This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Engineer 1 role at Akamai. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~14d
Experience·0 - 2 yrs
Comp band·US$85000 - US$110000
Interview time·150 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary, BST, AVL), heaps, hash tables, and graphs. Implement common algorithms like sorting (quicksort, mergesort), searching (binary search), and graph traversal (BFS, DFS). Practice problems related to these topics.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: Algorithmic techniques and problem-solving.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into Algorithmic Techniques and Problem Solving. Focus on dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, recursion, and backtracking. Work through a variety of problems that require applying these techniques. Aim to solve at least 20-30 medium-difficulty problems.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: System Design basics.
Week 5: System Design Fundamentals. Understand concepts like scalability, availability, reliability, latency, and consistency. Learn about common design patterns and architectural styles. Study how to design common systems like URL shorteners, social media feeds, or distributed caches.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Behavioral questions and project discussion.
Week 6: Behavioral and Project Deep Dive. Prepare to discuss your resume projects in detail. Use the STAR method to answer behavioral questions related to teamwork, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and leadership. Research Akamai's values and mission.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer
This round focuses on assessing your core programming skills and problem-solving abilities. You will be asked to write code to solve specific problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will observe your approach to understanding the problem, devising a solution, writing the code, and testing it. Expect to discuss the time and space complexity of your solutions.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a string, find the length of the longest substring without repeating characters.
Implement a binary search tree and its insertion operation.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview (System Design) · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round evaluates your ability to design and scale software systems. You'll be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., design a URL shortener, a social media feed) and asked to propose a system architecture. The focus is on understanding requirements, identifying key components, discussing trade-offs, and ensuring the system can handle growth and failures.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a rate limiter.
Design a web crawler.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager
This round focuses on your behavioral aspects and how you fit within the team and Akamai's culture. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific situations (e.g., conflict, failure, success), and your motivations. The goal is to understand your working style, your ability to collaborate, and your potential for growth within the company.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you faced a significant technical challenge and how you overcame it.
Describe a situation where you had a conflict with a team member and how you resolved it.
Why Akamai?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Akamai loops
Other guides
