# Junior Engineer
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** P30
**Company:** [Atlassian](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/atlassian)
**Difficulty:** Medium
**Salary:** US$70000 - US$95000
**Experience:** 0 - 2
**Timeline:** ~14 days
The Junior Engineer (P30) interview process at Atlassian is designed to assess foundational software engineering skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. It typically involves multiple stages, including initial screening, technical interviews focusing on data structures, algorithms, and coding, and a behavioral interview to gauge teamwork and communication. The goal is to identify candidates with strong potential for growth within the company.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/atlassian/p30-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- Communication and Behavioral

## Questions asked

- Write a function to reverse a string.
- Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target.
- Explain the difference between a list and an array.
- Describe a time you faced a technical challenge and how you overcame it.
- How would you design a simple URL shortener?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Why are you interested in this role at Atlassian?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, graph traversal).
- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on easy and medium difficulty.
- Understand object-oriented programming (OOP) principles.
- Familiarize yourself with common software development concepts like version control (Git) and basic testing.
- Research Atlassian's products (Jira, Confluence, Trello) and company culture.
- Prepare to discuss your projects, internships, or any relevant experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.
- Be ready to ask thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures and Complexity Analysis","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, and hash maps. Practice implementing them and solving problems related to their usage. Understand time and space complexity (Big O notation).","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Hash Maps) & Big O."}
- {"title":"Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into algorithms, including sorting (bubble, merge, quick), searching (binary search), and basic graph algorithms (BFS, DFS). Practice applying these algorithms to solve problems.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, BFS, DFS)."}
- {"title":"Programming Fundamentals and Tools","longDescription":"Week 5: Review object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts (encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction) and practice writing object-oriented code. Familiarize yourself with basic Git commands and software development lifecycle concepts.","shortDescription":"Week 5: OOP Concepts & Git Basics."}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation and Company Research","longDescription":"Week 6: Prepare for behavioral questions. Research Atlassian's values and mission. Practice answering common behavioral questions using the STAR method. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Behavioral Prep & Company Research."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Sydney","differences":{"tips":["Be prepared to discuss your academic projects or any internship experience in detail.","Showcase your eagerness to learn and adapt.","Highlight any contributions to open-source projects or personal coding projects."],"interviewFocus":["Understanding of core programming concepts.","Ability to write clean and efficient code.","Problem-solving approach.","Enthusiasm for learning and growth."],"commonQuestions":["Tell me about a challenging project you worked on during your studies or internships.","How do you approach debugging a complex issue?","Describe a time you had to learn a new technology quickly. How did you do it?"]}}
- {"location":"San Francisco","differences":{"tips":["Emphasize your ability to work effectively in a team environment.","Be ready to share examples of your communication style.","Research Atlassian's values and how they align with your own."],"interviewFocus":["Teamwork and collaboration skills.","Communication and interpersonal skills.","Understanding of software development lifecycle.","Passion for technology."],"commonQuestions":["How do you collaborate with team members on a project?","Describe a situation where you received constructive feedback and how you acted on it.","What are your favorite programming languages and why?"]}}
- {"location":"Austin","differences":{"tips":["Be prepared to explain your thought process when writing code.","Showcase your understanding of testing and code reviews.","Demonstrate genuine interest in Atlassian's work and impact."],"interviewFocus":["Coding proficiency and best practices.","Attention to detail.","Understanding of Atlassian's products and mission.","Cultural alignment."],"commonQuestions":["Walk me through a piece of code you've written that you're proud of.","How do you ensure the quality of your code?","What interests you about working at Atlassian?"]}}

## Round 1: HR/Recruiter Screen
**Type:** Recruiter Screen · **Difficulty:** Easy · **Duration:** 30 min
Initial screening call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
This initial screening call with a recruiter is to assess your basic qualifications, understand your career aspirations, and ensure a general fit with the role and Atlassian's culture. They will ask about your background, motivation for applying, and may touch upon some high-level technical concepts or behavioral questions.
**Interviewers look for:** Fundamental programming skills.; Ability to understand and follow instructions.; Clear communication of thought process.
**Evaluation criteria:** Basic coding ability; Problem-solving approach; Communication clarity
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate thought process.; Poor understanding of basic data structures.; Difficulty in writing clean, functional code.; Lack of enthusiasm or engagement.
## Questions

- Tell me about yourself and your background.
- Why are you interested in Atlassian?
- What are you looking for in your next role?

## Preparation tips

- Be ready to summarize your resume and highlight relevant experiences.
- Clearly articulate why you are interested in Atlassian and this specific role.
- Prepare a few questions to ask the recruiter about the company or the next steps.

## Round 2: Technical Coding Interview
**Type:** Technical Interview (Data Structures & Algorithms) · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Coding challenge focused on data structures and algorithms.
This is a technical interview focused on data structures and algorithms. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically on a shared online editor. The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your understanding of algorithmic concepts and complexity analysis.
**Interviewers look for:** Correctness and efficiency of the code.; Understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.; Ability to break down problems.; Clear communication of the solution and trade-offs.
**Evaluation criteria:** Problem-solving skills; Coding proficiency; Data structure and algorithm knowledge; Ability to explain solutions
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to solve coding problems within the given constraints.; Poor understanding of time and space complexity.; Code that is not clean, readable, or efficient.; Difficulty in explaining the solution.; Not asking clarifying questions.
## Questions

- Given an array of integers, return indices of the two numbers such that they add up to a specific target.
- Implement a function to check if a binary tree is a valid Binary Search Tree (BST).
- Write a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems focusing on arrays, strings, linked lists, trees, and hash maps.
- Understand Big O notation for time and space complexity.
- Practice explaining your thought process out loud as you code.
- Ask clarifying questions about the problem statement and constraints.

## Round 3: Behavioral and Team Fit Interview
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Assesses behavioral competencies, teamwork, and cultural fit.
This interview focuses on your behavioral and soft skills. You'll be asked questions about past experiences to understand how you handle various situations, such as teamwork, conflict resolution, dealing with failure, and leadership. The interviewer aims to assess your cultural fit and potential for growth within the team.
**Interviewers look for:** Examples of collaboration and teamwork.; Ability to handle conflict or challenges within a team.; Demonstration of Atlassian's values (e.g., collaboration, customer focus, innovation).; Self-awareness and ability to learn from experiences.
**Evaluation criteria:** Behavioral competencies; Teamwork and collaboration; Communication skills; Problem-solving approach in team settings; Cultural alignment
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clear examples for behavioral questions.; Inability to demonstrate teamwork or collaboration.; Poor communication or interpersonal skills.; Not aligning with Atlassian's values.; Not showing curiosity or asking thoughtful questions.
## Questions

- Describe a time you had a disagreement with a teammate. How did you resolve it?
- Tell me about a project where you had to adapt to changing requirements.
- How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple tasks?
- What motivates you as a software engineer?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions (e.g., teamwork, challenges, failures, successes).
- Understand Atlassian's core values and be ready to provide examples of how you embody them.
- Think about your strengths and weaknesses in a team context.
- Prepare thoughtful questions about the team, projects, and work environment.