Citadel Software Developer reviews

* Citadel is a true meritocracy with a strong culture of ownership and "getting stuff done". * There is a lot of autonomy given to developers. You are encouraged to diversify your skillset by constantly learning on and off the job. On different projects, I have not only been the software developer but also a product manager, quant researcher or product evangelist based on what aspect of the project interested me. Talented peers from different backgrounds are always willing to help you learn new skills. * As someone who joined through the new grad program, a lot of support and guidance was provided in terms of classes, tech talks, speaker series, and various mentorship programs. The rotational program also allows you to find a team that is a perfect fit for you. * Titles mean very little at Citadel and the organization structure is very flat. Junior people who show promise are encouraged to take on more responsibility and are pulled into mission-critical projects. * Portfolio Managers, traders, and analysts appreciate the importance of technology and quant research and are constantly trying to incorporate it into their investment process. Citadel is especially rewarding for those engineers who are willing to put the effort to understand financial markets. Software developers are constantly reminded that they are there to solve problems and not just write code.

Citadel is a company that strives to have every employee be their best professional self, and is absolutely true to its values - integrity, winning, meritocracy, learning, and extraordinary colleagues. The culture is centered around performance - there is an obvious, stated mandate that everyone perform at their peak capability 100% of the time, while constantly stretching that peak as much as possible. This is not your traditional finance company culture of "facetime" whereby those who are visible at their desk 24/7 are promoted and praised. Instead, those who contribute, exceed their goals, and bring the whole team forward are considered the top performers. And, of course, top performers are rewarded accordingly - not with badges of pride or soft praise, but with concrete results. If that's what you're looking for, Citadel is the place to be. From a technologist's perspective, there are infinite opportunities to learn from your peers, many of whom have different backgrounds, or completely different skillsets to offer. You may find yourself working with former nuclear physicists, or former fed chairmen; each interaction is a chance to level-up each other, and to learn something new. Of course, there are the perks: breakfast and lunch available in the office, stipends for teams to hold events, frequent company-wide outings (read: sporting events, broadway shows, etc.), and top-notch comp.