This interview process is for a Software Engineer (SDE 5) position at Groupon. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·7 - 10 yrs
Comp band·US$150000 - US$180000
Interview time·210 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice coding problems.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Practice implementing these in your preferred language and analyze their time and space complexity. Aim for at least 5-10 problems per data structure/algorithm type.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design concepts and case studies. Focus on scalability and architecture.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design concepts. Study topics like scalability, availability, reliability, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, load balancing, message queues, and microservices architecture. Review common design patterns and case studies. Practice designing systems like Twitter feed, URL shortener, or a ride-sharing service.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral questions preparation using STAR method. Research Groupon's values.
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral and situational questions. Reflect on your past projects and experiences. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Think about examples related to teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and dealing with failure. Also, research Groupon's values and mission.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Mock interviews and final review. Focus on communication and specific technologies.
Week 6: Mock interviews with peers or mentors. Focus on simulating the actual interview environment. Get feedback on your technical explanations, problem-solving approach, and communication skills. Refine your answers and identify areas for improvement. Review any specific technologies mentioned in the job description.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 03 locations
01 / 03Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
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 · 60 min · Software Engineer / Senior Software Engineer
This round focuses on assessing your fundamental programming skills and problem-solving abilities. You will be given one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your approach to solving the problem, the efficiency of your solution, and your ability to write clean, well-structured, and bug-free code. You'll be expected to explain your thought process throughout the exercise.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, find the lowest common ancestor of two given nodes.
Implement a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
Design and implement a data structure that supports insert, delete, search, and getRandom in O(1) average time.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager
This round evaluates your ability to design and architect complex, scalable systems. You'll be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., design a URL shortener, a social media feed, or an e-commerce checkout system) and expected to propose a solution. The interviewer will probe into your design choices, trade-offs, data modeling, API design, and how you would handle scalability, reliability, and performance.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system like Twitter's news feed.
How would you design a rate limiter for an API?
Design a distributed key-value store.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Senior Team Member
This round focuses on your behavioral and situational responses. The interviewer will ask questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific work situations, your motivations, and your career goals. The aim is to understand your working style, how you collaborate with others, and whether you are a good cultural fit for Groupon. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide structured and impactful answers.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a teammate and how you resolved it.
Describe a project you are particularly proud of and your role in it.
How do you handle constructive criticism?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial / Leadership Interview · 45 min · Engineering Manager / Director of Engineering
This final round is typically with the hiring manager or a senior leader. It's a chance to discuss your experience in more depth, understand your career aspirations, and assess your leadership potential and strategic thinking. They will want to understand how you approach technical challenges from a broader perspective, considering business impact and team dynamics. This is also an opportunity for you to ask in-depth questions about the team, projects, and the company's technical direction.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
How do you balance technical debt with delivering new features?
Describe a time you had to influence a decision at a senior level.
What are your thoughts on the future of e-commerce technology and how can Groupon stay ahead?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Groupon loops
Other guides
