Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerSoftware Engineer IIMedium to Hard

The AppFolio Software Engineer II interview process is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an HR screening, followed by technical interviews focusing on data structures, algorithms, and system design, and concluding with a behavioral and managerial interview.

Rounds·4

Timeline·~7d

Experience·2 - 5 yrs

Comp band·US$100000 - US$130000

Interview time·180 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical Skills (Data Structures, Algorithms, System Design)
  • Problem-Solving Approach
  • Coding Proficiency
  • Communication Skills
  • Teamwork and Collaboration
  • Cultural Fit and Alignment with AppFolio Values

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
  3. Understand common system design concepts (scalability, reliability, availability, databases, caching, load balancing).
  4. Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, focusing on your contributions, challenges, and learnings.
  5. Research AppFolio's company culture, values, and products.
  6. Prepare questions to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and company.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms. Practice implementations and problem-solving.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and their common operations and time complexities. Practice implementing these structures and solving problems involving them. Review basic algorithms like sorting (Merge Sort, Quick Sort) and searching (Binary Search).

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Describe a time you faced a technical challenge and how you overcame it.
  • How would you design a URL shortening service?
  • What are the differences between SQL and NoSQL databases?
  • Explain the concept of RESTful APIs.
  • How do you handle code reviews?
  • Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague.
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Why are you interested in AppFolio?
  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
  • How would you optimize a slow database query?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Remote

Interview focus

Adaptability to different work environments.Collaboration skills in a remote or hybrid setting.Understanding of local market trends and technologies.

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on at your previous company.
  • How do you handle disagreements with team members?
  • Describe a time you had to learn a new technology quickly. How did you approach it?

Tips

  • Highlight experience with remote collaboration tools.
  • Be prepared to discuss how you stay motivated and productive independently.
  • Research local tech meetups and communities to show engagement.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at AppFolio.

Frequently reported on AppFolio loops

View all at AppFolio

Other guides

More at AppFolio.