Scale Engineer

Grade 4

Software EngineerSoftware Engineer 1Medium

This interview process is for a Software Engineer 1 (Grade 4) position at Cisco. It is designed to assess a candidate's foundational software engineering skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company.

Rounds·2

Timeline·~14d

Experience·0 - 2 yrs

Comp band·US$75000 - US$95000

Interview time·75 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving approach
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Data structure knowledge
  • Coding proficiency
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Cultural fit

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental computer science concepts, including data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice coding problems regularly, focusing on explaining your thought process.
  3. Understand Cisco's products, services, and company culture.
  4. Prepare to discuss your resume, projects, and any internship experiences in detail.
  5. Research common behavioral interview questions and prepare STAR method responses.
  6. Be ready to ask thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company.

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 Tables). Practice implementations and complexity analysis.

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

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • What is your favorite data structure and why?
  • Describe a time you faced a technical challenge and how you overcame it.
  • How would you design a URL shortening service?
  • Explain the difference between TCP and UDP.
  • Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of.
  • How do you handle disagreements within a team?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?
  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • What is object-oriented programming?
  • How do you stay updated with new technologies?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

01 / 03

Location

North America

Interview focus

Understanding of core computer science principles.Ability to articulate technical concepts clearly.Enthusiasm for learning and growth.

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on during your internship.
  • How do you approach debugging a complex issue?
  • Describe a time you had to learn a new technology quickly.

Tips

  • Be prepared to discuss your academic projects and any internship experience in detail.
  • Showcase your eagerness to learn and contribute to the team.
  • Research Cisco's values and how they align with your own.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Cisco.

Frequently reported on Cisco loops

View all at Cisco

Other guides

More at Cisco.