For years, Infosys was synonymous with the standard “3.6 LPA” entry-level job. But as the tech landscape shifted toward AI, Cloud, and High-Performance Computing, Infosys realized it needed a new breed of engineers—coders who could build complex systems, not just maintain them.
Enter the Specialist Programmer (SP).
This is not your average service-based job. The Infosys SP role is arguably the most prestigious “mass-hiring” profile in the Indian IT sector today. It competes directly with product-based startups in terms of work quality and offers a salary package that can go as high as ₹21 Lakhs Per Annum (LPA) for top-tier talent.
If you are a 2026 graduate who loves coding but didn’t land a FAANG offer, this is your best shot at redemption. This article breaks down the 2026 recruitment cycle for the Infosys Specialist Programmer role.
1. What is the Specialist Programmer (SP) Role?
The SP role is designed for “Polyglots”—programmers who are proficient in multiple languages and deep tech stacks. Unlike a Systems Engineer (SE) who might work on legacy support projects, an SP works in the Strategic Technology Group (STG) or core R&D units.
- The Work: You will be building Scalable Microservices, AI/ML models, Real-time Data Pipelines, or Complex Cloud Architectures. You are expected to write code that is optimized for time and space complexity.
- The Culture: You are treated as an elite resource. You get access to specialized training, hackathons, and faster promotion cycles compared to the general pool.
2. The Salary Hierarchy: L1, L2, and L3
Infosys has evolved its pay structure for the Class of 2026. The “Specialist Programmer” is no longer a single band; it is a hierarchy based on your performance in the selection process.
| Role Level | Designation | Approximate CTC |
| SP – L1 | Specialist Programmer (Entry) | ₹9.5 Lakhs per annum |
| SP – L2 | Specialist Programmer (Advanced) | ₹16.0 Lakhs per annum |
| SP – L3 | Specialist Programmer (Elite) | ₹21.0 Lakhs per annum |
| DSE | Digital Specialist Engineer | ₹6.25 Lakhs per annum |
Note: The majority of SP offers are for the L1 (₹9.5 LPA) category. The L2 and L3 bands are reserved for candidates who solve all coding questions with exceptional efficiency (100% test cases passed + optimized logic) and ace the interview.
3. Eligibility Criteria (2026 Batch)
Infosys is strict about academic consistency. Ensure you meet these checks before applying.
- Degree: B.E. / B.Tech / M.E. / M.Tech / MCA / M.Sc.
- Batch: Students graduating in 2026.
- Streams: Computer Science, IT, Electronics (ECE/EEE), and Mathematics-computing branches are preferred, but open to others with strong coding skills.
- Academic Score: Minimum 60% or 6 CGPA in Class 10, Class 12, and Graduation/Post-Graduation.
- Backlogs: No active backlogs at the time of the selection process.
4. The “One Exam” Strategy: SP vs. DSE
Here is the secret: You do not apply for SP or DSE separately.
Infosys conducts a single “Advanced Coding Test”. Based on your score in this test, you are routed to a specific interview:
- High Score: Shortlisted for Specialist Programmer (SP) Interview.
- Medium Score: Shortlisted for Digital Specialist Engineer (DSE) Interview.
- Low Score: Rejected (or sometimes considered for the basic Systems Engineer role if a separate drive runs concurrently).
This means your performance in those 3 hours decides whether you start your career at ₹6.25 LPA or ₹9.5+ LPA.
5. Exam Pattern: The 3-Hour Marathon
There is no aptitude, no verbal, and no reasoning section. This is a pure test of your coding mettle.
Test Name: Infosys Advanced Coding Round
Duration: 180 Minutes (3 Hours)
Platform: Usually HackerRank or a similar internal platform.
| Question Number | Difficulty Level | Topic Focus |
| Question 1 | Medium | Greedy Algorithms, Two Pointers, Arrays |
| Question 2 | Hard | Dynamic Programming (DP), Trees, Graphs |
| Question 3 | Hard | Advanced DP, Graph Theory, Segment Trees |
The Cutoff Reality:
- To get a DSE Interview: You typically need to solve 1.5 questions (1 full + 1 partial).
- To get an SP Interview: You typically need to solve 2.5 to 3 questions completely.
6. Syllabus Deep Dive: What to Study?
You cannot crack this exam with basic knowledge of loops and arrays. The difficulty level is comparable to CodeForces Div-2 or LeetCode Hard.
Priority 1: Dynamic Programming (The Kingmaker)
Almost every Infosys SP exam has at least one DP problem.
- Knapsack variations (0/1, Unbounded).
- Longest Common Subsequence (LCS) / Palindromic Subsequence.
- Matrix Chain Multiplication.
- DP on Trees.
Priority 2: Graphs
- BFS/DFS traversals.
- Shortest Path (Dijkstra, Bellman-Ford).
- Disjoint Set Union (DSU) for cycle detection.
- Topological Sort.
Priority 3: Advanced Data Structures
- Heaps (Priority Queues).
- Tries (for string problems).
- Segment Trees / Fenwick Trees (Range queries).
Languages Allowed: C++, Java, Python.
Tip: Python is slower in execution. If you are solving a Time Limit heavy problem (like DP or Recursion), C++ is safer.
7. The Interview Process
If you clear the coding round, you face the Technical Interview. This is not a “theory” interview; it is a “problem-solving” discussion.
- Code Explanation: The interviewer will ask you to open your code from the online test and explain your logic. They might ask you to optimize it further.
- Live Coding: You will be asked to solve a new problem (LeetCode Medium level) on a shared screen (Notepad or IDE).
- System Design (For SP): They might ask basic design questions like “How would you design a URL shortener?” or “How does a specialized cache work?”.
- Projects: Deep interrogation of your Final Year Project. Know your tech stack inside out.
8. Preparation Strategy for the Next 60 Days
- Stop Basic Coding: If you are still practicing “Armstrong Number” or “Star Patterns,” stop.