I applied online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at The Trade Desk in Oct 2018
Interview
I was asked to implement an n-way set associative cache. I enjoyed the problem, because it gave me more space from an architecture standpoint than the standard whiteboard-style problem. We were told that our solution could be in c#, java, or python, but c# was heavily preferred. I chose to use c#, the preferred language, which I have no experience in (and was upfront about that fact). We were encouraged to ask questions about the problem, but my only point of contact was a recruiter, who's technical skill topped out at "the third link of googling your exact question." This was a problem, because the recruiter was solely responsible for my hiring decision, and my hiring decision was made based on shortcomings the recruiter perceived that were a result of me being unfamiliar with language-specific idioms, and the recruiter being even less familiar with them.
60 mins - Algorithm questions. it was generally leetcode med level algorithm questions and they asked 2 questions. They were kind of rushing the interview and didn't seem like they cared about the interview.
I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at The Trade Desk
Interview
Initial Screen: A 30-minute phone call with a recruiter to discuss resume, experience, and interest in The Trade Desk.
Technical Assessment/Case Study:
Engineering: A 90-minute online assessment (often via CodeSignal) simulating real-world projects, focusing on algorithms and data structures.
Commercial/Trading: A take-home case study or data presentation prepared in advance and presented to the team.
Panel/On-Site Interviews: Multiple (4-5) 30-minute, back-to-back, or virtual interviews with team members and hiring managers. Questions focus on past experiences, behavioral scenarios, and problem-solving.
Final Presentation/Cultural Fit: A final, often in-person, interview focused on ensuring candidates align with the company's culture and possess the confidence and skills needed for role
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Banking System Design: A multi-level challenge where you start by implementing basic deposits/withdrawals and scale to "Top K" transaction ranking, scheduled payments, and merging account histories.
I applied online. I interviewed at The Trade Desk (Sydney) in Oct 2025
Interview
I applied for a SDE position in Sydney AU. Online accessed + recruiter call + 4 rounds onsite rounds. The recruiter was super efficient and professional, some interviewers were very professional and friendly, however, the hiring manager had astonishingly bad manners, he gave an ambiguous and topic and didn’t collaborate or specify what aspects to focus on, as I continued to seek clarification, he became visibly frustrated and started yelling. Would recommend the company to improve the mental maturity of this hiring manager from HK before allowing him to become an interviewer again. The hiring manager's terrible manner explains why the same job has been posted again and again on Linkedin but never been filled over the last 2 months.
