Naturally, it's not something that attracts me to working there, and he basically told me not to come.
There must be other divisions where people have different experiences?
Coding practices wise: the industry is maturing. The cowboys are out, the engineers are in. This was likely my main advantage over the other applications.
In case no one with actual experience responds to you, you might want to check out Flash Boys[0], which spends a little time talking about GS's code. From what I've read in that book and in other places, what you heard seems to be the correct.
[0] https://www.amazon.com/Flash-Boys-Wall-Street-Revolt/dp/0393...
If you're talking about the core risk management system, yeah, seven hours sounds about right. But the risk management system is a platform that you can use to build other systems that can be iterated upon very, very quickly: we regularly made changes, reviewed them and made them production visible globally in under two minutes).
Flash Boys' technical discussion is, frankly, crap. The larger point about GS' treatment of Aleynikov (sp?) is, however, correct and relevant.
Source: Worked there for 8 years, still suffering from withdrawal.
That's me in a nutshell, if not you.
It was a good run, and unlike OP's friend, I'd recommend it wholeheartedly.