# Software Engineer
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** MTS4
**Company:** [Cohesity](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/cohesity)
**Difficulty:** Medium to Hard
**Salary:** US$120000 - US$160000
**Experience:** 4 - 7
**Timeline:** ~14 days
The interview process for a Software Engineer (MTS4) 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 product development.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/cohesity/mts4-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- Communication
- Behavioral and Cultural Fit

## Questions asked

- Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
- Design a system to shorten URLs.
- How would you design a distributed cache?
- Describe a time you had a conflict with a team member and how you resolved it.
- What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
- Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
- Explain the concept of eventual consistency.
- Tell me about a challenging bug you encountered and how you debugged it.
- How do you ensure the scalability of a web application?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?

## 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 GeeksforGeeks, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
- Study system design principles, including scalability, availability, reliability, and common architectural patterns (e.g., microservices, load balancing, caching).
- Prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on your past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Understand Cohesity's products, mission, and values. Research recent company news and technological advancements.
- Be ready to discuss your resume in detail, highlighting relevant projects and accomplishments.
- Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely, especially during coding and system design rounds.
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company culture.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and their common operations. Practice implementing these structures and solving problems related to them. Cover basic algorithms like sorting (QuickSort, MergeSort) and searching (Binary Search).","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms. Practice implementations and related problems."}
- {"title":"Advanced Algorithms and Complexity Analysis","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive deeper into algorithms, including dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, graph algorithms (BFS, DFS, Dijkstra's), and string manipulation. Focus on time and space complexity analysis (Big O notation). Solve medium-difficulty problems on coding platforms.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms & Complexity. Solve medium problems."}
- {"title":"System Design Principles","longDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Begin studying system design concepts. Cover topics like API design, database choices (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching strategies, load balancing, message queues, and distributed systems. Practice designing scalable systems for common applications (e.g., URL shortener, Twitter feed).","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: System Design Fundamentals. Practice designing scalable systems."}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Week 7: Focus on behavioral preparation. Use the STAR method to prepare answers for common behavioral questions related to teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and handling challenges. Reflect on your career goals and motivations.","shortDescription":"Week 7: Behavioral Preparation. Use STAR method for common questions."}
- {"title":"Final Review and Mock Interviews","longDescription":"Week 8: Consolidate knowledge. Review all topics, practice mock interviews (technical and behavioral), and research Cohesity's specific technologies and products. Prepare insightful questions for the interviewers.","shortDescription":"Week 8: Review & Mock Interviews. Research Cohesity and prepare questions."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"USA","differences":{"tips":["For US locations, be prepared for in-depth discussions on cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP) and microservices.","For India locations, expect a strong focus on core computer science fundamentals and competitive programming concepts.","Familiarize yourself with Cohesity's product offerings and how they relate to current industry trends."],"interviewFocus":["Strong emphasis on practical problem-solving and coding skills.","System design questions may be more focused on distributed systems and scalability relevant to the local market's tech landscape.","Behavioral questions often probe for collaboration and adaptability in a fast-paced environment."],"commonQuestions":["Discuss a challenging technical problem you solved.","How do you approach debugging complex issues?","Describe a time you had to work with a difficult teammate."]}}
- {"location":"Europe","differences":{"tips":["For European locations, highlight experience with software development methodologies like Agile and DevOps.","Showcase your ability to work in cross-functional teams and communicate technical concepts clearly.","Research Cohesity's presence and projects in the specific European region you are interviewing for."],"interviewFocus":["Emphasis on foundational computer science principles and algorithmic thinking.","System design questions might lean towards scalability and efficiency in resource-constrained environments.","Behavioral questions often assess resilience and a proactive approach to learning."],"commonQuestions":["Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of.","How do you stay updated with new technologies?","Describe a situation where you had to meet a tight deadline."]}}
- {"location":"India","differences":{"tips":["For India locations, be prepared for rigorous coding challenges and in-depth discussions on algorithms and data structures.","Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.","Understand Cohesity's impact on the data management landscape in India."],"interviewFocus":["Strong focus on data structures and algorithms, with a preference for optimal solutions.","System design questions often involve building scalable and reliable systems from scratch.","Behavioral questions aim to understand your problem-solving approach and learning agility."],"commonQuestions":["How do you handle ambiguity in requirements?","Describe a time you failed and what you learned from it.","What are your thoughts on code reviews?"]}}

## Round 0: HR Screening
**Type:** HR Screening · **Difficulty:** Easy · **Duration:** 30 min
Initial screening by HR to assess basic fit and expectations.
This initial screening is conducted by the HR team to understand your background, career aspirations, and basic fit for the role and Cohesity. They will discuss your resume, salary expectations, and availability. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the company culture and the specifics of the hiring process.
**Interviewers look for:** Genuine interest in Cohesity and the role.; Alignment with team and company culture.; Clear career aspirations.; Good communication and engagement.
**Evaluation criteria:** Candidate's interest in the role; Understanding of the role and company; Cultural alignment; Motivation and career goals
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of enthusiasm for the role or company.; Unclear career aspirations.; Asking questions that are easily answerable through research.; Poor fit with team dynamics.; Not demonstrating a clear understanding of the role's responsibilities.
## Questions

- Why are you interested in Cohesity?
- What are your salary expectations?

## Preparation tips

- Be prepared to discuss your resume and career goals.
- Research Cohesity's mission, values, and products.
- Have a clear understanding of your salary expectations.
- Prepare questions to ask the recruiter about the role and company.

## Round 1: Technical Coding Round 1
**Type:** Data Structures and Algorithms Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Coding round focusing on data structures and algorithms.
This round focuses on assessing your fundamental programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems that typically involve data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your ability to understand the problem, devise an efficient solution, write clean and correct code, and explain your approach. Expect questions on arrays, strings, linked lists, trees, graphs, sorting, searching, and dynamic programming.
**Interviewers look for:** Strong grasp of data structures and algorithms.; Ability to translate a problem into code.; Clear communication of thought process.; Attention to detail in coding.
**Evaluation criteria:** Correctness of the solution; Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity); Code quality and readability; Problem-solving approach; Ability to explain the solution
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate thought process.; Poor understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.; Inefficient or incorrect code implementation.; Lack of clarity in explaining solutions.; Not asking clarifying questions.
## Questions

- Given a binary tree, determine if it is a valid binary search tree.
- Find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank.
- Focus on understanding time and space complexity.
- Write clean, well-commented code.
- Practice explaining your thought process out loud.

## Round 2: System Design Round
**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 scalable, reliable, and maintainable software systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a specific service (e.g., a news feed, a chat system, a URL shortener) or a component of a larger system. The interviewer will probe your design choices, ask about trade-offs, and evaluate your understanding of distributed systems, databases, caching, and other relevant technologies.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to design complex systems.; Understanding of trade-offs in design decisions.; Knowledge of distributed systems principles.; Ability to handle scale and performance requirements.
**Evaluation criteria:** System design approach; Scalability and performance considerations; Reliability and fault tolerance; Trade-off analysis; Clarity of explanation; Understanding of distributed systems
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to design a scalable and robust system.; Lack of understanding of distributed systems concepts.; Poor trade-off analysis.; Not considering edge cases and failure scenarios.; Difficulty in communicating design choices.
## Questions

- Design a rate limiter.
- Design a system like Twitter's news feed.

## Preparation tips

- Study system design concepts from resources like 'Designing Data-Intensive Applications'.
- Practice designing common systems.
- Be prepared to discuss trade-offs for different design choices.
- Think about scalability, availability, and consistency.

## Round 3: Behavioral and Managerial Round
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Assesses past experiences, 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, handle conflicts, and approach problem-solving. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is highly recommended for answering these questions effectively.
**Interviewers look for:** Evidence of collaboration and teamwork.; Ability to handle challenging situations.; Proactiveness and ownership.; Alignment with Cohesity's values.; Growth mindset.
**Evaluation criteria:** Behavioral competencies; Teamwork and collaboration skills; Problem-solving approach in past situations; Communication clarity; Cultural alignment
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of self-awareness.; Inability to provide specific examples.; Negative attitude or blaming others.; Poor communication skills.; Mismatch with company culture and values.
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder.
- Describe a project where you had to learn a new technology quickly.

## Preparation tips

- Prepare examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions.
- Reflect on your career goals and motivations.
- Be honest and authentic in your responses.
- Show enthusiasm for the role and the company.