Scale Engineer

Software Engineer II

Software EngineerIC2Medium

The Software Engineer II (IC2) interview at Compass is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. The process typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an HR screening, followed by technical interviews focusing on data structures, algorithms, and system design, and concluding with a behavioral or managerial interview.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~7d

Experience·2 - 5 yrs

Comp band·US$90000 - US$130000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving approach
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Code quality and efficiency
  • Understanding of data structures
  • System design principles

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert.
  3. Study system design concepts, including scalability, availability, reliability, and common design patterns.
  4. Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, focusing on your contributions, challenges, and learnings.
  5. Understand Compass's mission, values, and recent projects.
  6. Prepare behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms Fundamentals. Practice 2-3 problems daily.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures and algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, heaps), graphs, and hash tables. Practice common algorithms like sorting (quicksort, mergesort), searching (binary search), and basic graph traversals (BFS, DFS). Aim to solve at least 2-3 problems per day.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
  • Design a system to count the number of unique visitors to a website.
  • Explain the concept of recursion with an example.
  • How would you optimize a slow database query?
  • Describe a time you disagreed with a team member and how you resolved it.
  • What are the trade-offs between using a relational database and a NoSQL database?
  • Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
  • How do you approach debugging a complex issue?
  • Tell me about a project where you had to make significant technical decisions.
  • What are your career aspirations?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

01 / 03

Location

North America

Interview focus

Strong emphasis on core computer science fundamentals.Problem-solving and analytical skills.Ability to articulate technical concepts clearly.

Common questions

  • How would you design a URL shortening service?
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Describe a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.

Tips

  • Be prepared to whiteboard solutions for algorithmic problems.
  • Practice explaining your thought process.
  • Research common system design patterns.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

Med

Technical Interview (Data Structures & Algorithms) · 45 min · Software Engineer

This round focuses on assessing your fundamental computer science knowledge, particularly in data structures and algorithms. You will be presented with coding problems that require you to implement solutions using appropriate data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your approach to problem-solving, your ability to write clean and efficient code, and your understanding of time and space complexity.

What they look for

Logical thinkingAbility to break down problemsClean and efficient codeUnderstanding of time and space complexity

Evaluation

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Algorithmic knowledge
  • Coding proficiency
  • Communication

Sample questions

  • Given a binary tree, find its maximum depth.

    Data StructuresAlgorithmsTrees

  • Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome.

    AlgorithmsStrings

  • Find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix.

    AlgorithmsArrays

Prep for this round

  1. 01Practice coding on a whiteboard or a shared editor.
  2. 02Be prepared to explain your code line by line.
  3. 03Think out loud and communicate your thought process.
  4. 04Consider edge cases and test your solution thoroughly.

Common rejection reasons

  • ×Inability to articulate thought process.
  • ×Poor understanding of fundamental data structures.
  • ×Inefficient or incorrect algorithmic solutions.
  • ×Lack of clarity in communication.

DSA

Coding questions at Compass.

Frequently reported on Compass loops

View all at Compass

Other guides

More at Compass.