# Software Engineer
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** Senior Software Engineer
**Company:** [FactSet](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/factset)
**Difficulty:** Medium to Hard
**Salary:** US$140000 - US$180000
**Experience:** 5 - 10
**Timeline:** ~14 days
FactSet is looking for a Senior Software Engineer to join our dynamic team. This role involves designing, developing, and maintaining high-quality software solutions that power our financial data and analytics platforms. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative products and contribute to the technical growth of the engineering department.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/factset/senior-software-engineer-software-engineer
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## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- System Design & Architecture
- Behavioral & Cultural Fit
- Domain & Tooling Expertise

## Questions asked

- Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder. How did you handle it?
- Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
- What are the differences between processes and threads?
- How would you optimize a slow database query?
- Describe a situation where you disagreed with your manager. What did you do?
- Implement a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
- Explain the concept of eventual consistency.
- How do you approach code reviews?
- Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of.
- Design a system to handle real-time notifications for a social media platform.

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert.
- Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
- Prepare to discuss your past projects and technical contributions in detail.
- Research FactSet's company culture, values, and products.
- Understand the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
- Practice mock interviews to simulate the actual interview experience.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Recursion). Practice implementing these from scratch and analyze their time and space complexity. Solve at least 2-3 problems per day.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 2-3 problems daily."}
- {"title":"System Design","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design concepts. Study topics like scalability, availability, reliability, load balancing, caching, databases (SQL/NoSQL), message queues, and microservices. Work through common system design interview questions and practice drawing diagrams.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: System Design principles. Study scalability, databases, and microservices."}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Week 5: Prepare for behavioral questions. Reflect on your past experiences and prepare specific examples using the STAR method. Think about situations related to teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and handling challenges. Also, research FactSet's values and mission.","shortDescription":"Week 5: Behavioral questions preparation using STAR method. Research FactSet."}
- {"title":"Technology & Mock Interviews","longDescription":"Week 6: Focus on specific technologies relevant to FactSet, such as Java/Python, cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP), and financial data concepts. Review your resume and be ready to discuss any project or technology listed in detail. Conduct mock interviews.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Technology review (Java/Python, Cloud), resume deep-dive, and mock interviews."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"New York","differences":{"tips":["Be prepared to discuss your experience with large-scale systems and distributed computing.","Familiarize yourself with common financial data structures and APIs.","Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.","Highlight any experience with performance optimization and low-latency systems.","Research FactSet's products and services to understand our business context."],"interviewFocus":["System Design and Scalability","Problem-solving and Algorithmic Thinking","Experience with distributed systems","Proficiency in Java/Python/C++ and relevant frameworks","Understanding of financial markets and data"],"commonQuestions":["How would you design a system to handle real-time stock price updates for millions of users?","Describe a complex technical challenge you faced and how you overcame it.","What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architecture for a financial data platform?","How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in a large codebase?","Discuss your experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their services relevant to data processing and storage."]}}
- {"location":"London","differences":{"tips":["Brush up on your data structures and algorithms, especially those relevant to data manipulation and searching.","Be ready to write code on a whiteboard or shared editor.","Understand the principles of clean code and design patterns.","Prepare examples of how you've improved system performance or reliability.","Showcase your ability to work effectively in a team environment."],"interviewFocus":["Data Structures and Algorithms","Software Development Best Practices","Database Design and Optimization","Concurrency and Parallelism","Debugging and Troubleshooting"],"commonQuestions":["How would you design a data pipeline for processing large volumes of historical financial data?","Explain the trade-offs between different database technologies (SQL vs. NoSQL) for storing financial time-series data.","Describe your approach to testing complex financial applications.","How do you handle concurrency and multithreading in your applications?","What are your strategies for debugging and troubleshooting production issues in a high-availability environment?"]}}
- {"location":"San Francisco","differences":{"tips":["Be prepared to discuss your experience with modern software development practices.","Highlight your contributions to team success and technical mentorship.","Demonstrate your understanding of cloud-native architectures.","Showcase your ability to communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.","Be ready to talk about your career aspirations and how they align with FactSet's goals."],"interviewFocus":["API Design and Development","DevOps and Cloud Infrastructure","Technical Leadership and Mentorship","Communication and Collaboration","Continuous Learning"],"commonQuestions":["How do you approach designing APIs for financial data services?","Discuss your experience with containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration tools like Kubernetes.","What are your thoughts on CI/CD pipelines and their importance in software development?","How do you stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in software engineering?","Describe a situation where you had to influence technical decisions within a team."]}}

## Round 1: Technical Coding Round 1
**Type:** Data Structures and Algorithms · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Coding challenge focused on data structures and algorithms.
This round focuses on your core computer science fundamentals. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to analyze the problem, devise an efficient solution, write clean and correct code, and discuss the time and space complexity of your approach. Be prepared to explain your thought process throughout the problem-solving exercise.
**Interviewers look for:** Strong understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms; Ability to translate a problem into a working code solution; Logical thinking and systematic approach to problem-solving; Attention to detail
**Evaluation criteria:** Correctness of the solution; Efficiency (Time and Space Complexity); Code clarity and readability; Problem-solving approach; Handling of edge cases
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate thought process clearly; Incorrect or inefficient algorithmic solutions; Poor coding practices (e.g., lack of comments, poor variable naming); Failure to consider edge cases and constraints
## Questions

- Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.
- Find the first non-repeating character in a string.
- Implement a function to reverse a linked list.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on Medium difficulty.
- Review common data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming).
- Practice explaining your solution out loud as you code.
- Be ready to discuss trade-offs of different approaches.

## Round 2: System Design Round
**Type:** System Design · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
Design a scalable system based on a given problem statement.
This round assesses your ability to design large-scale systems. You'll be presented with an open-ended problem (e.g., design Twitter's feed, design a URL shortener) and expected to break it down, identify requirements, propose a high-level design, and then dive deeper into specific components. Focus on scalability, availability, data storage, APIs, and potential bottlenecks. Be prepared to justify your design choices and discuss trade-offs.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to design complex, scalable, and reliable systems; Understanding of distributed systems concepts; Experience with various architectural patterns; Pragmatic approach to problem-solving; Clear communication of technical ideas
**Evaluation criteria:** Scalability of the proposed design; Robustness and fault tolerance; Clarity and completeness of the design; Understanding of trade-offs; Knowledge of relevant technologies (databases, caching, messaging)
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clarity in system design approach; Failure to consider scalability and performance bottlenecks; Inability to justify design choices and trade-offs; Overlooking critical components or requirements
## Questions

- Design a system like TinyURL.
- Design a news feed system for a social media platform.
- Design an API rate limiter.

## Preparation tips

- Study common system design patterns and concepts (load balancing, caching, databases, message queues).
- Practice designing systems like Twitter, Facebook, Uber, etc.
- Understand the trade-offs between different technologies and architectural choices.
- Be prepared to draw diagrams and explain your design clearly.

## Round 3: Behavioral / Manager Round
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Behavioral questions to assess past experiences and cultural fit.
This round focuses on your behavioral and situational responses. The interviewer will ask questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific work scenarios, your motivations, and your career goals. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the team, role, and company culture.
**Interviewers look for:** Evidence of collaboration and teamwork; Ability to handle challenging situations and learn from mistakes; Strong communication skills; Motivation and passion for software engineering; Alignment with FactSet's culture
**Evaluation criteria:** Teamwork and collaboration skills; Problem-solving approach in past experiences; Adaptability and learning agility; Communication effectiveness; Cultural fit and alignment with FactSet's values
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with company values; Poor communication or interpersonal skills; Inability to provide specific examples for behavioral questions; Lack of enthusiasm or interest in the role/company
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
- Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult team member.
- Why are you interested in FactSet?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions (teamwork, conflict resolution, challenges, successes).
- Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Think about why you want to work at FactSet and for this specific role.
- Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.

## Round 4: Final Round
**Type:** Final Round / Executive Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium to Hard · **Duration:** 30 min
Final discussion with a senior leader to assess overall fit.
This is often a final round where a senior leader or hiring manager consolidates feedback from previous interviews. They may ask a few more targeted questions to clarify any doubts or probe deeper into specific areas. This is also a crucial opportunity for you to ask any remaining questions and ensure your understanding of the role and team.
**Interviewers look for:** Confirmation of skills and experience from previous rounds; Potential for growth and leadership; Overall fit for the team and company
**Evaluation criteria:** Overall technical competence; Consistency in performance; Alignment with the senior level expectations; Ability to contribute to team goals
**Common rejection reasons:** Inconsistent performance across rounds; Lack of depth in technical knowledge; Poor communication during technical discussions; Not meeting the bar for a Senior Software Engineer role
## Questions

- What are your career aspirations for the next 3-5 years?
- How do you mentor junior engineers?

## Preparation tips

- Review your performance in previous rounds.
- Be prepared to reiterate your interest and qualifications.
- Have thoughtful questions ready about the team's roadmap, challenges, and culture.