Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerSE 2Medium to Hard

This interview process for a Software Engineer (SE 2) at eBay is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the company. The process typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an initial HR screening, followed by technical interviews focusing on data structures, algorithms, and system design, and concluding with a behavioral and managerial interview.

Rounds·4

Timeline·~14d

Experience·2 - 5 yrs

Comp band·US$110000 - US$150000

Interview time·180 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical Skills: Proficiency in programming languages, data structures, algorithms, and system design.
  • Problem-Solving Ability: Logical thinking, analytical skills, and ability to break down complex issues.
  • Communication Skills: Clarity in explaining technical concepts and thought processes.
  • Teamwork and Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with others.
  • Cultural Fit: Alignment with eBay's values and work environment.
  • Experience Relevance: How well your past experience matches the role requirements.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental computer science concepts, including data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice coding problems regularly, focusing on efficiency and clarity.
  3. Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
  4. Prepare to discuss your past projects and technical challenges in detail.
  5. Research eBay's products, services, and company culture.
  6. Prepare behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  7. Understand the specific technologies and tools mentioned in the job description.

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 implementations and complexity analysis.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and their common operations. Review fundamental algorithms like sorting (Merge Sort, Quick Sort), searching (Binary Search), and graph traversal (BFS, DFS). Practice implementing these from scratch and analyze their time and space complexity.

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.
  • Design a system to handle Twitter's feed.
  • How would you implement a Least Recently Used (LRU) cache?
  • Describe a time you disagreed with a teammate. How did you resolve it?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Explain the concept of polymorphism.
  • How do you ensure the quality of your code?
  • Design an API for a simple e-commerce product catalog.
  • Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

San Jose, USA

Interview focus

System Design: Emphasis on scalability, reliability, and distributed systems.Problem-solving: Ability to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts.Coding proficiency: Clean, efficient, and well-documented code.Understanding of distributed systems and cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP).

Common questions

  • How would you design a URL shortener service?
  • Explain the difference between SQL and NoSQL databases.
  • Describe a challenging technical problem you solved and how you approached it.
  • What are the trade-offs between microservices and monolithic architecture?
  • How do you handle concurrency in your applications?

Tips

  • Research eBay's tech stack and recent projects.
  • Be prepared to discuss your experience with large-scale systems.
  • Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.
  • Familiarize yourself with common system design patterns.
  • Understand the specific challenges of e-commerce platforms.

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.