Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerPMTSMedium to Hard

The Software Engineer interview process at athenahealth for the PMTS level is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the organization. The process typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an initial screening and progressing through technical interviews, a system design round, and a final managerial or behavioral interview.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·3 - 7 yrs

Comp band·US$110000 - US$150000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical Skills (Data Structures, Algorithms, System Design)
  • Problem-Solving Approach
  • Coding Proficiency
  • Communication Skills
  • Teamwork and Collaboration
  • Cultural Fit
  • Experience and Domain Knowledge

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, sorting, searching).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
  3. Study system design principles, including scalability, reliability, availability, and common design patterns.
  4. Understand distributed systems concepts (e.g., CAP theorem, consensus algorithms).
  5. Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, focusing on your contributions and the challenges you faced.
  6. Research athenahealth's mission, values, and products to understand their business context.
  7. Practice behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  8. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company culture.

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 2-3 problems/day.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs) and their common operations. Practice implementing them and solving problems related to them. Review basic algorithms like sorting and searching. Aim for 2-3 coding problems per day.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
  • Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate and how you resolved it.
  • How would you design a system to handle real-time notifications for a social media platform?
  • What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
  • Describe a situation where you had to deal with ambiguity in requirements.
  • Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
  • How do you ensure code quality and maintainability?
  • What are your career aspirations?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Remote

Interview focus

Understanding of healthcare specific challenges and regulations (HIPAA).Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and their services.Ability to design scalable and resilient systems for healthcare data.Strong communication skills, especially when explaining complex technical concepts.

Common questions

  • How would you design a system to handle a large volume of patient data?
  • Describe a challenging technical problem you solved and how you approached it.
  • What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architecture for healthcare applications?
  • How do you ensure data security and privacy in a healthcare setting?
  • Tell me about a time you had to mentor a junior engineer.

Tips

  • Research athenahealth's products and services, particularly those related to healthcare IT.
  • Be prepared to discuss your experience with cloud-native architectures.
  • Familiarize yourself with common healthcare data standards (e.g., HL7, FHIR).
  • Highlight any experience you have in regulated industries.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at athenahealth.

Frequently reported on athenahealth loops

View all at athenahealth

Other guides

More at athenahealth.