FactSet

Software Engineer

Software EngineerSoftware Engineer IIIMedium to Hard

FactSet is seeking a talented Software Engineer III 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

4

Timeline

~14 days

Experience

5 - 8 yrs

Salary Range

US$120000 - US$160000

Total Duration

195 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills

Problem-solving skills
Algorithmic thinking
Data structure knowledge
Code quality and efficiency
System design capabilities
Technical communication

Analytical Skills

Ability to handle complex challenges
Creativity in solutions
Logical reasoning
Attention to detail

Behavioral and Soft Skills

Collaboration and teamwork
Communication clarity
Adaptability to feedback
Proactiveness

System Design

Understanding of software architecture
Scalability and performance considerations
Design patterns
Trade-off analysis

Preparation Tips

1Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
2Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert.
3Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
4Prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on past experiences using the STAR method.
5Research FactSet's products, services, and company culture.
6Understand common financial concepts if interviewing for roles with financial domain focus.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and their common operations and time complexities. Practice basic algorithms like sorting and searching.

2

Algorithms Mastery

Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms

Weeks 3-4: Dive deeper into algorithms such as dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, graph traversal (BFS, DFS), and recursion. Solve medium-difficulty problems related to these topics.

3

System Design

Weeks 5-6: System Design Principles

Weeks 5-6: Study system design concepts including scalability, availability, reliability, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, load balancing, and message queues. Practice designing common systems like a URL shortener or a social media feed.

4

Behavioral Preparation

Week 7: Behavioral Interview Preparation

Week 7: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Reflect on your past projects and experiences, focusing on situations that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

5

Final Preparation

Week 8: Mock Interviews & Review

Week 8: Mock interviews with peers or mentors. Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely. Review any specific technologies or languages mentioned in the job description.

Commonly Asked Questions

Tell me about yourself.
Why are you interested in FactSet?
Describe a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.
How do you handle tight deadlines and pressure?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
How do you approach learning new technologies?
Describe a time you had a conflict with a colleague and how you resolved it.
Design a system for [specific problem, e.g., a real-time stock ticker].
Write a function to [solve a specific algorithmic problem].
What are your career goals?

Location-Based Differences

New York

Interview Focus

System Design: Emphasis on distributed systems, scalability, and fault tolerance.Problem-Solving: Ability to break down complex problems and devise efficient solutions.Technical Depth: Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and software architecture.Collaboration & Communication: Effective teamwork and clear articulation of technical concepts.

Common Questions

Discuss a challenging technical problem you solved at your previous role.

How do you approach designing a scalable system for real-time data processing?

Describe your experience with cloud platforms like AWS or Azure.

What are your strategies for ensuring code quality and maintainability?

Tell me about a time you had to mentor a junior engineer.

Tips

For New York: Be prepared to discuss your experience with financial markets and data.
For San Francisco: Highlight your experience with large-scale distributed systems and cloud technologies.
For Bangalore: Showcase your problem-solving skills with a focus on algorithmic efficiency and data structures.
For London: Emphasize your experience in building robust and scalable financial applications.

San Francisco

Interview Focus

System Design: Focus on high-availability, low-latency systems, and microservices architecture.Problem-Solving: Analytical thinking and ability to optimize solutions for performance.Technical Leadership: Experience in guiding technical decisions and mentoring teams.Adaptability: Willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies and methodologies.

Common Questions

How would you design a system to handle millions of concurrent users?

Describe a situation where you had to make a significant technical trade-off.

What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architectures?

How do you stay updated with the latest technology trends?

Tell me about a project where you had to work with legacy code.

Tips

For San Francisco: Be ready to discuss your experience with agile methodologies and CI/CD pipelines.
For New York: Highlight your understanding of financial data models and trading systems.
For Bangalore: Focus on demonstrating strong coding practices and algorithmic thinking.
For London: Showcase your experience in building enterprise-level financial software.

Bangalore

Interview Focus

Problem-Solving: Emphasis on debugging, performance optimization, and root cause analysis.Technical Fundamentals: Strong grasp of data structures, algorithms, and design patterns.Code Quality: Commitment to writing clean, efficient, and well-tested code.Teamwork: Ability to collaborate effectively and contribute to a positive team environment.

Common Questions

How do you approach debugging complex issues in a production environment?

Describe your experience with performance tuning of applications.

What are the key principles of object-oriented design?

How do you ensure the security of the software you develop?

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a technical decision and how you handled it.

Tips

For Bangalore: Be prepared to solve coding challenges on the spot, focusing on efficiency.
For New York: Highlight your understanding of financial data processing and analytics.
For San Francisco: Showcase your experience with cloud-native development and distributed systems.
For London: Emphasize your experience in building scalable and reliable financial platforms.

London

Interview Focus

System Design: Focus on modularity, maintainability, and integration of services.Problem-Solving: Ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions.Technical Proficiency: Strong coding skills and understanding of software development lifecycle.Communication: Clear and concise communication of technical ideas and progress.

Common Questions

How do you handle requirements that are ambiguous or incomplete?

Describe your experience with building APIs and microservices.

What are your thoughts on testing strategies for complex applications?

How do you manage technical debt?

Tell me about a time you had to deliver a project under tight deadlines.

Tips

For London: Be prepared to discuss your experience with regulatory compliance in financial services.
For New York: Highlight your understanding of market data and trading systems.
For San Francisco: Showcase your experience with agile development and DevOps practices.
For Bangalore: Emphasize your strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Process Timeline

1
HR Screening Call30m
2
Data Structures and Algorithms Interview60m
3
System Design Interview60m
4
Hiring Manager Interview45m

Interview Rounds

4-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

1

HR Screening Call

Initial call with HR to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

HR ScreeningEasy
30 minRecruiter/HR

The initial HR screening call is designed to assess your overall fit with FactSet's culture and the specific role. The recruiter will discuss your background, career aspirations, and motivation for applying. They will also provide an overview of the interview process and answer any initial questions you may have.

What Interviewers Look For

Enthusiasm for FactSetClear communicationAlignment with company valuesBasic understanding of the role

Evaluation Criteria

Cultural fit
Motivation for the role and company
Basic communication skills
Understanding of the role

Questions Asked

Tell me about yourself and your career journey.

Behavioral

Why are you interested in this Software Engineer III role at FactSet?

BehavioralMotivation

What are your salary expectations?

Logistics

What do you know about FactSet?

Company Knowledge

Preparation Tips

1Research FactSet's mission, values, and recent news.
2Prepare a concise summary of your resume and career goals.
3Think about why you are specifically interested in FactSet.
4Be ready to discuss your salary expectations.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Poor communication skills
Lack of enthusiasm
Inability to articulate past experiences
Unprofessional demeanor
2

Data Structures and Algorithms Interview

Assess coding skills, data structures, and algorithms knowledge.

Technical Interview (Coding)Medium
60 minSoftware Engineer

This round focuses on your core technical skills, particularly your knowledge of data structures and algorithms. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically on a shared online editor. The interviewer will assess your approach to problem-solving, your coding style, and your ability to explain your solution and its complexity.

What Interviewers Look For

Clean and efficient codeLogical problem-solving approachUnderstanding of time and space complexityClear communication of thought process

Evaluation Criteria

Proficiency in data structures and algorithms
Coding ability and efficiency
Problem-solving approach
Ability to explain technical concepts

Questions Asked

Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.

ArrayDynamic Programming

Implement a function to reverse a linked list.

Linked List

Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.

TreeBinary Search Tree

Explain the difference between a hash map and a balanced binary search tree.

Data StructuresComparison

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
2Be comfortable discussing time and space complexity (Big O notation).
3Practice explaining your thought process out loud as you code.
4Review common data structures and algorithms.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to solve coding problems efficiently
Poor understanding of data structures and algorithms
Code contains significant bugs or logical errors
Difficulty explaining thought process
3

System Design Interview

Assess system design capabilities and architectural thinking.

Technical Interview (System Design)Hard
60 minSenior Software Engineer / Architect

This round evaluates your ability to design complex, scalable, and reliable software systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem statement (e.g., design Twitter's feed, design a URL shortener) and expected to discuss various aspects of the system, including data models, APIs, scalability strategies, and potential trade-offs. The focus is on your thought process and ability to architect a solution.

What Interviewers Look For

Structured approach to system designConsideration of various system components (databases, caching, APIs, etc.)Ability to justify design choicesUnderstanding of potential bottlenecks and failure points

Evaluation Criteria

System design principles
Scalability and performance considerations
Trade-off analysis
Understanding of distributed systems
Ability to handle ambiguity

Questions Asked

Design a URL shortening service like Bitly.

System DesignScalability

Design a system to count the top K trending items on Twitter.

System DesignData ProcessingScalability

How would you design a distributed cache?

System DesignDistributed SystemsCaching

Design an API for a ride-sharing service.

System DesignAPI Design

Preparation Tips

1Study common system design patterns and architectures.
2Practice designing systems like Twitter, Facebook news feed, or a distributed cache.
3Understand concepts like load balancing, database sharding, caching strategies, and message queues.
4Be prepared to discuss trade-offs between different design choices.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to design scalable and robust systems
Poor understanding of distributed systems concepts
Failure to consider trade-offs and edge cases
Lack of clarity in system design explanation
4

Hiring Manager Interview

Assess behavioral competencies, teamwork, and alignment with the manager's expectations.

Behavioral / Manager InterviewMedium
45 minHiring Manager

This interview is with the hiring manager, who will delve deeper into your behavioral aspects, leadership potential, and how you fit within the team. They will ask questions about your past experiences, focusing on how you've handled specific situations, your motivations, and your career aspirations. This is also an opportunity for you to understand the team dynamics and the manager's expectations.

What Interviewers Look For

Examples of teamwork and collaborationHow you handle conflict and feedbackYour approach to learning and growthAlignment with FactSet's values

Evaluation Criteria

Behavioral competencies
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving approach in non-technical contexts
Adaptability and learning agility
Leadership potential

Questions Asked

Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member.

BehavioralTeamworkConflict Resolution

Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from it?

BehavioralFailureLearning

How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple competing tasks?

BehavioralTime ManagementPrioritization

What motivates you in a work environment?

BehavioralMotivation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

BehavioralCareer Goals

Preparation Tips

1Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions (teamwork, conflict, failure, success).
2Think about your career goals and how this role aligns with them.
3Be ready to discuss your strengths and areas for development.
4Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the hiring manager about the team, projects, and culture.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of collaboration or teamwork skills
Poor communication of ideas
Inability to handle challenging situations or feedback
Mismatch in career goals or expectations

Commonly Asked DSA Questions

Frequently asked coding questions at FactSet

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