Computer Science
& Software Engineering Coaching
Personalized instruction in programming, machine learning, data structures, algorithms, and coding interviews from an MIT-educated software engineer with experience at Bloomberg, D.E. Shaw, Millennium, and Balyasny Asset Management.
Photo credit: Chaya Gruber
About Red
Tutors.
Hi! My name is Misha Zitser, and I'm the founder and CTO (Chief Tutoring Officer) of Red Fox Tutors, a New York City based tutoring company that specializes in teaching computer science, machine learning and software engineering.
I would like to wholeheartedly thank you for considering my tutoring services! I hope you find the following Q&A section useful. I look forward to speaking with you in person when you book a free 15-minute consultation.
What is your educational background?
I studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and received a Bachelor's in mathematics and a Master of Engineering degree in Computer Science. I am a Stuyvesant High School alum.
What teaching experience do you have?
My teaching experience began at MIT, where I served as a teaching assistant for a Probability and Statistics course taken by many computer science majors. I led recitations and tutorials, helping students deepen their understanding of the material covered in lectures. I enjoyed the experience so much that I returned to teach the course again the following semester.
After graduating from MIT, I joined the engineering team of a leading quantitative hedge fund in New York City. While working in quantitative finance, in my spare time, I continued tutoring students one-on-one, primarily in computer science and programming. More than twenty-three years later, I am still teaching. Over the years, I have worked with students of many ages and backgrounds, helping them learn data structures and algorithms, machine learning and data science, programming in Python and C++, statistics, and other technical subjects.
I have also helped many job seekers prepare for software engineering and quantitative developer interviews. Throughout my career, I have interviewed numerous candidates for technical roles. That experience allows me to offer practical guidance on both the technical and problem-solving skills that companies look for during the interview process.
Do you have any industry experience writing software or working with mathematical models?
I have worked for over two decades at some of New York City's most successful firms, including D.E. Shaw, Bloomberg, Millennium and Balyasny Asset Management. I have written high-performance C++ code for the Bloomberg Terminal, a well-known software product used on Wall Street and at financial institutions around the world. I have also built quantitative trading models to trade stocks using statistical patterns. When I teach computer science and programming, I not only base my teaching on textbook theory but also on many years of real-world experience. The practical details that are often omitted in textbooks are very important to be aware of when writing high quality code.
What areas of computer science and software engineering do you tutor in?
I offer lessons both in theoretical computer science concepts, as well as hands-on help with coding projects. If you are looking to improve your software engineering skills or are looking to start a new career in software engineering or a related area, I can help you get to that goal. I try to teach folks how to think like a software engineer, rather than asking them to memorize programming language syntax. The subjects that I offer lessons in include:
- Algorithms and Data Structures
- Machine Learning, Data Science and AI
- Python
- C++
- Java
- Object Oriented Programming
- LeetCode Problem Solving
What mathematics subjects do you tutor in?
Being a successful software engineer requires a strong foundation in mathematics. I offer lessons in relevant subjects, including:
- Probability
- Statistics
- Calculus
- Discrete Mathematics
- Linear Algebra
Why Red Fox Tutors?
A better question is "why not?" :) Red foxes are super cute, clever, and curious! I've been following the red foxes in my neighborhood of New York City for a few years, and I've really grown to love these animals. So, I thought it would be a great name for my tutoring company.
Do I have to be a fox to be a client of Red Fox Tutoring?
No. We are an inclusive company. Everyone is welcome to take lessons with Red Fox Tutoring, not just foxes.
Specialized Software Engineering Interview Preparation
Personalized preparation for software engineering interviews, LeetCode-style algorithmic problems, quantitative developer roles, and mock technical interviews.
Work with an MIT graduate with experience in software engineering, quantitative finance, and technical interviewing at firms including Bloomberg, D. E. Shaw, Millennium, and Balyasny Asset Management.
Topics Covered
- • LeetCode & algorithms
- • Dynamic programming
- • Graph algorithms
- • Data structures
- • Mock technical interviews
- • Python, C++, and Java
- • Quantitative developer interviews
- • Problem solving under pressure
What Students Say
I'd spent months trying to teach myself CS from YouTube and online courses, and I kept getting stuck in the same place.
They're fine for the basics, but the second a problem got actually hard, I had nobody to ask. That's why I reached out to Misha.
He didn't just hand me answers. He worked me through the fundamentals and then really dug into graph algorithms — Dijkstra's, Bellman-Ford, all of it — until I could reason through them on my own instead of memorizing.
I knew within the first hour he was the right person. He even took the subway out to my place so the sessions would be easier on me, which I still appreciate.
A while later I was interviewing, and I ended up with offers from Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon. I turned a couple of them down — but the point is I had the choice, and I wouldn't have without the foundation Misha built with me.
If you're serious about this stuff and tired of teaching yourself, he's the one to call.
— Steven K. - Senior Software Engineer, Microsoft
Misha is a unique instructor with exceptional mastery of mathematics, AI, and teaching. He has a talent for understanding complex concepts and explaining them clearly through a Socratic approach that deepens student learning and critical thinking.
He is an outstanding resource for strengthening coding skills and building confidence in technical problem-solving.
— Dr. Jacques J. - Healer, Coder and Lifelong Learner
I was working on a computer science degree at Columbia University’s School of General Studies while working full time and Misha was my tutor.
If you want to learn the material and have a person understand what you know and where you need help, Misha is your choice. You won’t find a more knowledgeable and patient tutor. Misha gets my highest recommendation.
— John P. - Founder of AI Startup
Misha taught my son Python during the early middle school years. His patience, cheerful personality, and deep knowledge of programming made him an ideal tutor. The lessons ended when we moved out of state, but my son went on to achieve a top score in AP computer science, so Misha was an excellent choice for building a foundation.
— Laurel K. - Parent
Misha tutored me in computer science during my time at Stuyvesant High School, where he was a former alumnus. Beyond his technical knowledge, Misha was consistently patient, encouraging, and invested in my growth as a learner.
As a fellow Stuyvesant alum, he served as a real example of what was possible, and his guidance had a lasting impact that later inspired me to consider pursuing computer science as my major in graduate school.
I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and supportive CS tutor.
— Ethan C. - Stuyvesant High School Alum
Contact
Reach out to schedule a free consultation or ask questions about tutoring.