Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerFMedium

This interview process is for a Software Engineer role at BP at level F. It is designed to assess technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·3 - 5 yrs

Comp band·US$90000 - US$120000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical proficiency in core programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, C++)
  • Understanding of data structures and algorithms
  • Ability to design scalable and robust systems
  • Problem-solving and analytical skills
  • Communication and collaboration skills
  • Cultural alignment with BP's values

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental computer science concepts: data structures, algorithms, operating systems, databases.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or similar.
  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 BP's business, values, and recent projects.
  6. Understand the specific technologies and tools mentioned in the job description.
  7. Prepare 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

Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables, sorting, searching, dynamic programming. Practice at least 5 problems per topic.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Describe a time you had to debug a complex issue. What was your approach?
  • How would you design a URL shortening service?
  • What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
  • Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of and your role in it.
  • How do you handle conflicting priorities or tight deadlines?
  • Explain the concept of RESTful APIs.
  • What is your experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)?
  • Describe a situation where you disagreed with a team member or manager. How did you resolve it?
  • How would you design a system to handle real-time notifications for a social media platform?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

01 / 03

Location

London

Interview focus

System DesignProblem SolvingBehavioral

Common questions

  • How would you design a system to handle real-time data streaming for a large number of users?
  • Describe a challenging technical problem you faced and how you solved it.
  • What are your thoughts on microservices architecture and its trade-offs?
  • How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in a large project?
  • Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult stakeholder.

Tips

  • For London, emphasize experience with cloud platforms like Azure or AWS, as these are heavily used.
  • For Houston, highlight any experience with large-scale data processing or energy-related technologies.
  • For Chicago, focus on experience with distributed systems and high-availability architectures.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

Med

Technical Interview · 45 min · Software Engineer / Senior Software Engineer

This is typically the first technical round. It focuses on assessing your core programming skills and your understanding of fundamental computer science concepts. You will be asked to solve coding problems, often involving data structures and algorithms, and explain your solutions. The interviewer will evaluate your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your approach to problem-solving and debugging.

What they look for

Clean and efficient codeLogical and structured approach to problem-solvingClear communication of thought processAbility to handle edge cases and test code

Evaluation

  • Coding proficiency
  • Understanding of data structures and algorithms
  • Problem-solving approach
  • Ability to explain code and logic

Sample questions

  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.

    ArrayDynamic Programming

  • Implement a function to reverse a linked list.

    Linked ListPointers

  • Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.

    TreeBinary Search TreeRecursion

  • Write a function to determine if a string is a palindrome, ignoring non-alphanumeric characters and case.

    StringTwo Pointers

Prep for this round

  1. 01Practice coding problems extensively.
  2. 02Be prepared to explain your code line by line.
  3. 03Think out loud and communicate your thought process.
  4. 04Consider time and space complexity of your solutions.
  5. 05Practice writing code on a whiteboard or in a shared editor.

Common rejection reasons

  • ×Inability to articulate thought process
  • ×Lack of fundamental programming knowledge
  • ×Poor problem-solving approach
  • ×Not demonstrating sufficient coding proficiency

DSA

Coding questions at BP.

Frequently reported on BP loops

View all at BP

Other guides

More at BP.