Bharath’s Story Engineering a career in the trading industry

Meet Bharath, Software Engineer

University:
National University of Singapore

Degree:
Computer Science
Bharath joined Optiver as a Software Engineering Intern in the summer of 2023 and has since continued his career with the global trading firm, having recently returned as a Graduate Software Engineer. In this interview, he reflects on his internship program experience and shares insights into how the team has supported him to build his tech career at Optiver.

Your background

Q: What first attracted you to Optiver?

I first heard about market making and technology-driven trading firms in my first year of university, and the technical challenges of building these systems had piqued my interest.

I spoke to a few people who had worked at Optiver, and what I had discovered convinced me that this would be a great place to learn and grow. It was exciting to hear about the different challenges they would tackle, and how they would go about solving them. I was also impressed by the firm’s commitment to maintaining a collaborative culture within a competitive, dynamic environment.

Q:What did you study in university and how is it relevant to your role at Optiver?
I studied Computer Science in university, and explored data structures, algorithms and programming languages at that time. As a software engineer working on trading systems, I’m always building on the foundation I have developed in these areas every day.

Q: What are some of the key skills required?

• Problem solving – everyday you will tackle new and interesting challenges, and we often must think creatively and analytically to be able to find the right solutions.
• Communication – we work very closely with traders, middle office and other colleagues, and they will consult you as the technical expert. You need to be able to make recommendations and convey the impact of business and tech decisions.
• Technical proficiency – our business relies on our tech making accurate trading decisions at scale and with great speed. You will need a deep understanding of the code you write and the systems they run out to succeed.

Your internship experience

Q: What was your training like?

I attended a 5-week training session in the Sydney office, which introduced me to technology at Optiver and taught me the basics of trading – I even got to try my hand at open outcry trading and screen trading.

After completing the training, I returned to the Singapore office to work on my project. My mentor encouraged me to develop and implement my own solutions, while providing the support and guidance needed to ensure my success.

Q:
How did the internship prepare you for your full-time graduate role?
Working on a hands-on project that directly contributed to live production systems, let me apply my skills in a real-world setting. I was also able to appreciate how much collaboration and concerted effort goes into maintaining our competitive edge.

The internship also gave me a deeper understanding of the trading context and taught me the importance of taking ownership of my work.

Your current role

Q:
What do you do in your current role?
My team works on a range of market-facing projects, specifically those around connecting to the exchange and meeting their requirements for trading safely with automated systems.

Q:
What are some of the projects you are working on?
At Optiver, we’re always looking for ways we can improve and expand our trading opportunities. This innovation does not happen without us constantly evolving all the different systems that work together. One major project I’m working on is upgrading our risk management system so that we can trade with confidence, even as we explore new products and strategies.

Q:
What do you enjoy most about working at Optiver?
As a software engineer at Optiver, you get to really take ownership over your contributions to the business and work closely with brilliant people who are just as invested as you. It’s great to be a part of such a high performing and energetic team.

Q: What’s your advice for future applicants?

Our hiring process emphasise both technical and behavioural fit at Optiver. Build your skill by taking on real-world projects, and develop your foundations in computer science and software engineering. Be curious and genuine, and think deeply about how your values align with the work we do. Best of luck!

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