Expedia

SDE III

Software EngineerLHard

Expedia's SDE III interview process is designed to assess a candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit for a senior engineering role. The process typically involves multiple rounds, including technical screenings, coding challenges, system design discussions, and behavioral interviews.

Rounds

4

Timeline

~14 days

Experience

7 - 10 yrs

Salary Range

US$150000 - US$200000

Total Duration

195 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills

Technical depth and breadth in relevant areas.
Problem-solving approach and analytical skills.
System design capabilities, including scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
Coding proficiency and best practices.
Communication and collaboration skills.
Leadership potential and ability to mentor.
Cultural fit and alignment with Expedia's values.

Communication & Collaboration

Ability to articulate thought process clearly.
Effectiveness in explaining complex concepts.
Active listening and responsiveness to feedback.
Clarity in written and verbal communication.

Leadership & Impact

Demonstrated leadership in previous roles.
Experience mentoring junior engineers.
Proactive approach to problem-solving and taking initiative.
Ability to influence technical decisions and drive change.

Cultural Fit

Alignment with Expedia's core values (e.g., customer focus, integrity, innovation).
Enthusiasm for the role and the company.
Ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Preparation Tips

1Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
2Study system design principles for scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
3Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
4Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, highlighting your contributions and technical decisions.
5Research Expedia's products, services, and recent engineering challenges.
6Understand common behavioral interview questions and prepare STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) responses.
7Familiarize yourself with cloud computing concepts (AWS, Azure, GCP) and distributed systems.
8Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely, especially during coding and system design rounds.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures & Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 2-3 problems daily.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice implementing these efficiently and analyze their time/space complexity. Aim for 2-3 problems per day.

2

System Design

Weeks 3-4: System Design principles and case studies.

Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design. Study concepts like load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), message queues, microservices, and distributed systems. Work through common system design case studies (e.g., designing Twitter, Uber, Netflix).

3

Behavioral Preparation

Week 5: Behavioral interview preparation using STAR method.

Week 5: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Reflect on your career experiences and identify examples that showcase leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and handling challenges. Practice articulating these using the STAR method.

4

Company Research & Mock Interviews

Week 6: Expedia-specific research and mock interviews.

Week 6: Review Expedia-specific technologies and challenges. Read engineering blogs, understand their business model, and prepare questions to ask the interviewer. Do mock interviews to simulate the actual interview environment.

Commonly Asked Questions

Given a list of user IDs and their last login timestamps, find all users who logged in within the last 7 days.
Design a system to handle real-time flight status updates for millions of users.
How would you implement a rate limiter for an API?
Describe a time you had to deal with a production issue. What was your approach?
What are the trade-offs between monolithic and microservices architectures?
Write a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
How do you ensure data consistency in a distributed system?
Tell me about a challenging project you led. What was your role and what was the outcome?
Explain the concept of eventual consistency.
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.

Location-Based Differences

Seattle

Interview Focus

Deep understanding of distributed systems and cloud-native architectures.Experience with large-scale data processing and analytics.Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.Familiarity with Expedia's technology stack and business domain.

Common Questions

Discuss a complex technical challenge you faced and how you overcame it.

How do you approach designing a scalable and reliable system for [specific Expedia product, e.g., flight search]?

Describe a time you had to mentor junior engineers. What was your approach?

What are your thoughts on the latest trends in cloud computing and how can they be applied at Expedia?

Tips

Research Expedia's recent tech blog posts and engineering challenges.
Prepare to discuss your contributions to open-source projects if applicable.
Be ready to articulate your design choices with clear trade-offs.
Showcase your ability to influence technical direction and mentor others.

Chicago

Interview Focus

Proficiency in data structures and algorithms, with an emphasis on optimization.Experience with microservices architecture and API design.Ability to handle ambiguity and drive projects to completion.Understanding of agile methodologies and CI/CD practices.

Common Questions

How would you design a real-time pricing engine for travel packages?

Explain the CAP theorem and its implications for a distributed booking system.

Describe a situation where you had to disagree with a technical decision. How did you handle it?

What are your strategies for ensuring code quality and maintainability in a large codebase?

Tips

Practice coding problems that involve concurrency and multithreading.
Be prepared to whiteboard system designs, explaining your thought process.
Highlight instances where you've improved team processes or efficiency.
Demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous learning.

Remote

Interview Focus

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.Experience with machine learning and data science concepts.Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.Understanding of performance optimization and scalability challenges.

Common Questions

How would you design a recommendation system for personalized travel experiences?

Discuss your experience with A/B testing and experimentation.

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

What are the key considerations when building a fault-tolerant system?

Tips

Prepare examples that demonstrate your impact on business metrics.
Be ready to discuss trade-offs in system design, such as latency vs. consistency.
Showcase your ability to communicate complex technical ideas clearly.
Emphasize your experience in driving innovation and adopting new technologies.

Process Timeline

1
Coding Interview45m
2
System Design60m
3
Behavioral and Managerial Interview45m
4
Technical Vision and Leadership45m

Interview Rounds

4-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

1

Coding Interview

Coding challenge to assess problem-solving and coding skills.

Technical Phone Screen / Online AssessmentMedium
45 minSoftware Engineer

This round typically involves a coding challenge, often conducted via a shared online editor. The interviewer will present a problem that requires the candidate to implement a solution using appropriate data structures and algorithms. The focus is on assessing problem-solving skills, coding proficiency, and the ability to think through edge cases and optimize the solution.

What Interviewers Look For

Clean, well-structured, and bug-free code.Understanding of time and space complexity.Ability to test the code thoroughly.Clear communication of the solution.

Evaluation Criteria

Correctness of the solution.
Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity).
Code quality and readability.
Ability to explain the approach and trade-offs.

Questions Asked

Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.

TreeRecursionIteration

Implement a function to find the median of a stream of numbers.

HeapData Structures

Find the longest substring without repeating characters.

Sliding WindowHash Map

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
2Ensure your development environment is set up for quick coding.
3Think out loud and explain your approach before writing code.
4Test your code with various inputs, including edge cases.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to articulate thought process clearly.
Lack of fundamental data structures and algorithms knowledge.
Inefficient or incorrect code implementation.
Poor time management during the coding exercise.
2

System Design

Design a scalable and reliable system for a given problem.

System Design InterviewHard
60 minSenior Software Engineer / Architect

This round focuses on a candidate's ability to design complex, scalable, and reliable systems. The interviewer will present an open-ended problem (e.g., design a social media feed, a ride-sharing service, or a distributed cache) and expect the candidate to break it down, discuss various components, identify potential issues, and propose solutions. The discussion will cover aspects like data modeling, API design, scalability, and fault tolerance.

What Interviewers Look For

A structured approach to system design.Knowledge of distributed systems principles (e.g., CAP theorem, consistency models).Ability to identify bottlenecks and propose solutions.Consideration of various system components (databases, caches, load balancers, APIs).Clear communication of design decisions.

Evaluation Criteria

Scalability of the proposed design.
Reliability and fault tolerance.
Clarity and completeness of the design.
Understanding of trade-offs and justifications for design choices.
Ability to handle system constraints and requirements.

Questions Asked

Design a system to shorten URLs like TinyURL.

System DesignScalabilityDatabases

Design a news feed system for a platform like Facebook.

System DesignScalabilityDistributed SystemsCaching

How would you design a distributed key-value store?

System DesignDistributed SystemsConsistency

Preparation Tips

1Study common system design patterns and architectures.
2Practice designing systems for scale and reliability.
3Be prepared to draw diagrams and explain your design choices.
4Think about potential failure points and how to mitigate them.
5Understand the trade-offs involved in different design decisions.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to design a scalable and reliable system.
Lack of understanding of distributed systems concepts.
Poorly defined components or unclear trade-offs.
Failure to consider failure scenarios and error handling.
3

Behavioral and Managerial Interview

Assess behavioral competencies, leadership, and cultural fit.

Behavioral / Manager InterviewMedium
45 minHiring Manager / Senior Engineering Manager

This round assesses the candidate's behavioral and leadership qualities. The interviewer will ask questions about past experiences, focusing on how the candidate has handled specific situations, worked in teams, demonstrated leadership, and overcome challenges. The goal is to understand the candidate's work style, problem-solving approach in non-technical contexts, and cultural fit within Expedia.

What Interviewers Look For

Examples of leadership and mentorship.Ability to work effectively in a team.Problem-solving approach in non-technical situations.Cultural fit and alignment with company values.Enthusiasm and passion for the role.

Evaluation Criteria

Demonstration of leadership and initiative.
Ability to handle conflict and challenges.
Teamwork and collaboration skills.
Alignment with Expedia's culture and values.
Self-awareness and learning from past experiences.

Questions Asked

Tell me about a time you had to influence a team to adopt a new technology.

LeadershipInfluenceCommunication

Describe a situation where you disagreed with your manager. How did you handle it?

Conflict ResolutionCommunicationProfessionalism

How do you stay updated with new technologies and industry trends?

LearningAdaptabilityCuriosity

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

ResilienceLearningSelf-awareness

Preparation Tips

1Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
2Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and career goals.
3Be ready to discuss your leadership style and experience mentoring others.
4Show enthusiasm for Expedia and the role.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of clear examples to support claims.
Inability to articulate impact or ownership.
Poor alignment with company values.
Negative attitude or lack of enthusiasm.
4

Technical Vision and Leadership

Assess technical vision, leadership, and overall fit for a senior role.

Final Round / Executive InterviewHard
45 minDirector of Engineering / Senior Engineering Manager

This final round, often with a more senior leader, aims to assess the candidate's overall fit for a senior role, their technical vision, and their potential to contribute to the broader engineering organization. It may involve a mix of technical discussions, strategic thinking questions, and a final behavioral assessment. The focus is on leadership, impact, and long-term potential.

What Interviewers Look For

A clear vision for technical excellence.Ability to mentor and guide other engineers.Experience in driving technical decisions and architecture.Proactive problem-solving and ownership.Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Evaluation Criteria

Technical vision and strategic thinking.
Ability to lead and mentor technical initiatives.
Deep understanding of software engineering principles.
Alignment with the team's goals and challenges.
Potential for growth and impact within the organization.

Questions Asked

What are your thoughts on the future of travel technology and how can Expedia innovate?

VisionStrategyInnovation

Describe a time you had to make a significant technical decision with incomplete information.

Decision MakingRisk ManagementLeadership

How would you foster a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning within a team?

LeadershipMentorshipCulture

Preparation Tips

1Be prepared to discuss your career aspirations and how they align with Expedia's goals.
2Think about how you can contribute to the team's technical strategy.
3Articulate your leadership philosophy and how you mentor engineers.
4Ask insightful questions about the team, technology, and company direction.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of alignment with the team's technical direction.
Inability to demonstrate senior-level impact.
Poor communication of technical vision.
Mismatch in expectations regarding role and responsibilities.

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