Indeed

Software Engineer II

Software EngineerL2Medium

This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Engineer II (L2) position at Indeed. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, collaboration abilities, and cultural fit.

Rounds

3

Timeline

~14 days

Experience

2 - 5 yrs

Salary Range

US$110000 - US$140000

Total Duration

150 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills

Problem-solving approach
Code quality and efficiency
Understanding of data structures and algorithms
System design principles
Communication skills
Collaboration and teamwork
Cultural fit with Indeed's values

Communication & Collaboration

Ability to articulate thought process
Clarity of explanations
Active listening
Constructive feedback

Behavioral & Cultural Fit

Alignment with Indeed's mission and values
Proactiveness and initiative
Adaptability and learning agility

Preparation Tips

1Review core computer science fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, and operating systems.
2Practice coding problems focusing on time and space complexity.
3Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
4Prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on past experiences using the STAR method.
5Research Indeed's products, culture, and recent news.
6Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice coding.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice coding problems related to these topics on platforms like LeetCode.

2

System Design

Weeks 3-4: System Design principles. Practice designing systems.

Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design concepts. Study topics like scalability, availability, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, load balancing, and microservices. Review common design patterns and practice designing scalable systems.

3

Behavioral Interview Preparation

Week 5: Behavioral Interview preparation. Use STAR method.

Week 5: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Reflect on your past projects and experiences, identifying examples that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

4

Company Research and Question Preparation

Week 6: Research Indeed. Prepare questions.

Week 6: Research Indeed thoroughly. Understand our products, mission, values, and recent company news. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers.

Commonly Asked Questions

How would you design a system to handle real-time notifications for millions of users?
Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder. How did you manage the situation?
Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
How would you optimize a slow-performing database query?
Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of and your role in it.

Location-Based Differences

San Francisco

Interview Focus

System DesignDistributed SystemsScalability

Common Questions

How would you design a URL shortener service?

Explain the CAP theorem and its implications for distributed systems.

Describe a challenging technical problem you solved and how you approached it.

Tips

Be prepared to discuss large-scale systems and their design considerations.
Familiarize yourself with common distributed system patterns.
Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.

Austin

Interview Focus

Data Structures and AlgorithmsCoding ProficiencyCloud Technologies

Common Questions

Write a function to find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix.

Implement a Least Recently Used (LRU) cache.

Discuss your experience with cloud platforms like AWS or Azure.

Tips

Brush up on common data structures and algorithms, especially those related to arrays, trees, and graphs.
Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank.
Be ready to discuss your experience with cloud services and deployment.

Process Timeline

1
Coding Challenge45m
2
System Design Interview60m
3
Behavioral and Manager Interview45m

Interview Rounds

3-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

1

Coding Challenge

Solve coding problems, focusing on data structures and algorithms.

Technical Interview - CodingMedium
45 minSoftware Engineer (Peer)

This round focuses on your ability to solve coding problems. You will be given one or two coding challenges and asked to implement a solution. The interviewer will assess your problem-solving approach, coding style, and understanding of fundamental computer science concepts. Expect questions related to data structures, algorithms, and their practical application.

What Interviewers Look For

A systematic approach to problem-solvingClean, readable, and efficient codeAbility to identify and apply appropriate data structures and algorithmsUnderstanding of time and space complexity

Evaluation Criteria

Problem-solving skills
Coding proficiency
Understanding of data structures and algorithms
Code clarity and efficiency

Questions Asked

Given a binary tree, invert the tree.

Data StructuresAlgorithmsTreesRecursion

Find the first non-repeating character in a string.

Data StructuresAlgorithmsStringsHash Tables

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte.
2Focus on understanding the time and space complexity of your solutions.
3Be prepared to explain your thought process clearly as you code.
4Practice writing code on a whiteboard or in a shared editor.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to articulate thought process
Poorly structured code
Incorrect or inefficient algorithm implementation
Lack of understanding of fundamental concepts
2

System Design Interview

Design a scalable system, focusing on architecture and trade-offs.

Technical Interview - System DesignHard
60 minSenior Software Engineer / Architect

This round assesses your ability to design scalable and robust systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., designing a social media feed, a URL shortener, or a distributed cache) and asked to propose a solution. The interviewer will evaluate your understanding of system components, trade-offs, scalability, and reliability.

What Interviewers Look For

A structured approach to designing complex systemsConsideration of various components and their interactionsAbility to identify and address potential bottlenecks and failure pointsUnderstanding of trade-offs in design decisions

Evaluation Criteria

System design skills
Understanding of scalability and performance
Knowledge of distributed systems
Ability to handle trade-offs
Communication of design

Questions Asked

Design a system like Twitter's timeline.

System DesignScalabilityDistributed SystemsDatabases

Design a rate limiter.

System DesignScalabilityAlgorithms

Preparation Tips

1Study common system design patterns and architectures.
2Practice designing various types of systems, considering factors like load, latency, and availability.
3Familiarize yourself with concepts like databases, caching, load balancing, and message queues.
4Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and justify your design choices.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of clarity in system design
Failure to consider scalability and edge cases
Inability to justify design choices
Poor understanding of distributed systems concepts
3

Behavioral and Manager Interview

Discuss past experiences and how they align with the role and company culture.

Behavioral InterviewMedium
45 minHiring Manager

This interview focuses on your past experiences and how they relate to the role and Indeed's culture. You'll be asked behavioral questions designed to understand your work style, problem-solving approach, and how you handle various workplace situations. Prepare to share specific examples using the STAR method.

What Interviewers Look For

Evidence of collaboration and teamworkAbility to handle challenges and learn from mistakesAlignment with Indeed's valuesEnthusiasm for the role and company

Evaluation Criteria

Behavioral competencies
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving approach in past experiences
Cultural fit
Motivation and career goals

Questions Asked

Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?

BehavioralLearningResilience

Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult team member.

BehavioralTeamworkConflict Resolution

Why are you interested in this role at Indeed?

BehavioralMotivationCompany Fit

Preparation Tips

1Review your resume and identify key projects and accomplishments.
2Prepare specific examples for common behavioral questions (e.g., teamwork, conflict resolution, overcoming challenges).
3Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
4Be ready to discuss your career aspirations and why you are interested in Indeed.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of alignment with team values
Poor communication or collaboration skills
Negative attitude
Inability to provide specific examples for behavioral questions

Commonly Asked DSA Questions

Frequently asked coding questions at Indeed

View all
Merge k Sorted ListsHARDMinimum Moves to Equal Array ElementsMEDIUMBinary Tree TiltEASYSum of Even Numbers After QueriesMEDIUMCheck if Every Row and Column Contains All NumbersEASYFind Players With Zero or One LossesMEDIUMMinimum Cost to Split an ArrayHARD