This interview process is designed to assess candidates for a Lead Software Engineer position at FactSet. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, leadership potential, and cultural fit.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·5 - 10 yrs
Comp band·US$150000 - US$200000
Interview time·210 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice (medium/hard).
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Review common data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, graph traversal, dynamic programming). Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design principles and practice.
Weeks 3-4: Deep dive into System Design. Study architectural patterns (microservices, monolithic), database design (SQL vs NoSQL), caching strategies, load balancing, message queues, and API design. Practice designing large-scale systems.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral and Leadership preparation (STAR method).
Week 5: Prepare for Behavioral and Leadership questions. Reflect on your career experiences, focusing on examples of leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and handling challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Company research and question preparation.
Week 6: Research FactSet, its products, and its culture. Prepare specific questions to ask the interviewers. Review any specific technologies mentioned in the job description or relevant to FactSet's work.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 03 locations
01 / 03Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer / Senior Software Engineer
This round focuses on your fundamental programming skills and problem-solving abilities. You will be asked to solve 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 breaking down complex problems.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager
This round assesses your ability to design complex, scalable, and reliable software systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem and asked to design a solution, considering aspects like data storage, APIs, scalability, and fault tolerance. The focus is on your architectural thinking and ability to make informed trade-offs.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like Bitly.
Design a system to handle real-time notifications for a social media platform.
Design a distributed cache system.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral & Leadership Interview · 45 min · Engineering Manager / Director
This round focuses on your behavioral competencies and leadership potential. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, focusing on how you've handled various situations, including leadership challenges, team collaboration, conflict resolution, and driving projects to completion. The goal is to understand your working style, leadership approach, and how you align with FactSet's culture.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to lead a team through a difficult project. What was your role and what was the outcome?
Describe a situation where you had to resolve a conflict within your team. How did you approach it?
How do you motivate your team members?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial / Executive Interview · 60 min · Director of Engineering / VP of Engineering
This final round is with a senior leader and focuses on your strategic thinking, technical vision, and ability to align technology with business objectives. You'll discuss your leadership philosophy, how you approach technical strategy, and your understanding of the broader impact of technology on the business. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your potential as a leader at FactSet.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
What is your vision for a high-performing engineering team?
How do you ensure that technical decisions align with business priorities?
Describe a time you had to influence senior leadership on a technical strategy. What was the outcome?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on FactSet loops
Other guides
