Expedia

SDE I

Software EngineerJMedium

Expedia is looking for a talented Software Engineer (SDE I, Level J) to join our dynamic team. This role involves designing, developing, and maintaining scalable software solutions that power our travel platform. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality products and contribute to the continuous improvement of our engineering practices.

Rounds

3

Timeline

~14 days

Experience

1 - 3 yrs

Salary Range

US$90000 - US$120000

Total Duration

150 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills

Problem-solving skills
Technical proficiency (coding, algorithms, data structures)
System design and architecture understanding
Communication and collaboration abilities
Cultural fit and alignment with Expedia's values

Behavioral and Cultural Fit

Behavioral competencies
Teamwork and collaboration
Adaptability and learning agility
Motivation and passion for travel

Preparation Tips

1Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
2Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank.
3Understand common software design patterns.
4Prepare examples for behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
5Research Expedia's products, services, and company culture.
6Be ready to discuss your past projects and technical contributions in detail.
7Familiarize yourself with cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP) if applicable to the role.
8Understand basic system design principles for scalability and reliability.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice coding.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Practice implementing these in your preferred language. Solve at least 20-30 problems covering these topics.

2

System Design

Weeks 3-4: System Design basics. Scalability, databases, caching.

Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design concepts. Study topics like scalability, availability, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, load balancing, and API design. Work through common system design interview questions.

3

Behavioral Preparation

Week 5: Behavioral questions preparation. STAR method. Expedia values.

Week 5: Prepare for behavioral questions. Identify key experiences from your resume that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Practice articulating these using the STAR method. Research Expedia's values and prepare examples that align.

4

Mock Interviews

Week 6: Mock interviews. Technical and behavioral practice.

Week 6: Mock interviews. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors, focusing on both technical and behavioral aspects. Get feedback on your communication, problem-solving approach, and overall presentation.

Commonly Asked Questions

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 URL shortening service.
How would you design a system to handle real-time flight status updates?
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a team member. How did you resolve it?
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?
Describe a project you are particularly proud of.
How do you stay updated with new technologies?
Explain the concept of RESTful APIs.
What is the difference between a process and a thread?

Location-Based Differences

London

Interview Focus

Adaptability to local market trends and customer needs.Understanding of regional technical challenges and solutions.

Common Questions

Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder.

How do you prioritize your work when faced with multiple deadlines?

Describe a challenging technical problem you solved and how you approached it.

Tips

Research Expedia's presence and initiatives in the specific region.
Be prepared to discuss how your skills can address local market demands.

Seattle

Interview Focus

Innovation and creativity in problem-solving.Understanding of the North American travel market.

Common Questions

How do you handle ambiguity in project requirements?

Describe a situation where you had to influence a team to adopt your technical solution.

What are your thoughts on the future of travel technology?

Tips

Highlight projects that demonstrate your innovative thinking.
Showcase your understanding of Expedia's business in North America.

Singapore

Interview Focus

Collaboration and teamwork within a global context.Understanding of emerging technologies relevant to the APAC region.

Common Questions

How do you ensure code quality and maintainability?

Tell me about a time you received constructive criticism and how you acted on it.

What are your career aspirations within Expedia?

Tips

Emphasize your ability to work effectively in diverse teams.
Demonstrate your eagerness to learn and grow within Expedia.

Process Timeline

1
Coding Round45m
2
System Design Round60m
3
Behavioral Round45m

Interview Rounds

3-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

1

Coding Round

Coding challenge focusing on data structures and algorithms.

Technical Interview (Coding)Medium
45 minSoftware Engineer

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 write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your approach to problem-solving and debugging.

What Interviewers Look For

Ability to translate requirements into working code.Logical thinking and systematic approach to problem-solving.Proficiency in at least one programming language.

Evaluation Criteria

Correctness of the solution
Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity)
Code clarity and readability
Problem-solving approach

Questions Asked

Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.

Data StructuresAlgorithmsTrees

Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.

Data StructuresAlgorithmsArrays

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding on a whiteboard or a simple text editor.
2Think out loud and explain your thought process clearly.
3Consider edge cases and test your solution thoroughly.
4Be prepared to discuss time and space complexity.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to solve coding problems efficiently.
Poor understanding of fundamental algorithms and data structures.
Lack of clarity in explaining the thought process.
2

System Design Round

Design a scalable system to solve a given problem.

Technical Interview (System Design)Hard
60 minSenior Software Engineer / Architect

In this round, you will be presented with a high-level problem and asked to design a system to solve it. This could involve designing a social media feed, a URL shortener, or a ride-sharing service. The focus is on your ability to think about scalability, reliability, performance, and trade-offs.

What Interviewers Look For

Ability to design complex systems from scratch.Understanding of distributed systems concepts.Pragmatic approach to problem-solving and trade-offs.

Evaluation Criteria

Scalability of the proposed design
Availability and reliability considerations
Trade-off analysis
Clarity of communication

Questions Asked

Design a system like Twitter's news feed.

System DesignScalabilityDistributed Systems

Design an API rate limiter.

System DesignDistributed SystemsAPIs

Preparation Tips

1Study common system design patterns and architectures.
2Practice designing systems for scale.
3Be prepared to discuss database choices, caching strategies, and API design.
4Clearly articulate your design decisions and justify your trade-offs.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of understanding of system design principles.
Inability to handle scale and performance considerations.
Poor trade-off analysis.
3

Behavioral Round

Assess behavioral competencies and cultural fit.

Behavioral InterviewMedium
45 minHiring Manager

This round is conducted by the hiring manager and focuses on your behavioral competencies and overall fit with the team and Expedia's culture. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific situations, and your career aspirations. The goal is to understand your working style, motivation, and how you align with the company's values.

What Interviewers Look For

How you handle challenges and work with others.Your motivation and passion for the role and company.Your ability to learn and adapt.

Evaluation Criteria

Communication skills
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving approach
Adaptability and learning agility
Cultural fit

Questions Asked

Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?

BehavioralLearningResilience

Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you handle it?

BehavioralTeamworkConflict Resolution

Preparation Tips

1Prepare specific examples using the STAR method.
2Be honest and authentic in your responses.
3Show enthusiasm for the role and Expedia.
4Ask thoughtful questions about the team, role, and company culture.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Poor communication skills.
Inability to provide specific examples for behavioral questions.
Lack of alignment with company values.
Negative attitude or lack of enthusiasm.

Commonly Asked DSA Questions

Frequently asked coding questions at Expedia

View all
Two SumEASYAdd Two NumbersMEDIUMLongest Substring Without Repeating CharactersMEDIUMRoman to IntegerEASYValid ParenthesesEASYFind the Index of the First Occurrence in a StringEASYTrapping Rain WaterHARDJump Game IIMEDIUMGroup AnagramsMEDIUMMerge IntervalsMEDIUM