The Senior Software Engineer (L5) interview at Deliveroo is a comprehensive process designed to assess a candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves multiple rounds, including HR screening, technical interviews focusing on data structures and algorithms, a system design interview, and a final managerial or behavioral interview. The goal is to identify engineers who can independently tackle complex problems, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to the architectural direction of our products.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·5 - 10 yrs
Comp band·US$120000 - US$150000
Interview time·180 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 05 phases
01 / 05Phase 01 of 05
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms. Practice 2-3 problems/day. Big O.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Hash Tables) and basic algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Recursion). Practice 2-3 problems per day. Understand time and space complexity (Big O notation).
Phase 02 of 05
Weeks 3-4: Advanced DSA. Practice 2-3 problems/day. DP, Greedy, Graphs.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into more advanced data structures (Trees, Tries, Graphs, Heaps) and algorithms (Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms, Graph Traversal - BFS/DFS). Continue practicing 2-3 problems per day, focusing on applying these concepts.
Phase 03 of 05
Weeks 5-6: System Design. Study distributed systems, databases, caching, APIs. Practice case studies.
Weeks 5-6: Concentrate on System Design. Study common design patterns, distributed system concepts (CAP theorem, consistency models), database choices (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching strategies, message queues, and API design. Work through case studies and practice designing common systems (e.g., Twitter feed, URL shortener).
Phase 04 of 05
Week 7: Behavioral Prep. STAR method. Company values.
Week 7: Prepare for behavioral questions. Reflect on your past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Prepare examples related to teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and handling conflict. Research Deliveroo's values and culture.
Phase 05 of 05
Week 8: Mock Interviews. Timed practice. Feedback.
Week 8: Mock interviews. Practice coding and system design problems under timed conditions. Get feedback from peers or mentors. Review any weak areas identified during practice.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
HR Screening · 30 min · HR / Recruiter
This initial screening call with HR is to understand your background, motivations, and expectations. They will discuss your resume, career goals, and why you're interested in Deliveroo. It's also an opportunity for you to learn more about the company culture, the role, and the interview process. Be prepared to talk about your salary expectations and availability.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Can you walk me through your resume and highlight relevant experience?
Why are you looking to leave your current role?
What are your salary expectations for this role?
What do you know about Deliveroo?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Data Structures And Algorithms Interview · 45 min · Software Engineer (L4/L5)
This round focuses on your core 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 understand the problem, devise an efficient solution, write clean and correct code, and explain your approach. Expect questions that test your knowledge of arrays, strings, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps, sorting, searching, dynamic programming, and recursion.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, find the lowest common ancestor of two given nodes.
Implement a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
Given a string containing just the characters '(', ')', '{', '}', '[' and ']', determine if the input string is valid.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager
This round assesses your ability to design large-scale, distributed systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem (e.g., design a URL shortener, a social media feed, a ride-sharing service) and expected to design a system that meets specific requirements for scale, availability, and performance. You should be prepared to discuss various components, data models, APIs, trade-offs, and potential bottlenecks.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system to count the number of views for millions of videos in real-time.
Design a distributed cache system.
Design the backend for a food delivery app like Deliveroo.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral / Managerial Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Senior Team Member
This round focuses on your behavioral and cultural fit. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific situations, your motivations, and your career goals. The interviewer wants to understand how you work with others, how you approach challenges, and whether you align with Deliveroo's values. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you manage the situation?
Describe a project where you took a leadership role. What was the outcome?
How do you stay updated with new technologies and industry trends?
Why are you interested in Deliveroo and this specific role?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Deliveroo loops
Other guides
