Pros
Optiver has been a great place to work. The environment is competitive and friendly. You're given the tools and opportunities to succeed. Even when faced with a difficult challenge, it's been easy to get help and ideas from my teammates and coworkers. I've never felt like there was a problem we couldn't solve. Almost every week brings a new, interesting challenge and my technical skills have grown as I've worked on them. I've found the work-life balance to be well-established, and never felt pressure to stay late or on weekends. My coworkers are friendly, intelligent, and dedicated. My boss (and his boss) value quality solutions, in-depth analysis, and an entrepreneurial spirit. I like the people I work with and enjoy working with them.
Cons
There are occasions that require after-hours or weekend work. This is avoided if possible, but, if not, is at least scheduled in advance. When I have needed to stay late or come in early, it's been very easy to shorten my hours on another day to compensate. There are some times the office feels short-staffed. There are a few areas of ownership that are outside my job description and primary interest, but I'm still the best person for it. I know management is hiring to fill these positions, and, since I've started working, some of these responsibilities have been transferred to new hires.