# Developer II
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** F
**Company:** [BNY Mellon](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/bny-mellon)
**Difficulty:** Medium to Hard
**Salary:** US$95000 - US$130000
**Experience:** 2 - 5
**Timeline:** ~14 days
The interview process for a Software Engineer (Developer II, Level F) at BNY Mellon is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the organization. It typically involves multiple stages, starting with an initial screening and progressing through technical interviews and a final managerial or team-fit interview.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/bny-mellon/f-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical and Problem-Solving Aptitude
- Software Engineering Fundamentals
- Behavioral and Cultural Fit

## Questions asked

- Tell me about yourself.
- Why are you interested in this role at BNY Mellon?
- Describe a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.
- How do you handle tight deadlines and pressure?
- Explain a complex technical concept in simple terms.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Describe a time you had a conflict with a colleague and how you resolved it.
- How do you approach learning new technologies?
- What are your career goals?
- Do you have any questions for us?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review core computer science concepts: Data Structures, Algorithms, Operating Systems, Databases.
- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or similar.
- Brush up on system design principles and common design patterns.
- Prepare examples for behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Research BNY Mellon's business, values, and recent news.
- Understand the technologies mentioned in the job description.
- Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on fundamental Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Practice implementing these and analyzing their time and space complexity. Solve at least 20-30 problems related to these topics.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 20-30 problems."}
- {"title":"System Design","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into System Design concepts. Study topics like scalability, availability, reliability, load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), and microservices architecture. Work through common system design interview questions and practice designing systems on a whiteboard.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: System Design principles. Practice common design questions."}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Week 5: Prepare for behavioral questions. Identify key experiences from your resume that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Practice articulating these using the STAR method. Research BNY Mellon's values and prepare answers that align with them.","shortDescription":"Week 5: Behavioral preparation using STAR method. Research company values."}
- {"title":"Technology Deep Dive and Final Prep","longDescription":"Week 6: Review specific technologies mentioned in the job description (e.g., Java, Python, Spring Boot, Cloud platforms, SQL). Practice coding in your primary language and be ready to discuss your experience with these technologies. Prepare questions for the interviewers.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Technology review and question preparation."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"New York","differences":{"tips":["Be prepared to discuss specific projects and your contributions.","Emphasize your understanding of software development lifecycle.","Showcase your ability to communicate technical concepts clearly.","Research BNY Mellon's technology stack and recent projects."],"interviewFocus":["Problem-solving skills","Technical depth in core programming languages","Collaboration and teamwork","Adaptability to new technologies"],"commonQuestions":["Discuss a challenging technical problem you solved in your previous role.","How do you approach debugging complex issues?","Describe your experience with Agile methodologies.","What are your thoughts on code reviews and best practices?","Tell me about a time you had to work under a tight deadline."]}}
- {"location":"London","differences":{"tips":["Practice whiteboarding coding problems.","Be ready to discuss trade-offs in system design choices.","Highlight any experience with financial systems or data.","Prepare questions about the team's current projects and challenges."],"interviewFocus":["System design and architecture","Data structures and algorithms","Leadership potential","Understanding of financial technology (FinTech) concepts"],"commonQuestions":["Explain the principles of object-oriented programming.","How would you design a system for X (e.g., a URL shortener)?","What are the trade-offs between different data structures?","Describe a situation where you had to mentor a junior developer.","How do you stay updated with industry trends?"]}}
- {"location":"Pune","differences":{"tips":["Be specific with examples for behavioral questions.","Demonstrate an understanding of cloud-native development.","Show enthusiasm for BNY Mellon's mission and values.","Prepare thoughtful questions about career growth opportunities."],"interviewFocus":["Cloud computing and DevOps practices","Security best practices","Behavioral aspects and cultural fit","Motivation and career aspirations"],"commonQuestions":["Tell me about your experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).","How do you ensure the security of your code?","Describe a time you disagreed with a team member and how you resolved it.","What are your strengths and weaknesses as a developer?","Why are you interested in BNY Mellon?"]}}

## Round 1: Initial Technical Screening
**Type:** Technical Screening / Coding Challenge · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Initial technical assessment, often including a coding exercise.
This initial round typically involves a technical recruiter screening or a brief call with a software engineer. The focus is on assessing your resume, understanding your motivation for the role, and conducting a basic technical assessment, often involving a coding challenge or questions on fundamental programming concepts.
**Interviewers look for:** Clean and efficient code.; Logical thinking.; Ability to explain the solution.; Basic understanding of time/space complexity.
**Evaluation criteria:** Coding ability; Problem-solving approach; Understanding of basic data structures and algorithms; Communication of thought process
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate thought process clearly.; Lack of fundamental programming knowledge.; Poor problem-solving approach.; Not meeting the minimum coding proficiency.
## Questions

- Write a function to reverse a string.
- Find the missing number in an array of consecutive integers.
- Explain the difference between a process and a thread.

## Preparation tips

- Be ready to talk about your resume and projects.
- Practice coding problems on a whiteboard or shared editor.
- Understand the basics of Big O notation.
- Prepare to answer 'Why BNY Mellon?' and 'Why this role?'

## Round 2: Core Technical Interview
**Type:** Technical Interview (Algorithms & System Design) · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
In-depth technical assessment focusing on algorithms, data structures, and system design.
This round delves deeper into your technical expertise. It typically includes challenging coding problems focusing on algorithms and data structures, and potentially a system design question. The interviewer will assess your ability to think critically, break down complex problems, and propose efficient solutions.
**Interviewers look for:** Structured approach to problem-solving.; Proficiency in algorithms and data structures.; Ability to design robust and scalable systems.; Clear communication of technical ideas.; Understanding of trade-offs.
**Evaluation criteria:** Problem-solving skills; Algorithmic thinking; Data structure knowledge; System design capabilities; Ability to handle ambiguity
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to design scalable systems.; Poor understanding of trade-offs in design choices.; Lack of depth in specific technical areas.; Not being able to handle complex algorithmic problems.
## Questions

- Design a URL shortening service.
- Implement a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
- Given a binary tree, find the lowest common ancestor of two given nodes.

## Preparation tips

- Practice a wide range of LeetCode-style problems (medium to hard).
- Study common system design patterns and architectures.
- Be prepared to discuss trade-offs in your solutions.
- Think out loud and explain your reasoning clearly.

## Round 3: Behavioral and Team Fit Interview
**Type:** Behavioral / Managerial Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Assessment of behavioral fit, teamwork, and alignment with company culture.
This round focuses on your behavioral aspects and how you would fit into the team and the company culture. The hiring manager will ask questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific situations (e.g., conflict, failure, success), and your motivations. They will also assess your understanding of the role and the team's objectives.
**Interviewers look for:** Positive attitude and enthusiasm.; Ability to work in a team.; Good communication skills.; Alignment with company values.; Proactiveness and ownership.
**Evaluation criteria:** Teamwork and collaboration skills; Communication and interpersonal skills; Problem-solving approach in team settings; Cultural alignment with BNY Mellon; Motivation and career aspirations
**Common rejection reasons:** Poor cultural fit.; Lack of enthusiasm or engagement.; Inability to provide specific examples for behavioral questions.; Not asking thoughtful questions.; Mismatch in career aspirations.
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn?
- Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult team member.
- How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple tasks?
- What are you looking for in your next role?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions.
- Research BNY Mellon's values and culture.
- Think about how your skills and experience align with the team's needs.
- Prepare insightful questions about the team, projects, and company culture.