Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software Engineer6Hard

Arista Networks is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Software Engineer at Level 6 to join our dynamic team. This role involves designing, developing, and maintaining complex software systems that power our cutting-edge networking solutions. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in computer science principles, excellent problem-solving abilities, and a proven track record of delivering high-quality software.

Rounds·4

Timeline·~14d

Experience·6 - 10 yrs

Comp band·US$140000 - US$180000

Interview time·210 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Data structures knowledge
  • Code quality and efficiency
  • Debugging and testing abilities

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Master fundamental data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, and AlgoExpert.
  3. Deep dive into system design principles and common architectural patterns.
  4. Review distributed systems concepts, including consistency, availability, and partitioning.
  5. Understand networking fundamentals and common protocols.
  6. Prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on past experiences using the STAR method.
  7. Research Arista Networks' products, technologies, and company culture.
  8. Practice explaining your thought process clearly and articulating trade-offs.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 06 phases

01 / 06
01

Phase 01 of 06

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms (Core). Practice 50 LeetCode medium problems.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice implementing these from scratch and analyze their time and space complexity. Solve at least 50 LeetCode medium problems.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Design a rate limiter for an API.
  • Implement a Least Recently Used (LRU) cache.
  • Explain the difference between TCP and UDP and when to use each.
  • How would you design a distributed key-value store?
  • Describe a time you had a conflict with a teammate and how you resolved it.
  • What are the challenges in building a highly available system?
  • Write a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
  • How would you scale a web application to handle millions of users?
  • Discuss your experience with containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes.
  • Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of and your role in it.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Santa Clara, CA

Interview focus

Deep understanding of distributed systems and networking protocols.Experience with large-scale system design and architecture.Proficiency in cloud platforms and containerization technologies.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for complex technical challenges.

Common questions

  • Discuss a challenging technical problem you solved in a distributed system.
  • How would you design a system to handle millions of concurrent connections?
  • Explain the trade-offs between different database technologies for a high-throughput application.
  • Describe your experience with cloud-native architectures (e.g., Kubernetes, microservices).

Tips

  • Thoroughly review distributed systems concepts, consensus algorithms, and fault tolerance.
  • Prepare detailed case studies of complex systems you've designed or contributed to.
  • Be ready to discuss your experience with specific cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their services.
  • Practice explaining technical concepts clearly and concisely, focusing on trade-offs and design decisions.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Arista Networks.

Frequently reported on Arista Networks loops

View all at Arista Networks

Other guides

More at Arista Networks.