This interview process is for a Software Engineer (SD4) role at Cashfree. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, system design capabilities, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~7d
Experience·5 - 8 yrs
Comp band·US$180000 - US$250000
Interview time·195 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Solve 35-50 coding problems.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Solve at least 5-7 problems per data structure/algorithm type. Pay attention to time and space complexity analysis.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design concepts and practice. Design 3-5 common systems.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into System Design. Study concepts like scalability, availability, reliability, load balancing, caching, database sharding, microservices architecture, and API design. Practice designing common systems like Twitter feed, URL shortener, or a distributed cache. Understand trade-offs involved in different design choices.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral questions preparation using STAR method. Research company values.
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral and situational questions. Reflect on your past experiences and identify examples that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and handling conflict. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Also, research Cashfree's values and mission.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Mock interviews and final review of weak areas.
Week 6: Mock interviews and review. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors to simulate the actual interview environment. Review your weak areas identified during practice and mock interviews. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
HR Screening · 30 min · HR Recruiter or HR Business Partner
This is typically the first or last round of the interview process. The HR representative will discuss your background, career goals, and expectations. They will also provide information about the role, team, and company culture. This is an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the compensation, benefits, or work environment.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
What are your salary expectations for this role?
Why are you interested in working at Cashfree?
What are your career goals for the next 3-5 years?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Data Structures And Algorithms Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer or Tech Lead
This round focuses on assessing your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve 1-2 coding problems that typically involve data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your approach to problem-solving, your ability to write efficient and correct code, and your understanding of time and space complexity. Expect to write code in a shared editor and explain your thought process throughout.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
Find the shortest path in a grid with obstacles.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Staff Engineer or Principal Engineer
This round evaluates your ability to design complex, scalable, and reliable systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem statement (e.g., design Twitter, design a URL shortener) and expected to design a system that meets the requirements. The focus is on your architectural choices, understanding of distributed systems concepts, and ability to justify your design decisions.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system to count unique visitors to a website in real-time.
Design a distributed key-value store.
How would you design a notification service?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral And Managerial Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager or Engineering Manager
This round focuses on your behavioral and situational responses. The interviewer will ask questions about your past experiences, how you handle challenges, work in teams, and your career aspirations. The goal is to understand your personality, work ethic, and how well you would fit into the team and company culture. Use the STAR method to provide structured and specific answers.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague.
How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple competing deadlines?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Cashfree loops
Other guides
