How many interview rounds does FactSet have for Software Engineer?

FactSet has 3 interview rounds for the Software Engineer position: Technical Coding Round, System Design Round, Managerial Round.

Software Engineer

Software EngineerPrincipal Software EngineerHard

FactSet is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join our dynamic team. This role involves designing, developing, and maintaining complex software systems, mentoring junior engineers, and contributing to architectural decisions. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in software development, excellent problem-solving skills, and a passion for building high-quality, scalable solutions.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·8 - 15 yrs

Comp band·US$170000 - US$220000

Interview time·165 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

Technical proficiency in core programming languages and paradigms.
Deep understanding of data structures, algorithms, and system design principles.
Ability to design, build, and maintain scalable and reliable software systems.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
Experience with cloud computing platforms and distributed systems.
Proficiency in testing methodologies and ensuring code quality.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

Review core computer science fundamentals, including data structures and algorithms.
Brush up on system design principles and common architectural patterns.
Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, focusing on your contributions and technical challenges.
Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.
Research FactSet's products and services to understand our business context.
Prepare questions to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and company culture.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals. Practice medium/hard problems (2-3/day).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice solving problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert, focusing on medium to hard difficulty problems. Aim for at least 2-3 problems per day.

Questions

Commonly asked.

Describe a complex system you designed or significantly contributed to. What were the key challenges and how did you address them?
How would you design a system to handle millions of concurrent users?
Tell me about a time you had to mentor a junior engineer. What was your approach and what was the outcome?
What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architectures?
How do you ensure the security and reliability of the systems you build?
Describe a situation where you had to make a difficult technical trade-off. What was your reasoning?
How do you approach code reviews and ensure code quality across a team?
What are your strategies for managing technical debt?
Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
How do you stay current with new technologies and industry trends?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

01 / 03

Location

New York

Interview focus

System Design and ArchitectureLeadership and MentorshipProblem-Solving at ScaleTechnical Strategy and Vision

Common questions

Describe a challenging technical problem you solved at scale.
How do you approach designing a distributed system for high availability?
Tell me about a time you had to influence a team to adopt a new technology or approach.
What are your strategies for mentoring and developing junior engineers?
How do you handle technical debt and ensure code quality in a large codebase?

Tips

Be prepared to discuss your experience with large-scale systems and distributed architectures.
Highlight instances where you've led technical initiatives or mentored teams.
Demonstrate a deep understanding of software development best practices and design patterns.
Articulate your thought process clearly when discussing complex technical challenges.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

Hard

Data Structures And Algorithms Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Staff Engineer

This round focuses on your fundamental computer science knowledge and your ability to translate problems into efficient code. You will be asked to solve one or two algorithmic problems, often involving data structures like arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, or hash maps. The interviewer will assess your approach to problem-solving, your coding style, and your ability to analyze the time and space complexity of your solutions. Expect to write code in a shared editor or on a whiteboard.

What they look for

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.Proficiency in coding and implementing solutions efficiently.Clear communication of thought process.Understanding of time and space complexity.

Evaluation

Problem-solving approach
Algorithmic thinking
Data structure knowledge
Coding proficiency
Ability to explain solutions

Sample questions

Given a binary tree, find the lowest common ancestor of two given nodes.
TreeRecursionBinary Tree
Implement a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
ArraySortingQuickselect
Design a data structure that supports insert, delete, search, and getRandom in O(1) average time.
Hash TableArrayData Structures

Prep for this round

01Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert.
02Focus on understanding the underlying data structures and algorithms.
03Practice explaining your thought process out loud as you solve problems.
04Be prepared to discuss trade-offs between different approaches.

Common rejection reasons

×Lack of depth in core technical areas.
×Inability to articulate thought process clearly.
×Poor understanding of system design principles.
×Difficulty in handling ambiguity or complex problems.
×Lack of leadership or mentoring experience.

Hard

System Design Interview · 60 min · Staff Engineer / Principal Engineer

This round evaluates your ability to design and architect complex software systems. You'll be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., design a URL shortener, a social media feed, or a distributed cache) and asked to propose a solution. The interviewer will probe your design choices, focusing on scalability, reliability, performance, and trade-offs. Be prepared to discuss various components, databases, caching strategies, and communication protocols.

What they look for

Ability to design complex, scalable, and reliable systems.Deep understanding of distributed systems concepts (e.g., consistency, availability, partitioning).Proficiency in choosing appropriate technologies and architectural patterns.Ability to articulate design decisions and justify trade-offs.Consideration of non-functional requirements (e.g., security, maintainability).

Evaluation

System design principles
Scalability and performance considerations
Trade-off analysis
Understanding of distributed systems
Clarity of communication

Sample questions

Design a system like Twitter's news feed.
System DesignScalabilityDistributed SystemsDatabases
How would you design a rate limiter for an API?
System DesignAPIsConcurrencyAlgorithms
Design a distributed key-value store.
System DesignDistributed SystemsDatabasesConsistency

Prep for this round

01Study system design concepts and common architectural patterns.
02Read books like 'Designing Data-Intensive Applications' and 'System Design Interview – An insider's guide'.
03Practice designing various systems and articulating your thought process.
04Be prepared to discuss trade-offs between different design choices.
05Consider non-functional requirements like scalability, availability, and latency.

Common rejection reasons

×Inability to design scalable and robust systems.
×Poor understanding of distributed systems concepts.
×Lack of clarity in explaining design choices and trade-offs.
×Failure to consider edge cases and failure scenarios.
×Not demonstrating leadership or architectural vision.

Med

Behavioral And Managerial Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Director of Engineering

This round focuses on your behavioral aspects, leadership potential, and cultural fit. The interviewer will ask questions about your past experiences, focusing on how you've handled various situations, such as leading projects, resolving conflicts, working with difficult team members, and dealing with failure. They will also assess your motivation for joining FactSet and your understanding of the role.

What they look for

Evidence of leadership and ability to influence others.Strong communication and interpersonal skills.Ability to work effectively in a team environment.Alignment with FactSet's values and culture.Proactive approach to challenges and learning.

Evaluation

Leadership potential
Teamwork and collaboration
Communication skills
Problem-solving approach
Cultural fit

Sample questions

Tell me about a time you had to lead a team through a challenging project.
LeadershipTeamworkProject ManagementBehavioral
Describe a situation where you disagreed with a colleague or manager. How did you handle it?
Conflict ResolutionCommunicationBehavioral
How do you prioritize your work when faced with multiple competing demands?
Time ManagementPrioritizationBehavioral
What motivates you to do your best work?
MotivationBehavioral

Prep for this round

01Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
02Reflect on your leadership experiences and how you've mentored others.
03Think about situations where you've demonstrated teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.
04Research FactSet's values and culture and be prepared to discuss how you align with them.
05Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.

Common rejection reasons

×Lack of leadership or mentorship experience.
×Poor communication or interpersonal skills.
×Inability to handle conflict or difficult situations.
×Not demonstrating alignment with company values.
×Lack of strategic thinking or business acumen.

DSA

Coding questions at FactSet.

Frequently reported on FactSet loops

View all at FactSet

Other guides

Software Engineer

What they measure.

How to prepare.

Data Structures and Algorithms

System Design

Behavioral and Leadership

Company Research & Mock Interviews

Commonly asked.

Regional differences.

New York

London

San Francisco

Round-by-round.

Coding questions at FactSet.

More at FactSet.