FactSet

Software Engineer

Software EngineerSoftware Engineer IIMedium

FactSet is looking for a Software Engineer II 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 continuous improvement of our engineering practices.

Rounds

3

Timeline

~14 days

Experience

2 - 5 yrs

Salary Range

US$110000 - US$140000

Total Duration

150 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills

Problem-solving ability
Technical proficiency in relevant programming languages and data structures
System design and architectural thinking
Communication and collaboration skills
Cultural fit and alignment with FactSet values

Communication & Collaboration

Ability to articulate thought process clearly
Active listening skills
Ability to ask clarifying questions
Constructive feedback during pair programming or code reviews

Behavioral & Cultural Fit

Demonstrated initiative and ownership
Adaptability to new challenges
Proactiveness in learning and skill development
Alignment with FactSet's mission and values

Preparation Tips

1Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
2Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte.
3Brush up on object-oriented design principles.
4Understand common software design patterns.
5Prepare for behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
6Research FactSet's products, services, and company culture.
7Think about past projects and be ready to discuss your contributions and challenges.
8Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice implementations and complexity analysis.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and their associated algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Graph Traversal, Dynamic Programming). Practice implementing these from scratch and analyze their time and space complexity.

2

System Design

Weeks 3-4: System Design principles. Focus on scalability, databases, caching, and microservices.

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

3

Behavioral Preparation

Week 5: Behavioral preparation. Use STAR method for past experiences and align with FactSet values.

Week 5: Prepare for behavioral and situational questions. Reflect on your past experiences and prepare specific examples using the STAR method. Understand FactSet's values and how your experiences align with them.

4

Final Review & Mock Interviews

Week 6: Mock interviews and final review. Focus on weak areas and company research.

Week 6: Mock interviews and final review. Conduct mock interviews focusing on both technical and behavioral aspects. Review any weak areas identified during practice. Research the company and the specific role in detail.

Commonly Asked Questions

Describe a time you had to debug a complex production issue. What was your approach?
How would you design a system to track stock prices in real-time for millions of users?
Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
What are the trade-offs between using a relational database and a NoSQL database for financial data?
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a technical decision made by your team. How did you handle it?
How do you stay updated with new technologies and industry trends?
Write a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.
What is polymorphism and how is it implemented in your preferred language?
Describe a situation where you had to work under a tight deadline. How did you manage your time and priorities?

Location-Based Differences

Norwalk, CT

Interview Focus

Understanding of FactSet's specific technologies and platforms.Ability to adapt to the company culture and collaborative environment.Problem-solving skills within the context of financial data processing.

Common Questions

Tell me about a challenging project you worked on at FactSet.

How do you handle conflicting priorities between different teams?

Describe a time you had to mentor a junior engineer.

Tips

Research FactSet's products and recent news.
Prepare examples that demonstrate collaboration and impact within a large organization.
Be ready to discuss how your skills align with FactSet's mission.

San Jose, CA

Interview Focus

System design and architecture, particularly for scalable and reliable financial systems.Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).Understanding of distributed systems and data consistency.

Common Questions

How do you approach system design for a distributed financial data service?

Describe your experience with cloud-native architectures.

What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architectures for financial applications?

Tips

Review common system design patterns and trade-offs.
Be prepared to discuss your experience with cloud services and deployment strategies.
Familiarize yourself with concepts related to high-availability and fault tolerance in distributed systems.

Austin, TX

Interview Focus

Software development best practices, including testing, code reviews, and CI/CD.Agile development methodologies.Problem-solving and debugging skills in a production environment.

Common Questions

How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in a fast-paced environment?

Describe your experience with agile methodologies and CI/CD pipelines.

What strategies do you use for debugging complex issues in production?

Tips

Highlight your experience with automated testing frameworks.
Be ready to discuss your understanding of CI/CD principles and tools.
Prepare examples of how you've improved code quality or development processes.

Process Timeline

1
Data Structures and Algorithms45m
2
System Design & Architecture60m
3
Behavioral & Situational Interview45m

Interview Rounds

3-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

1

Data Structures and Algorithms

Solve coding problems focusing on data structures and algorithms.

Technical Interview (Coding)Medium
45 minSoftware Engineer / Senior Software 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 well-tested code, as well as your approach to problem-solving and your understanding of algorithmic complexity.

What Interviewers Look For

Clean and efficient code.Logical and structured approach to problem-solving.Understanding of time and space complexity.Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively.

Evaluation Criteria

Problem-solving skills
Coding proficiency
Understanding of data structures and algorithms
Ability to explain code and logic

Questions Asked

Given a binary tree, invert the tree.

Data StructuresAlgorithmsTreesRecursion

Find the first non-repeating character in a string.

StringsHash TablesAlgorithms

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode.
2Focus on understanding time and space complexity (Big O notation).
3Be prepared to explain your thought process as you code.
4Practice writing code on a whiteboard or in a shared editor.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to articulate thought process clearly.
Lack of fundamental programming knowledge.
Poor problem-solving approach.
Not asking clarifying questions.
2

System Design & Architecture

Design a scalable software system, discussing architecture and trade-offs.

System Design InterviewHard
60 minSenior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager

This round assesses your ability to design and architect software systems. You'll be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., design a URL shortener, a social media feed, or a real-time analytics system) and expected to discuss various aspects of the design, including data models, APIs, scalability, and potential bottlenecks. This is a collaborative discussion where your thought process is key.

What Interviewers Look For

Ability to design complex systems from scratch.Understanding of scalability, availability, and reliability.Knowledge of various architectural patterns and technologies.Ability to justify design choices and discuss trade-offs.

Evaluation Criteria

System design capabilities
Scalability and performance considerations
Understanding of trade-offs
Knowledge of distributed systems
Database design and management

Questions Asked

Design a system like Twitter's news feed.

System DesignScalabilityDatabasesCaching

Design an API rate limiter.

System DesignAPIsAlgorithmsDistributed Systems

Preparation Tips

1Study common system design patterns (e.g., load balancing, caching, message queues).
2Understand database choices (SQL vs. NoSQL) and their implications.
3Practice designing common systems.
4Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and justify your decisions.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to design scalable and robust systems.
Lack of understanding of distributed systems concepts.
Poor trade-off analysis.
Not considering edge cases or failure scenarios.
3

Behavioral & Situational Interview

Discuss past experiences and work style using the STAR method.

Behavioral InterviewMedium
45 minEngineering Manager / Senior Team Member

This round focuses on your past experiences and how you handle various workplace situations. You'll be asked behavioral questions designed to understand your work style, problem-solving approach, teamwork abilities, and how you align with FactSet's culture and values. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

What Interviewers Look For

Evidence of teamwork and collaboration.Ability to handle conflict and challenging situations.Proactiveness and ownership.Alignment with FactSet's values and culture.Clear communication and self-awareness.

Evaluation Criteria

Behavioral competencies
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving approach in past situations
Motivation and career goals
Cultural fit

Questions Asked

Tell me about a time you faced a significant challenge at work and how you overcame it.

BehavioralProblem SolvingResilience

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

BehavioralTeamworkConflict Resolution

Why are you interested in working at FactSet?

BehavioralMotivationCompany Fit

Preparation Tips

1Prepare examples for common behavioral questions (teamwork, conflict, failure, success).
2Use the STAR method to structure your answers.
3Research FactSet's company values and culture.
4Be ready to discuss your career aspirations and why you're interested in FactSet.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of clear communication.
Inability to provide specific examples.
Appearing unenthusiastic or disengaged.
Not demonstrating alignment with company values.

Commonly Asked DSA Questions

Frequently asked coding questions at FactSet

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