-making game on this page -- the bar is sharp probabilistic reasoning and trading sense. Quant Trader, Quant Researcher, and Software Engineer tracks share a probability + intuition core. The loop runs 6 stages: Online Assessment, Recruiter / Phone Screen, Probability & Brain-Teasers, Trading Intuition & Market Making, Coding (Engineering), Onsite / Final Rounds.

How many rounds does DRW have?

6 stages in total, starting with the Online Assessment and ending with the Onsite / Final Rounds.

How do I prepare for the DRW interview?

Work the stage notes above, then drill the DRW interview-questions set and the DRW online-assessment practice — each problem has a full worked solution.