# Software Engineer
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** Software Engineer 2
**Company:** [Chewy](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/chewy)
**Difficulty:** Medium to Hard
**Salary:** US$110000 - US$140000
**Experience:** 2 - 5
**Timeline:** ~14 days
Chewy's Software Engineer interview process for a Software Engineer 2 level role is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the company. The process typically involves multiple rounds, including HR screening, technical interviews focusing on data structures and algorithms, system design, and behavioral assessments. The goal is to identify candidates who can contribute effectively to Chewy's innovative and collaborative environment.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/chewy/software-engineer-2-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- Communication
- Experience and Cultural Fit

## Questions asked

- Write a function to reverse a linked list.
- Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
- Design a URL shortening service.
- How would you design a system like Twitter's feed?
- Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate. How did you resolve it?
- Describe a complex technical problem you solved and your approach.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Why are you interested in Chewy?
- How do you stay updated with new technologies?
- Explain the concept of RESTful APIs.
- What is the time and space complexity of your solution?
- How would you handle a situation where a critical bug is found in production?
- Describe your experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
- What are your thoughts on test-driven development (TDD)?
- How do you approach debugging a complex issue?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal).
- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
- Understand common system design concepts such as scalability, availability, reliability, and trade-offs.
- Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, highlighting your contributions and the impact of your work.
- Research Chewy's company culture, values, and recent news to tailor your responses.
- Practice the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
- Be prepared to discuss your career goals and why you are interested in Chewy.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, heaps), and hash tables. Practice common algorithms such as sorting (quicksort, mergesort), searching (binary search), and basic graph traversals (BFS, DFS). Aim to solve 2-3 problems per day.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Trees, HashMaps) & Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, BFS/DFS). 2-3 problems/day."}
- {"title":"Advanced Algorithms and System Design Introduction","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into more advanced algorithms like dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, and graph algorithms (Dijkstra's, Floyd-Warshall). Also, begin studying system design principles, including database design, caching strategies, load balancing, and API design. Read relevant articles and case studies.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms (DP, Greedy, Graphs) & System Design Basics (Databases, Caching, Load Balancing)."}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation and Company Research","longDescription":"Week 5: Focus on behavioral preparation. Review your resume and identify key projects and experiences. Prepare stories using the STAR method for common behavioral questions related to teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and handling failure. Research Chewy's values and prepare questions to ask the interviewer.","shortDescription":"Week 5: Behavioral preparation using STAR method. Research Chewy's values and prepare questions."}
- {"title":"Mock Interviews and Refinement","longDescription":"Week 6: Mock interviews are crucial. Conduct mock technical interviews (coding and system design) and behavioral interviews with peers or mentors. Focus on articulating your thought process clearly and receiving constructive feedback. Refine your answers and approach based on feedback.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Mock Interviews (Technical & Behavioral). Refine answers and articulation."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Remote","differences":{"tips":["Ensure a stable internet connection and a quiet environment for remote interviews.","Be prepared to discuss your experience with remote collaboration tools.","Research Chewy's presence and impact in your specific location."],"interviewFocus":["Adaptability to remote work environments.","Communication skills in a distributed team.","Understanding of local market trends and competitor landscape (if applicable)."],"commonQuestions":["Tell me about a challenging project you worked on at your previous company.","How do you handle conflicting priorities?","Describe a time you had to influence a team to adopt your technical solution.","What are your thoughts on remote work collaboration tools and best practices?"]}}
- {"location":"On-site (e.g., Boston, MA; Minneapolis, MN)","differences":{"tips":["Dress professionally and arrive a few minutes early for in-person interviews.","Be ready to discuss your contributions to team dynamics and company culture.","Familiarize yourself with Chewy's physical office locations and their surrounding communities."],"interviewFocus":["Collaboration within a physical office setting.","Understanding of local industry best practices.","Teamwork and mentorship capabilities."],"commonQuestions":["Describe your experience working in a fast-paced, agile environment.","How do you contribute to a positive team culture?","What are your thoughts on the current tech landscape in this region?","Tell me about a time you had to mentor a junior engineer."]}}

## Round 1: Data Structures and Algorithms
**Type:** Technical Interview (Coding) · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Coding challenge focused on data structures and algorithms.
This round focuses on your fundamental programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your approach to problem-solving and your understanding of time and space complexity. Expect to explain your thought process throughout the coding exercise.
**Interviewers look for:** Strong grasp of data structures and algorithms.; Ability to translate a problem into code.; Logical thinking and systematic approach.; Attention to detail and edge case handling.
**Evaluation criteria:** Correctness of the solution.; Efficiency (time and space complexity).; Code clarity and organization.; Problem-solving approach.; Ability to handle follow-up questions and edge cases.
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate thought process.; Poor understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.; Inefficient or incorrect code.; Lack of problem-solving skills.; Failure to consider edge cases.
## Questions

- Given a binary tree, determine if it is a valid binary search tree.
- Find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix.
- Implement a function to find the intersection of two arrays.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on medium difficulty.
- Be comfortable explaining your code and its complexity.
- Practice writing code on a whiteboard or in a shared editor without relying on IDE features.
- Think about edge cases and how to handle them.

## Round 2: System Design
**Type:** System Design Interview · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
Design a scalable system based on a given problem statement.
This round assesses your ability to design and architect software systems. You will be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a specific service (e.g., a URL shortener, a social media feed, a rate limiter). The interviewer will evaluate your approach to breaking down the problem, identifying requirements, designing components, considering scalability, reliability, and trade-offs. You'll need to communicate your design effectively and justify your choices.
**Interviewers look for:** Knowledge of system design principles.; Ability to design complex, scalable systems.; Understanding of trade-offs between different design choices.; Clear communication of design ideas.; Ability to handle ambiguity and explore different solutions.
**Evaluation criteria:** Scalability of the proposed design.; Reliability and fault tolerance.; Clarity and completeness of the design.; Understanding of trade-offs.; Ability to handle ambiguity and ask clarifying questions.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of understanding of distributed systems principles.; Inability to design scalable and reliable systems.; Poor trade-off analysis.; Not considering failure scenarios.; Difficulty in communicating design choices.
## Questions

- Design a system to count unique visitors to a website.
- Design a real-time notification system.
- Design an API rate limiter.

## Preparation tips

- Study common system design patterns and concepts (e.g., load balancing, caching, databases, message queues).
- Practice designing various systems by following a structured approach.
- Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and justify your design decisions.
- Read system design case studies and blogs.
- Understand concepts like CAP theorem and ACID properties.

## Round 3: Behavioral and Managerial Fit
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 30 min
Assesses behavioral competencies and cultural fit.
This round, often conducted by the hiring manager or a recruiter, focuses on your behavioral competencies and cultural fit. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific situations (teamwork, conflict, challenges), your motivations, and your career goals. The aim is to understand how you work, your values, and whether you would be a good addition to the Chewy team.
**Interviewers look for:** Alignment with Chewy's core values.; Strong communication and collaboration skills.; Self-awareness and ability to reflect on past experiences.; Enthusiasm for the role and the company.; Growth mindset and willingness to learn.
**Evaluation criteria:** Cultural fit with Chewy's values (e.g., customer obsession, innovation, teamwork).; Communication and interpersonal skills.; Problem-solving approach in non-technical scenarios.; Motivation and career aspirations.; Ability to handle challenging situations.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with company values.; Poor communication or interpersonal skills.; Negative attitude or lack of enthusiasm.; Inability to provide specific examples for behavioral questions.; Unrealistic salary expectations or career goals.
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
- Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you handle it?
- Why are you interested in this role at Chewy?
- How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple competing deadlines?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions.
- Research Chewy's mission, values, and culture.
- Be ready to discuss your strengths, weaknesses, and career aspirations.
- Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the team, role, and company culture.