2026 HRT Software Engineer New Grad (Python Track) OA / Interviews: 1 Experience

On the Python track, the round after the phone screen tests C, not Python: the recruiter told this candidate that Python candidates get C questions to check how they reason about the machine.

Coverage: Hudson River Trading, Software Engineer New Grad, Python track · Singapore · OA, a 30-minute phone screen and a 1-hour second technical round · October 2026

What came up

This new grad got through three steps. The recruiter laid out the topics for the second round ahead of time: data structures, algorithms, programming languages, operating systems, and how computers work under the hood. The part that stands out is the language switch: Python candidates are asked questions in C.

The candidate didn't post the actual questions from the OA or either interview. So there's no question table here, only the process and what the recruiter said.

For the Python questions HRT asked other candidates (dict internals, with, yield, the GIL, debugging Python over SSH, and the coding problems), see the companion roundup: 2021–2026 HRT Software Engineer (Python Track + Onsite) OA / Interviews.

1 detailed candidate timeline

01: Python-track new grad who reached the 1-hour second round

Report date: October 2026 · Role: Software Engineer, New Grad (Python track) · Location: Singapore · Result: Second round scheduled; no later update

Online assessment

1. Passed. The candidate didn't describe the problems.

Round 1: technical phone screen (30 minutes)

1. A short 30-minute technical screen for the Python track. The candidate passed it a few days after posting about it, but didn't say what was asked.

Round 2: technical interview (1 hour)

1. The recruiter said this round covers data structures and algorithms, programming languages, operating systems, and how computers work underneath.
2. The recruiter also said Python candidates are asked questions in C, to test low-level reasoning rather than how well they know a language. In a reply, the candidate added that the recruiter's email said "some C questions" would come up.

The candidate said they had gone through HRT's discovery program the year before. They hadn't posted how round 2 went as of early November 2026.

Looking for more? The HRT Python-track and onsite roundup collects 35 other HRT software engineering reports. It includes the Python knowledge questions, debugging rounds and the full onsite loops.

Sources: Anywhere useful interview info can be found.