Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerGraduateMedium

This interview process is designed to assess the fundamental skills and potential of graduate candidates for a Software Engineer role at Canonical. It focuses on core computer science principles, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·0 - 2 yrs

Comp band·US$60000 - US$75000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Data structure knowledge
  • Code quality and clarity
  • Debugging abilities

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank.
  3. Understand core computer science concepts (OS, networking, databases).
  4. Prepare to discuss your academic projects and any personal coding projects.
  5. Research Canonical's mission, values, and open-source contributions.
  6. Be ready to articulate why you are interested in Canonical and this specific role.
  7. Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Trees, Graphs, Hash Maps).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, hash maps) and their common operations and time complexities. Practice implementing them and solving problems involving them.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target.
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Describe a situation where you had to debug a complex issue.
  • What interests you about working at Canonical?
  • How do you handle constructive criticism?
  • Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Remote

Interview focus

Understanding of local tech community trends.Familiarity with common development practices in the region.

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on during your studies.
  • How do you approach learning a new programming language or technology?
  • Describe a time you had to collaborate with a team to achieve a goal.

Tips

  • Research common tech stacks used by companies in this region.
  • Be prepared to discuss your contributions to open-source projects if applicable.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Canonical.

Frequently reported on Canonical loops

View all at Canonical

Other guides

More at Canonical.