Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerSoftware EngineerMedium to Hard

This interview process is for a Software Engineer role at Agoda, focusing on assessing technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·2 - 5 yrs

Comp band·US$80000 - US$120000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical proficiency in chosen programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, Go).
  • Problem-solving approach and analytical skills.
  • Ability to design scalable and robust systems.
  • Understanding of data structures and algorithms.
  • Communication skills and ability to articulate technical concepts.
  • Teamwork and collaboration potential.
  • Cultural fit with Agoda's values.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review core computer science fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, and operating systems.
  2. Practice coding problems focusing on common patterns and complexities.
  3. Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
  4. Prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on past experiences using the STAR method.
  5. Research Agoda's products, services, and company culture.
  6. Understand the specific technologies and tools used by the team you are applying for.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms (Medium difficulty)

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Practice coding problems related to these topics on platforms like LeetCode. Aim for medium-difficulty problems.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Why are you interested in Agoda?
  • Describe a time you faced a technical challenge and how you overcame it.
  • How would you design a system to handle real-time notifications for a large user base?
  • What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • How do you stay updated with new technologies?
  • Describe a situation where you had a conflict with a team member and how you resolved it.
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Do you have any questions for us?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Singapore

Interview focus

System Design for scalability and reliabilityDeep understanding of distributed systems conceptsProblem-solving and analytical skills

Common questions

  • How would you design a URL shortening service like bit.ly?
  • Explain the CAP theorem and its implications for distributed systems.
  • Describe a challenging technical problem you solved and how you approached it.

Tips

  • Familiarize yourself with common distributed system design patterns.
  • Be prepared to discuss trade-offs in system design choices.
  • Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.

Med

Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer / Senior Software Engineer

This round focuses on your fundamental programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your problem-solving approach and communication skills. Expect to write code in a shared editor and explain your thought process throughout.

What they look for

Clean, efficient, and correct code.Logical and structured approach to problem-solving.Ability to explain the solution and its complexity.Consideration of edge cases and potential improvements.

Evaluation

  • Correctness of the solution.
  • Efficiency of the code (time and space complexity).
  • Clarity and readability of the code.
  • Problem-solving approach and ability to handle edge cases.
  • Communication of thought process.

Sample questions

  • Given an array of integers, return indices of the two numbers such that they add up to a specific target.

    ArrayHash Table

  • Implement a function to check if a binary tree is a valid Binary Search Tree (BST).

    TreeDepth-First Search

  • Find the length of the longest substring without repeating characters.

    StringSliding Window

Prep for this round

  1. 01Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte.
  2. 02Focus on understanding the time and space complexity of your solutions.
  3. 03Be prepared to explain your approach and justify your choices.
  4. 04Practice coding in your preferred language and ensure you are comfortable with its syntax and standard libraries.

Common rejection reasons

  • ×Inability to articulate thought process.
  • ×Poorly optimized code.
  • ×Fundamental misunderstanding of data structures or algorithms.
  • ×Incorrect approach to problem-solving.

DSA

Coding questions at Agoda.

Frequently reported on Agoda loops

View all at Agoda

Other guides

More at Agoda.