10 Tower Research Capital Quantitative Researcher (New Grad) Interview Questions (2026)
Tower Research Capital's new-grad quant researcher loop in 2026 is heavily probability and brainteaser focused, with a strong emphasis on coding clean Python or C++ under time pressure. The firm runs multiple trading groups (Latour, Spire, Tower) and the team you interview with shapes loop emphasis.
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Loop overview
Recruiter outreach → HackerRank OA (75 min, 2-3 problems) → first-round phone (probability + coding, 45 min) → onsite of three to four rounds: probability deep-dive, mental math, coding, fit/behavioral, sometimes a market-making conversation. Timeline 4-6 weeks. Tower has multiple trading groups (Latour, Spire) with semi-independent hiring — confirm which group you are interviewing for.
Behavioral (2)
Tell me about a project where you had to optimize for performance.
Frequently askedOutline
STAR. Pick a real project where you measured baseline performance, identified the bottleneck (profiling), applied a specific optimization, and measured the improvement. Tower trades latency-sensitive — they want to see profiling/measurement discipline, not just claims of optimization.
Why Tower Research rather than a hedge fund?
Frequently askedOutline
Specific reasons: low-latency trading focus, diverse trading groups (Latour, Spire) offer career flexibility, global presence (NY, London, Singapore, Mumbai), tight feedback between research and execution. Avoid the 'high pay' lead. Reference any specific Tower Research presence in your domain of interest.
Coding (LeetCode patterns) (3)
You have an infinite supply of $1, $5, $10, $20 bills. How many ways can you make $100?
Frequently askedOutline
Coin-change DP. Let dp[i] = number of ways to make i dollars. Loop over each denomination, for each amount from denom..target, dp[amount] += dp[amount - denom]. Order matters: outer loop over coins gives count of combinations (not permutations). Code carefully — common bug is to put the amount loop outside, which counts orderings.
Write a function to compute the moving median over a sliding window of size k.
Occasionally askedOutline
Two heaps (max-heap for lower half, min-heap for upper half) with lazy deletion: when an element leaves the window, mark it for deletion; only actually pop when it reaches the top. O(log k) per update amortized. Mention multiset-based approach (C++) for cleaner code. Walk through with example.
Implement a hash table with open addressing.
Occasionally askedOutline
Fixed-size array. Hash function modulo size. On collision, linear probe (or quadratic, or double hashing — discuss tradeoffs). Insert, lookup, delete with tombstones for deletion. Discuss load factor, when to resize, why linear probing has clustering issues. Walk through code in chosen language.
Technical (5)
There are 30 people in a room. What is the probability that at least two share a birthday?
Frequently askedOutline
Complement. P(at least two share) = 1 - P(all different). P(all different) = 365·364·363·...·336 / 365^30 = (365! / 335!) / 365^30 ≈ 0.294. So answer ≈ 0.706 or about 70%. State the complement strategy clearly. Mention that the threshold for 50% is at n=23.
What is 99 × 101 in your head?
Frequently askedOutline
Difference of squares: 99·101 = (100-1)(100+1) = 10000 - 1 = 9999. State the identity briefly. Practice this pattern; Tower expects sub-3-second response.
Two players take turns flipping a fair coin. The first to flip heads wins. Player 1 goes first. What is Player 1's probability of winning?
Frequently askedOutline
Let p = P(Player 1 wins). On turn 1, P1 flips: heads (1/2) wins; tails (1/2), now P2 is in the same position P1 was — so P(P1 wins) given that the game continues equals (1 - p). Wait — by symmetry after both flip tails, we're back to the same setup, but P1 is still first. So p = 1/2 + (1/4)p. Solve: 3p/4 = 1/2, p = 2/3.
If you have a 6-sided die and a 12-sided die, what is the probability the 12-sided die shows a higher number than the 6-sided die?
Occasionally askedOutline
Enumerate or formulate cleanly. Total outcomes 6·12 = 72. Count pairs where d12 > d6. For each d6=k, d12 must be > k, so 12 - k outcomes. Sum: (11+10+9+8+7+6) = 51. Probability = 51/72 = 17/24. Mention tie case (d12 = d6) for clarity.
What is the expected number of dice rolls to get a 6 on a fair die?
Frequently askedOutline
Geometric distribution. E = 1/p = 1/(1/6) = 6. Derive from first principles: E = 1 + (5/6)·E (with probability 5/6 you didn't get 6 and need to start over). Solve: E/6 = 1, E = 6. Mention the variance: Var = (1-p)/p^2 = 30.
Tower Research Capital interview tips
- Mental math should be reflexive. Drill two-digit multiplication, percent conversions, and quick probability arithmetic until automatic.
- Code on the phone screen is real code — interviewers compile and run it. Test edge cases (empty input, single element, max size) before submitting.
- Tower has multiple semi-independent groups. If you have asset-class interests, mention them — affects team placement.
- Probability puzzles often have an elegant complement or symmetry trick. Always pause to look before grinding through enumeration.
- Behavioral round at Tower tests communication clarity and intellectual humility. Cocky storytelling fails.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Tower Research's quant interview process in 2026?
Most candidates report 4-6 weeks from initial contact to offer. Onsite-to-decision is often within a week.
What are Tower Research's main trading groups?
Tower itself is a holding company. Major trading groups include Latour Trading and Spire-X. Each operates semi-independently with separate teams and strategies.
Does Tower Research sponsor visas?
Yes for H1-B, with standard lottery odds. F-1 OPT and STEM extensions are routinely supported. Singapore and London offices are alternative paths for international candidates.
What programming languages does Tower Research use?
Primarily C++ for production trading systems, Python for research. New-grad researchers can use Python for screens; C++ knowledge helps in systems-leaning rounds.
Can I reapply to Tower Research after rejection?
Yes, after a 12-month cooldown. The firm keeps detailed interview notes.
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