Grammarly

Software Engineer

Software EngineerL2Medium

Grammarly's Software Engineer L2 interview process is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. The process typically involves multiple rounds, including HR screening, technical interviews focusing on data structures, algorithms, and system design, and a final managerial or behavioral interview.

Rounds

4

Timeline

~7 days

Experience

2 - 5 yrs

Salary Range

US$110000 - US$150000

Total Duration

195 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Proficiency

Technical skills (coding, algorithms, data structures)
Problem-solving approach
System design capabilities
Communication and collaboration skills
Cultural fit and alignment with Grammarly's values

Communication and Collaboration

Ability to articulate thought process clearly
Active listening skills
Constructive feedback delivery
Enthusiasm and engagement

Cultural Fit

Alignment with Grammarly's mission and values
Proactiveness and ownership
Growth mindset
Team player attitude

Preparation Tips

1Review fundamental data structures and algorithms (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps, sorting, searching).
2Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
3Understand common system design concepts (scalability, availability, databases, caching, load balancing).
4Prepare for behavioral questions by using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
5Research Grammarly's products, mission, and values.
6Be ready to discuss your past projects and technical contributions in detail.
7Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Trees, Graphs). Complexity Analysis.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs) and their common operations. Practice problems related to traversal, searching, and manipulation. Understand time and space complexity analysis.

2

Algorithm Mastery

Weeks 3-4: Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, DP, Graphs). Medium LeetCode.

Weeks 3-4: Deep dive into algorithms, including sorting (quicksort, mergesort), searching (binary search), dynamic programming, and graph algorithms (BFS, DFS, Dijkstra's). Solve medium-level problems on these topics.

3

System Design Basics

Week 5: System Design Principles (Scalability, Databases, Caching, Load Balancing).

Week 5: Study system design principles. Learn about designing scalable and reliable systems, including concepts like databases, caching, load balancing, APIs, and microservices. Review common system design interview questions.

4

Behavioral Preparation

Week 6: Behavioral Questions (STAR Method), Grammarly Values.

Week 6: Prepare for behavioral and situational questions. Reflect on past experiences and prepare examples using the STAR method. Understand Grammarly's values and how your experiences align.

5

Final Review and Practice

Week 7: Mock Interviews, Resume Review, Final Q&A Prep.

Week 7: Mock interviews, review weak areas, and finalize questions for the interviewers. Ensure you are comfortable discussing your resume and past projects.

Commonly Asked Questions

Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
Design a URL shortening service.
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate and how you resolved it.
How would you design a system to handle millions of concurrent users?
What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
Describe your experience with cloud platforms like AWS or GCP.
How do you stay updated with new technologies?
Explain the concept of polymorphism with an example.
What is a deadlock and how can it be prevented?

Location-Based Differences

Remote

Interview Focus

Adaptability to different work environments.Communication skills in a remote or hybrid setting.Understanding of local market trends and technologies.

Common Questions

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

How do you approach debugging complex issues?

Describe your experience with agile development methodologies.

What are your thoughts on code reviews and how do you provide constructive feedback?

Tips

Highlight your experience working in distributed teams if applicable.
Be prepared to discuss your preferred communication tools and strategies.
Research Grammarly's presence and impact in the specific region.

Office-based (e.g., San Francisco, Kyiv)

Interview Focus

Teamwork and collaboration skills.Problem-solving in a collaborative setting.Understanding of local engineering culture and best practices.

Common Questions

Tell me about a time you had to collaborate with cross-functional teams.

How do you handle disagreements within a team?

Describe a project where you had to make trade-offs between technical excellence and project deadlines.

What are your favorite tools for version control and collaboration?

Tips

Emphasize your experience working in an office environment and collaborating face-to-face.
Be ready to share examples of successful team projects.
Showcase your understanding of Grammarly's values and how they align with the local office culture.

Process Timeline

1
HR/Recruiter Screen30m
2
Data Structures & Algorithms Interview60m
3
System Design Interview60m
4
Hiring Manager Interview45m

Interview Rounds

4-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

1

HR/Recruiter Screen

An introductory call with HR to discuss your background, motivation, and fit with Grammarly.

HR ScreeningEasy
30 minRecruiter/HR

This initial round is conducted by an HR representative or recruiter to assess your overall fit with Grammarly, understand your career aspirations, and confirm your interest in the Software Engineer L2 role. They will also cover logistical aspects like salary expectations and availability. It's an opportunity to learn more about Grammarly's culture and the specifics of the role.

What Interviewers Look For

Enthusiasm for the role and company.Clear communication.Basic understanding of software engineering principles.Alignment with Grammarly's mission.

Evaluation Criteria

Basic understanding of the role.
Communication clarity.
Cultural alignment.
Motivation for joining Grammarly.

Questions Asked

Tell me about yourself.

Behavioral

Why are you interested in Grammarly?

BehavioralMotivation

What are your salary expectations?

Logistics

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Behavioral

Preparation Tips

1Research Grammarly's mission, values, and products.
2Be prepared to talk about your resume and career goals.
3Practice answering common behavioral questions.
4Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role and company culture.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Poor communication skills.
Lack of enthusiasm or engagement.
Inability to articulate thought process.
Not aligning with company values.
2

Data Structures & Algorithms Interview

A coding challenge focused on data structures and algorithms, assessing problem-solving and implementation skills.

Technical Interview (Coding)Medium
60 minSoftware Engineer

This technical interview focuses on your core computer science knowledge. You will be asked to solve coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your understanding of time and space complexity. You'll need to clearly articulate your approach and reasoning.

What Interviewers Look For

Strong understanding of fundamental CS concepts.Ability to translate requirements into working code.Logical and systematic approach to problem-solving.Clear communication of the solution and its trade-offs.

Evaluation Criteria

Proficiency in data structures and algorithms.
Problem-solving skills.
Coding efficiency and correctness.
Ability to analyze time and space complexity.
Clarity of thought process explanation.

Questions Asked

Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.

Data StructuresTreesRecursion

Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in an array.

AlgorithmsSortingQuickselect

Write a function to check if a string is a palindrome.

StringsTwo Pointers

Given two strings, find the length of their longest common subsequence.

AlgorithmsDynamic Programming

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on medium difficulty.
2Review common data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming).
3Be prepared to explain your code and analyze its complexity.
4Practice thinking out loud during problem-solving.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to solve coding problems efficiently.
Poor time complexity or space complexity.
Difficulty explaining the thought process.
Incorrect or incomplete solutions.
Lack of understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.
3

System Design Interview

A discussion on designing scalable software systems, evaluating architectural thinking and trade-off analysis.

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

This round evaluates 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 notification system) and expected to propose a scalable and robust solution. This includes discussing database choices, caching strategies, API design, load balancing, and potential bottlenecks.

What Interviewers Look For

Ability to design complex systems from scratch.Understanding of distributed systems concepts.Knowledge of various architectural patterns.Ability to justify design decisions.Consideration of non-functional requirements.

Evaluation Criteria

System design principles.
Scalability and performance considerations.
Trade-off analysis.
Database and storage knowledge.
API design.
Clarity of design explanation.

Questions Asked

Design a system like Twitter's trending topics.

System DesignScalabilityReal-time

How would you design a rate limiter?

System DesignAPIsDistributed Systems

Design a distributed key-value store.

System DesignDistributed SystemsDatabases

How would you design a system to handle real-time notifications?

System DesignWebSocketsMessaging Queues

Preparation Tips

1Study common system design patterns and concepts.
2Practice designing systems like Twitter feed, TinyURL, or a distributed cache.
3Understand trade-offs between different technologies and approaches.
4Be prepared to draw diagrams and explain your design choices clearly.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to design scalable and robust systems.
Lack of understanding of system design trade-offs.
Poor consideration of edge cases and failure scenarios.
Difficulty in communicating design choices.
Not considering aspects like availability, latency, and consistency.
4

Hiring Manager Interview

A discussion focused on behavioral aspects, teamwork, and cultural fit, often led by the hiring manager.

Behavioral/Managerial InterviewMedium
45 minHiring Manager

This round, often conducted by the hiring manager, focuses on your behavioral and soft skills. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific situations (e.g., conflicts, failures, successes), and your approach to teamwork and problem-solving. The goal is to understand how you operate within a team and if you align with Grammarly's culture and values.

What Interviewers Look For

How you handle challenges and conflicts.Your ability to work effectively with others.Your proactiveness and ownership.Your growth mindset and willingness to learn.Your overall fit within the team and company culture.

Evaluation Criteria

Behavioral competencies.
Teamwork and collaboration.
Problem-solving approach in a team context.
Adaptability and learning agility.
Alignment with Grammarly's values and culture.

Questions Asked

Describe a time you had a conflict with a colleague and how you resolved it.

BehavioralConflict ResolutionTeamwork

Tell me about a project where you faced significant challenges and how you overcame them.

BehavioralProblem SolvingResilience

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

BehavioralTime ManagementPrioritization

What motivates you in a work environment?

BehavioralMotivationCulture Fit

Preparation Tips

1Prepare examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions.
2Reflect on your past projects and identify situations demonstrating teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving.
3Be ready to discuss your career goals and how this role fits into them.
4Show enthusiasm and genuine interest in the team and Grammarly.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Poor collaboration or teamwork skills.
Lack of ownership or accountability.
Negative attitude or lack of enthusiasm.
Inability to handle feedback constructively.
Misalignment with team goals or company culture.

Commonly Asked DSA Questions

Frequently asked coding questions at Grammarly

View all
Generate ParenthesesMEDIUMSearch in Rotated Sorted ArrayMEDIUMTrapping Rain WaterHARDMerge IntervalsMEDIUMUnique PathsMEDIUMSqrt(x)EASYClimbing StairsEASYWord SearchMEDIUMClone GraphMEDIUMWord BreakMEDIUM