This interview process is for a Software Engineer L6 position at General Motors, focusing on assessing candidates for a Software Engineer 2 level role. The process is designed to evaluate technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, system design capabilities, and cultural fit within the organization.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·6 - 10 yrs
Comp band·US$140000 - US$180000
Interview time·210 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice (medium/hard).
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables, sorting, searching, dynamic programming, and greedy algorithms. Practice problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, and GeeksforGeeks, aiming for medium to hard difficulty.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design principles and practice.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into System Design. Study concepts like scalability, availability, reliability, consistency, load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), message queues, and microservices architecture. Review common system design interview questions and practice designing systems like Twitter feed, URL shortener, or a ride-sharing service.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral questions and STAR method.
Week 5: Behavioral and Leadership Preparation. Reflect on your past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to answer behavioral questions related to teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership, and failure. Prepare examples that showcase your strengths and alignment with GM's values.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: GM research and role-specific preparation.
Week 6: Domain-Specific Knowledge and Company Research. Research General Motors' current projects, technologies, and challenges, especially in areas like connected vehicles, autonomous driving, and electric vehicles. Understand the specific requirements of the Software Engineer L6 role and tailor your preparation accordingly.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Coding Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer or Staff Engineer
This round focuses on assessing your core programming skills and problem-solving abilities. You will be presented with one or two coding challenges, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your approach to understanding the problem, devising a solution, writing clean and efficient code, and testing it thoroughly. Expect to discuss time and space complexity, as well as potential optimizations.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, invert the tree.
Find the kth largest element in an unsorted array.
Implement a function to determine if a string is a valid palindrome, considering only alphanumeric characters and ignoring cases.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Staff Engineer or Principal Engineer
This round evaluates your ability to design and architect complex software systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a social media feed, a ride-sharing service, or a large-scale data processing pipeline. The interviewer will assess your ability to break down the problem, identify key components, choose appropriate technologies, and discuss trade-offs related to scalability, performance, reliability, and cost.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like Bitly.
Design a system to track the real-time location of millions of vehicles.
Design a distributed cache system.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral And Leadership Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager or Senior Team Lead
This round focuses on your behavioral and leadership qualities. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific situations, and your approach to teamwork, conflict resolution, and leadership. The goal is to understand your working style, your ability to collaborate, and your potential to grow within the team and the company. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle it?
Describe a situation where you took initiative to improve a process or product.
How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple competing deadlines?
Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial / Leadership Interview · 45 min · Director of Engineering or VP of Engineering
This final round is typically with a senior leader, such as a Director or VP. The focus is on your overall technical vision, leadership capabilities, and strategic thinking. You'll discuss your experience in leading teams, driving technical initiatives, and aligning technology with business goals. This is also an opportunity for you to ask high-level questions about the company's direction and culture.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
What is your vision for the future of software development in the automotive industry?
How do you foster innovation within a technical team?
Describe a time you had to make a significant technical decision with incomplete information.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on General Motors loops
Other guides
