Scale Engineer

Fellow

Software EngineerL12Hard

The interview process for a Software Engineer at the Fellow level (L12) at Box is a comprehensive evaluation designed to assess technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. It typically involves multiple rounds, including technical interviews, a system design interview, and behavioral interviews, culminating in a hiring manager discussion.

Rounds·4

Timeline·~14d

Experience·8 - 10 yrs

Comp band·US$180000 - US$220000

Interview time·195 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical proficiency in core programming languages and data structures.
  • Ability to design scalable and robust software systems.
  • Problem-solving skills and analytical thinking.
  • Communication and collaboration abilities.
  • Cultural alignment with Box's values (e.g., collaboration, innovation, customer focus).

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental computer science concepts, including data structures, algorithms, and operating systems.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
  3. Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
  4. Prepare examples for behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  5. Research Box's products, culture, and recent news to tailor your responses.
  6. Understand the specific technologies and tools used by Box's engineering teams.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Solve 2-3 problems/day.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice implementing these and analyzing their time and space complexity. Solve 2-3 problems per day.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Given a large dataset of user activity logs, how would you identify the top N most active users?
  • Design an API for a real-time collaborative document editing tool.
  • Describe a time you had to deal with a production issue. What was your process for debugging and resolution?
  • How would you approach designing a system to handle millions of concurrent users?
  • Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of and your role in it.
  • What are the trade-offs between using a relational database and a NoSQL database for a specific use case?
  • How do you stay updated with the latest trends in software engineering?
  • Describe a situation where you disagreed with a technical decision made by your team. How did you handle it?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

San Francisco Bay Area

Interview focus

Emphasis on deep technical knowledge and experience with large-scale systems.Strong focus on problem-solving and architectural design.Assessment of leadership potential and ability to drive technical initiatives.

Common questions

  • How would you design a distributed caching system for a high-traffic web application?
  • Describe a complex technical challenge you faced and how you overcame it.
  • Tell me about a time you had to influence a team to adopt a new technology or approach.

Tips

  • Be prepared to discuss your contributions to open-source projects or significant technical publications.
  • Highlight experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their services.
  • Demonstrate a strong understanding of distributed systems principles and trade-offs.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Box.

Frequently reported on Box loops

View all at Box

Other guides

More at Box.