# Software Engineer
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** Software Engineer III
**Company:** [FactSet](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/factset)
**Difficulty:** Medium to Hard
**Salary:** US$120000 - US$160000
**Experience:** 5 - 8
**Timeline:** ~14 days
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.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/factset/software-engineer-iii-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- Analytical Skills
- Behavioral and Soft Skills
- System Design

## Questions asked

- 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?

## 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 for behavioral questions by reflecting on past experiences using the STAR method.
- Research FactSet's products, services, and company culture.
- Understand common financial concepts if interviewing for roles with financial domain focus.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms"}
- {"title":"Algorithms Mastery","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms"}
- {"title":"System Design","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: System Design Principles"}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Week 7: Behavioral Interview Preparation"}
- {"title":"Final Preparation","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Week 8: Mock Interviews & Review"}

## Location differences

- {"location":"New York","differences":{"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."],"interviewFocus":["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."],"commonQuestions":["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."]}}
- {"location":"San Francisco","differences":{"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."],"interviewFocus":["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."],"commonQuestions":["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."]}}
- {"location":"Bangalore","differences":{"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."],"interviewFocus":["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."],"commonQuestions":["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."]}}
- {"location":"London","differences":{"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."],"interviewFocus":["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."],"commonQuestions":["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."]}}

## Round 1: HR Screening Call
**Type:** HR Screening · **Difficulty:** Easy · **Duration:** 30 min
Initial call with HR to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
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.
**Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for FactSet; Clear communication; Alignment with company values; Basic understanding of the role
**Evaluation criteria:** Cultural fit; Motivation for the role and company; Basic communication skills; Understanding of the role
**Common rejection reasons:** Poor communication skills; Lack of enthusiasm; Inability to articulate past experiences; Unprofessional demeanor
## Questions

- Tell me about yourself and your career journey.
- Why are you interested in this Software Engineer III role at FactSet?
- What are your salary expectations?
- What do you know about FactSet?

## Preparation tips

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

## Round 2: Data Structures and Algorithms Interview
**Type:** Technical Interview (Coding) · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 60 min
Assess coding skills, data structures, and algorithms knowledge.
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.
**Interviewers look for:** Clean and efficient code; Logical problem-solving approach; Understanding of time and space complexity; Clear communication of thought process
**Evaluation criteria:** Proficiency in data structures and algorithms; Coding ability and efficiency; Problem-solving approach; Ability to explain technical concepts
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to solve coding problems efficiently; Poor understanding of data structures and algorithms; Code contains significant bugs or logical errors; Difficulty explaining thought process
## 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.
- Explain the difference between a hash map and a balanced binary search tree.

## Preparation tips

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

## Round 3: System Design Interview
**Type:** Technical Interview (System Design) · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
Assess system design capabilities and architectural thinking.
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.
**Interviewers look for:** Structured approach to system design; Consideration of various system components (databases, caching, APIs, etc.); Ability to justify design choices; Understanding 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
**Common rejection reasons:** 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
## Questions

- Design a URL shortening service like Bitly.
- Design a system to count the top K trending items on Twitter.
- How would you design a distributed cache?
- Design an API for a ride-sharing service.

## Preparation tips

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

## Round 4: Hiring Manager Interview
**Type:** Behavioral / Manager Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Assess behavioral competencies, teamwork, and alignment with the manager's expectations.
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.
**Interviewers look for:** Examples of teamwork and collaboration; How you handle conflict and feedback; Your approach to learning and growth; Alignment with FactSet's values
**Evaluation criteria:** Behavioral competencies; Teamwork and collaboration; Problem-solving approach in non-technical contexts; Adaptability and learning agility; Leadership potential
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of collaboration or teamwork skills; Poor communication of ideas; Inability to handle challenging situations or feedback; Mismatch in career goals or expectations
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member.
- Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from it?
- How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple competing tasks?
- What motivates you in a work environment?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

## Preparation tips

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