Scale Engineer

Software Engineer 1

Software EngineerSE 1Medium

This interview process for a Software Engineer 1 role at eBay is designed to assess a candidate's foundational technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an HR screening, followed by technical interviews focusing on data structures, algorithms, and coding, and concluding with a behavioral or system design interview with a hiring manager or senior engineer.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·0 - 2 yrs

Comp band·US$85000 - US$110000

Interview time·135 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical proficiency in chosen programming languages.
  • Problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Ability to write clean, efficient, and maintainable code.
  • Understanding of software development principles and best practices.
  • Collaboration and teamwork skills.
  • Communication clarity and effectiveness.
  • Alignment with eBay's values and culture.

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, focusing on time and space complexity analysis.
  3. Understand object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts.
  4. Familiarize yourself with common software development methodologies (Agile, Scrum).
  5. Prepare for behavioral questions by thinking about past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  6. Research eBay's products, services, and recent news.
  7. Understand the specific technologies and programming languages mentioned in the job description.
  8. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company culture.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Trees, Maps) & Basic Algorithms (Sorting, Searching).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and hash maps. Practice implementing them and solving problems related to their usage. Understand their time and space complexities. Also, begin reviewing basic sorting and searching algorithms.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target.
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder.
  • How would you design a URL shortener service?
  • What are the principles of RESTful API design?
  • Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you handled it.
  • What is Big O notation and why is it important?
  • How do you approach testing your code?
  • Why are you interested in working at eBay?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

San Jose, USA

Interview focus

Adaptability to local work cultureCommunication skills in the local languageUnderstanding of local market trends

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on.
  • How do you handle tight deadlines?
  • Describe a time you disagreed with a teammate.

Tips

  • Research eBay's presence and initiatives in this specific region.
  • Be prepared to discuss projects relevant to the local market.
  • Practice articulating your thoughts clearly in the primary language of the office.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at eBay.

Frequently reported on eBay loops

View all at eBay

Other guides

More at eBay.