D. E. Shaw Interview Experience

A recruiter contacted me about an SDET role, detailing the job requirements. Although my skills aligned with approximately 75% of the criteria, my proficiency in other technologies led to my resume being considered.

The recruiter outlined a four-stage selection process, starting with an online assessment, followed by two technical interviews, and concluding with an HR discussion.

Online Evaluation

The online test was a 90-minute session featuring two advanced-level coding problems related to trees and graphs, alongside 60 multiple-choice questions covering fundamental testing principles and debugging techniques.

Despite my efforts, I didn’t advance past this stage. The assessment was challenging, with a focus on data structures and algorithms.

Technical Interviews

Although I didn’t experience these rounds personally, a colleague did. These interviews were meticulously structured, focusing on data structures, algorithms, and debugging abilities, with additional queries on SQL/NoSQL databases and programming languages.

Interviewers posed practical scenarios, such as verifying a list of items against specific criteria through UI and API automation, handling dynamic frames, and choosing between tools like Cypress, Playwright, or Selenium.

Discussions also delved into the appropriate applications of SQL versus NoSQL, project explanations, and approaches to integration testing.