Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerSE 3Medium to Hard

This interview process for a Software Engineer (SE 3) 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, system design, and coding, and concluding with a behavioral and managerial interview.

Rounds·4

Timeline·~14d

Experience·3 - 7 yrs

Comp band·US$130000 - US$180000

Interview time·180 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving approach
  • Algorithmic efficiency
  • Code clarity and correctness
  • Understanding of data structures
  • Ability to handle edge cases

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
  3. Study system design concepts, including scalability, load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), and distributed systems.
  4. Prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on your past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  5. Understand eBay's business, products, and recent news to tailor your answers and demonstrate interest.
  6. Practice explaining your thought process clearly and articulating trade-offs.
  7. Research common interview questions for Software Engineers at your level.
  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

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), hash tables, and graphs. Practice common algorithms like sorting (quicksort, mergesort), searching (binary search), recursion, and dynamic programming. Aim to solve 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 difference between a process and a thread.
  • How would you implement a Least Recently Used (LRU) cache?
  • Describe a situation where you disagreed with a team member and how you resolved it.
  • What are the trade-offs of using microservices versus a monolithic architecture?
  • How do you approach debugging a complex issue in a production environment?
  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Design an API for a ride-sharing service.
  • Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

01 / 03

Location

USA

Interview focus

System Design: Emphasis on scalability, reliability, and distributed systems.Problem-Solving: Ability to break down complex problems and propose efficient solutions.Coding Proficiency: Clean, efficient, and well-tested code.Behavioral: Teamwork, communication, and adaptability.

Common questions

  • How would you design a URL shortener service?
  • Explain the CAP theorem and its implications.
  • Describe a challenging technical problem you solved and how you approached it.
  • What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
  • How do you handle concurrency in a distributed system?

Tips

  • For US-based roles, be prepared for in-depth system design discussions and coding challenges.
  • Familiarize yourself with common distributed system patterns.
  • Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.
  • Research eBay's tech stack and recent product launches.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

Med

Data Structures And Algorithms Interview · 45 min · Software Engineer / Senior Software Engineer

This round focuses on your fundamental computer science knowledge. You will be asked to solve coding problems that test your understanding of data structures (like arrays, linked lists, trees, hash maps) and algorithms (like sorting, searching, dynamic programming). The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your approach to problem-solving and handling edge cases.

What they look for

Strong understanding of data structures and algorithmsAbility to translate a problem into codeLogical thinking and problem-solving skillsAttention to detail

Evaluation

  • Correctness of the solution
  • Efficiency of the algorithm (time and space complexity)
  • Code readability and maintainability
  • Ability to handle edge cases
  • Problem-solving approach

Sample questions

  • Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.

    TreeRecursionIteration

  • Find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix.

    MatrixBinary SearchHeap

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

    StringTwo Pointers

Prep for this round

  1. 01Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on medium difficulty.
  2. 02Review common data structures and algorithms.
  3. 03Be prepared to explain your thought process and the time/space complexity of your solutions.
  4. 04Practice writing code on a whiteboard or in a shared editor.

Common rejection reasons

  • ×Poor communication of thought process
  • ×Inability to identify and correct bugs
  • ×Inefficient or incorrect algorithmic solutions
  • ×Lack of understanding of fundamental data structures

DSA

Coding questions at eBay.

Frequently reported on eBay loops

View all at eBay

Other guides

More at eBay.