Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerE7Hard

Avito is looking for an experienced Software Engineer at the E7 level to join our dynamic team. This role involves designing, developing, and maintaining scalable and robust software solutions that drive our platform forward. We are seeking individuals with a strong technical background, excellent problem-solving skills, and a passion for innovation.

Rounds·5

Timeline·~14d

Experience·7 - 10 yrs

Comp band·US$120000 - US$150000

Interview time·255 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical Proficiency: Depth of knowledge in relevant programming languages, data structures, algorithms, and system design.
  • Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to analyze complex problems, devise effective solutions, and articulate the thought process.
  • System Design & Architecture: Capacity to design scalable, reliable, and maintainable systems.
  • Experience & Impact: Demonstrated track record of delivering impactful projects and contributing to team success.
  • Communication & Collaboration: Clarity in expressing ideas, active listening, and ability to work effectively with others.
  • Leadership & Mentorship: Potential to guide and mentor junior engineers and influence technical direction.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review core computer science fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, operating systems, and databases.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
  3. Study system design principles for building scalable and reliable applications.
  4. Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, focusing on your contributions, challenges, and learnings.
  5. Research Avito's products, services, and company culture.
  6. Prepare questions to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and company.
  7. Practice behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms. Solve 40-60 problems.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables, sorting, searching, dynamic programming, and greedy algorithms. Solve at least 20-30 problems per week.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Describe a complex system you designed or significantly contributed to. What were the key challenges and how did you address them?
  • How would you design a URL shortening service like bit.ly?
  • Explain the difference between SQL and NoSQL databases and when you would use each.
  • Tell me about a time you had to deal with a production issue. What was your process for debugging and resolving it?
  • How do you approach code reviews? What do you look for?
  • What are your thoughts on containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration tools like Kubernetes?
  • Describe a situation where you had to influence a technical decision. What was your strategy?
  • How do you handle technical debt?
  • What are the trade-offs between monolithic and microservices architectures?
  • Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Moscow

Interview focus

Deep understanding of distributed systems and cloud-native technologies (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker).Experience with performance optimization and scalability challenges.Leadership potential and ability to mentor junior engineers.Strategic thinking regarding system architecture and technology choices.Strong communication skills and ability to articulate complex technical concepts.

Common questions

  • How would you handle a sudden surge in traffic on a critical service?
  • Describe a time you had to mentor a junior engineer. What was your approach?
  • What are your thoughts on the current microservices architecture at Avito? What improvements would you suggest?
  • How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in a large codebase?
  • Tell me about a challenging technical problem you solved recently and how you approached it.

Tips

  • Be prepared to discuss your experience with large-scale systems and high-traffic environments.
  • Highlight instances where you've influenced technical direction or mentored teams.
  • Research Avito's tech stack and be ready to offer informed opinions and suggestions.
  • Practice explaining complex technical decisions and trade-offs clearly.
  • Showcase your ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Avito.

Frequently reported on Avito loops

View all at Avito

Other guides

More at Avito.