Grammarly's Software Engineer L1 interview process is designed to assess foundational technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. It typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an HR screening, followed by technical interviews focusing on data structures, algorithms, and coding proficiency, and concluding with a behavioral or managerial interview.
Rounds·2
Timeline·~7d
Experience·0 - 2 yrs
Comp band·US$75000 - US$95000
Interview time·75 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Trees, Hash Maps).
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, AVL trees), heaps, and hash tables. Understand their operations, time/space complexity, and common use cases. Practice implementing them and solving problems related to them.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Graphs, DP basics).
Weeks 3-4: Focus on Algorithms. Cover sorting algorithms (bubble sort, merge sort, quicksort), searching algorithms (binary search), graph algorithms (BFS, DFS, Dijkstra's), and basic dynamic programming concepts. Understand their time and space complexity and when to apply them. Practice solving problems using these algorithms.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Coding Practice & Complexity Analysis.
Week 5: Coding Practice & Complexity Analysis. Dedicate this week to solving a variety of coding problems that integrate data structures and algorithms. Focus on writing clean, efficient, and well-commented code. Practice analyzing the time and space complexity of your solutions.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Behavioral Prep & Project Review.
Week 6: Behavioral Preparation & Project Review. Prepare to discuss your past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Review your resume and be ready to talk in detail about your projects, challenges, and learnings. Research Grammarly's values and prepare questions.
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 Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer
This round is a technical coding interview focused on assessing your ability to solve problems using data structures and algorithms. You will be asked to write code, typically in a shared editor or whiteboard, to solve one or two algorithmic problems. The interviewer will evaluate your approach, your understanding of the underlying concepts, and the efficiency and correctness of your solution. They will also be looking at how you communicate your thought process as you work through the problem.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, return indices of the two numbers such that they add up to a specific target.
Implement a function to check if a binary tree is a valid Binary Search Tree (BST).
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral / HR Interview · 30 min · HR Recruiter or Hiring Manager
This round is typically conducted by an HR representative or the hiring manager. It focuses on your background, motivations, and how well you would fit into Grammarly's culture. You'll be asked behavioral questions about your past experiences, teamwork, and how you handle challenges. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the role, team, and company.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you faced a significant challenge in a project and how you overcame it.
Why are you interested in working at Grammarly?
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult team member.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Grammarly loops
Other guides
