# Software Engineer
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** MTS3
**Company:** [Cohesity](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/cohesity)
**Difficulty:** Medium to Hard
**Salary:** US$110000 - US$150000
**Experience:** 3 - 7
**Timeline:** ~14 days
The interview process for a Software Engineer (MTS3) at Cohesity is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. It typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an HR screening, followed by technical interviews focusing on data structures, algorithms, system design, and behavioral aspects. The goal is to identify candidates who can contribute effectively to Cohesity's innovative and collaborative environment.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/cohesity/mts3-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- Communication and Behavioral Skills
- Cultural Fit

## Questions asked

- Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
- Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
- Explain the difference between processes and threads.
- Tell me about a time you disagreed with a technical decision and how you handled it.
- How would you design a system to handle real-time notifications for a social media platform?
- Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
- Describe your experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
- What are the trade-offs between microservices and monolithic architectures?
- How do you approach testing your code?
- Tell me about a challenging bug you encountered and how you debugged it.

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal).
- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or GeeksforGeeks, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
- Study system design principles, including scalability, availability, reliability, and common design patterns (e.g., load balancing, caching, databases).
- Prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Understand Cohesity's products, services, and company culture.
- Be ready to discuss your resume in detail, highlighting relevant projects and accomplishments.
- Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures and algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, AVL trees), heaps, hash tables, and graphs. Practice algorithms like sorting (merge sort, quicksort), searching (binary search), recursion, dynamic programming, and graph traversal (BFS, DFS). Aim to solve at least 2-3 problems per day.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 2-3 problems daily."}
- {"title":"System Design","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design. Understand concepts like API design, database choices (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching strategies, load balancing, message queues, and distributed systems. Study common system design interview questions and practice designing scalable systems. Read resources like 'Designing Data-Intensive Applications'.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: System Design principles and practice. Study scalability, databases, caching."}
- {"title":"Behavioral and Situational Preparation","longDescription":"Week 5: Prepare for behavioral and situational questions. Reflect on your past projects and experiences using the STAR method. Identify key projects that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and handling challenges. Research Cohesity's values and prepare examples that align with them.","shortDescription":"Week 5: Behavioral preparation using STAR method. Align experiences with Cohesity values."}
- {"title":"Mock Interviews and Review","longDescription":"Week 6: Mock interviews and review. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors to simulate the actual interview environment. Focus on improving communication, clarity of thought, and time management. Review weak areas identified during practice and mock interviews.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Mock interviews and final review. Focus on communication and weak areas."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"USA","differences":{"tips":["For US interviews, be prepared to discuss large-scale system design and trade-offs.","For India interviews, ensure a strong grasp of fundamental computer science concepts.","Research Cohesity's presence and projects in the specific region you are interviewing for."],"interviewFocus":["System design and scalability are often emphasized more in US-based interviews.","Candidates in India might face more in-depth questions on core data structures and algorithms.","Behavioral questions might be tailored to local work culture and expectations."],"commonQuestions":["Discuss a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.","How do you approach debugging complex issues?","Describe your experience with distributed systems.","Explain the trade-offs between different database technologies.","How do you ensure code quality and maintainability?"]}}
- {"location":"India","differences":{"tips":["Highlight your ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.","Showcase your adaptability and problem-solving skills in diverse situations.","Demonstrate an understanding of Cohesity's business objectives in the region."],"interviewFocus":["Emphasis on collaboration and teamwork.","Questions related to problem-solving in a team context.","Understanding of local market trends and Cohesity's position within them."],"commonQuestions":["Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member.","How do you handle tight deadlines and pressure?","What are your thoughts on agile development methodologies?","Describe a situation where you had to influence others to adopt your idea.","How do you stay updated with the latest technology trends?"]}}

## Round 1: Technical Round 1: Coding
**Type:** Data Structures and Algorithms Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Coding round focusing on data structures and algorithms.
This round typically involves one or two coding problems that test your understanding of data structures and algorithms. You will be expected to write code on a shared editor or whiteboard and explain your thought process as you go. The interviewer will assess your problem-solving skills, coding proficiency, and ability to analyze the time and space complexity of your solution.
**Interviewers look for:** A systematic approach to problem-solving.; Clean and efficient code.; Understanding of time and space complexity.; Ability to communicate the solution clearly.
**Evaluation criteria:** Problem-solving approach; Correctness of the solution; Code efficiency (time and space complexity); Clarity and readability of the code; Ability to explain the solution
**Common rejection reasons:** Poor communication of thought process.; Inability to solve coding problems within the given time.; Lack of understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.; Inability to articulate system design trade-offs.
## Questions

- Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.
- Find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix.
- Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems regularly.
- Focus on understanding the underlying data structures and algorithms.
- Practice explaining your thought process out loud.
- Be prepared to discuss edge cases and optimize your solution.

## Round 2: Technical Round 2: System Design
**Type:** System Design Interview · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
Design a scalable system and discuss trade-offs.
This round assesses your ability to design scalable, reliable, and maintainable software systems. You will be given an open-ended problem (e.g., design Twitter's feed, design a URL shortener) and expected to discuss various aspects of the system, including data models, APIs, scalability bottlenecks, and potential failure points. The focus is on your thought process and ability to make informed design decisions.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to design complex systems from scratch.; Understanding of distributed systems principles.; Consideration of various trade-offs.; Clear communication of design decisions.
**Evaluation criteria:** System design approach; Scalability and performance considerations; Reliability and fault tolerance; Choice of technologies and justification; Handling of trade-offs and constraints; Clarity of explanation
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to design scalable and robust systems.; Poor understanding of distributed systems concepts.; Lack of consideration for trade-offs and failure scenarios.; Inability to communicate design choices effectively.
## Questions

- Design a system to count unique visitors to a website.
- Design a distributed key-value store.
- Design the backend for a ride-sharing service like Uber.

## Preparation tips

- Study common system design interview topics.
- Practice designing systems for scale.
- Understand trade-offs between different architectural choices.
- Be prepared to discuss databases, caching, load balancing, and message queues.

## Round 3: Behavioral Round
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Behavioral questions to assess work style and cultural fit.
This round focuses on your past experiences, work style, and how you handle various workplace situations. You'll be asked behavioral questions designed to understand your strengths, weaknesses, how you collaborate with others, and how you approach challenges. The interviewer will also assess your motivation for joining Cohesity and your understanding of the role.
**Interviewers look for:** Evidence of collaboration and teamwork.; Examples of initiative and ownership.; Ability to handle challenges and learn from mistakes.; Cultural fit with the company.
**Evaluation criteria:** Behavioral competencies (teamwork, leadership, problem-solving); Alignment with Cohesity's culture and values; Self-awareness and reflection; Communication and interpersonal skills
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clarity in explaining past experiences.; Inability to provide specific examples using the STAR method.; Poor alignment with Cohesity's values.; Lack of enthusiasm or engagement.
## 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.
- Why are you interested in Cohesity?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions.
- Research Cohesity's values and culture.
- Think about your career goals and why Cohesity is a good fit.
- Be ready to discuss your resume and specific projects in detail.

## Round 4: Hiring Manager Round
**Type:** Managerial Round · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 30 min
Discuss career goals and team fit with the hiring manager.
This is often the final round where the hiring manager assesses your overall fit for the team and discusses your career aspirations. They will provide more details about the team's projects, culture, and growth opportunities. This is also your chance to ask any remaining questions you have about the role, team, or company.
**Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for the specific team's work.; Clear understanding of the role and responsibilities.; Alignment of career goals with opportunities at Cohesity.; Good rapport and potential for team integration.
**Evaluation criteria:** Alignment with team goals and projects; Career aspirations and growth potential; Enthusiasm for the role and company; Mutual fit between candidate and team
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with the team's technical direction.; Poor communication regarding career aspirations.; Mismatch in expectations regarding role responsibilities.; Overall lack of enthusiasm for the specific team or project.
## Questions

- What are your long-term career goals?
- What are you looking for in your next role?
- Do you have any questions for me about the team or the role?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare thoughtful questions about the team, projects, and culture.
- Reiterate your interest and enthusiasm for the role.
- Be ready to discuss your career goals and how they align with Cohesity.
- Ensure you have a clear understanding of the role's responsibilities.