Tower Research LLC Insight

Rejected

SDE 1 (Backend Post Trade)

1-3 Years

Jul 29, 2026

⏱ 135 mins

DSAOperating SystemsDBMSComputer NetworkingJavaPython

The assessment required a mix of practical coding and theoretical knowledge across multiple domains.

Java-specific questions focused on OOP principles like inheritance and multithreading.

Theoretical questions spanned low-level system concepts like Banker's algorithm and TCP congestion control.

Python-specific questions tested language-specific nuances like memory management and decorators.

Implement inheritance in Java using a provided template.

JavaOOP

Explain the Banker's algorithm for deadlock detection.

Operating Systems

Explain the difference between readline and readlines in Python.

Python

⏱ 60 mins

GraphsDSA

The round began with a standard graph traversal problem to assess foundational skills.

The interviewer dynamically modified the initial problem to increase complexity and test adaptability.

The candidate was required to discuss the approach before implementation.

Max Area of Island

GraphsDFS

⏱ 45 mins

JavaSystem DesignMemory Management

The round was structured as a rapid-fire session covering deep language internals and database connectivity.

Significant emphasis was placed on Java memory model, specifically heap vs stack and string immutability.

The interviewer probed into the implementation details of core Java collections like HashMap.

Knowledge of database connection pooling and the underlying connection process was scrutinized.

Difference between == and equals in Java

Java

Explain deep vs shallow copy.

Programming Concepts

Be prepared for rapid-fire technical questions that test the depth of understanding of language internals.
Ensure a strong grasp of memory management and collection implementations.

Focus on deep language-specific internals (Java/Python) rather than just syntax.
Practice graph-based problems with variations to handle dynamic interviewer modifications.
Review core CS fundamentals including OS, DBMS, and Networking for online assessments.