Imagine landing a job offer worth Rs 2.5 crore straight out of college—a record-breaking achievement that has everyone talking. That’s exactly what Edward Nathan Varghese, a 21-year-old final-year computer science engineering student from IIT Hyderabad, has accomplished. But here’s where it gets even more fascinating: this isn’t just a personal triumph; it’s a milestone for the entire institute, marking the highest salary package ever offered since its establishment in 2008. The offer comes from Optiver, a Netherlands-based global trading firm, where Edward will join as a software engineer in July.
What’s truly remarkable is how Edward turned his two-month summer internship into a pre-placement offer, outperforming another intern in the process. And this is the part most people miss: he credits his success not just to his talent, but to the IIT’s flexible curriculum, its emphasis on coding, and his early focus on competitive programming. Interestingly, Optiver was the only company he interviewed with during the placement season—a bold move that paid off spectacularly.
Born and raised in Hyderabad, Edward later moved to Bengaluru for his schooling from grades 7 to 12. His academic journey is nothing short of impressive: he secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 1100 in JEE Main and AIR 558 in JEE Advanced in 2022. Adding to his accolades, he achieved a staggering 99.96 percentile in the 2025 Common Admission Test (CAT), ranking 120th nationwide.
Beyond academics, Edward has been a leader at IIT Hyderabad’s Office of Career Services, where he headed a team of eight student managers and 250 coordinators to drive placements and internships. His passion for algorithms, competitive programming, finance, and management shines through, and he’s eager to explore these fields further. But here’s a thought-provoking question: Does such a high salary package set unrealistic expectations for other students, or does it inspire them to aim higher?
Edward’s parents, both engineers, are understandably overjoyed. His achievement not only reflects his hard work but also highlights the growing opportunities in tech and finance for young talent. To put things in perspective, the previous highest package at IIT Hyderabad was Rs 1.1 crore in 2017, followed by Rs 90 lakh in 2023-24 and Rs 66 lakh in 2024-25. Edward’s Rs 2.5 crore offer has shattered these records, leaving us all wondering: What’s next for this young prodigy? And more importantly, what does his success mean for the future of engineering graduates in India? Let’s discuss in the comments!
