InMobi

Software Engineer

Software EngineerSDE IIMedium to Hard

This interview process is for the Software Engineer (SDE II) role at InMobi. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the company.

Rounds

3

Timeline

~7 days

Experience

3 - 6 yrs

Salary Range

US$110000 - US$150000

Total Duration

150 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills

Problem-solving abilities
Data structures and algorithms knowledge
System design and architecture skills
Coding proficiency and best practices
Communication and collaboration skills
Behavioral and cultural fit

Communication

Ability to articulate thought process clearly
Active listening and responsiveness
Constructive feedback delivery and reception

Cultural Fit

Alignment with InMobi's values
Teamwork and collaboration potential
Proactiveness and ownership

Preparation Tips

1Brush up on fundamental data structures and algorithms.
2Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or GeeksforGeeks.
3Review system design principles and common architectural patterns.
4Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, focusing on your contributions and learnings.
5Understand InMobi's business, products, and values.
6Prepare for behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
7Be ready to ask insightful questions about the role, team, and company.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures and Algorithms

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

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Practice implementing these in your preferred language.

2

System Design

Weeks 3-4: System Design principles and common patterns. Practice design questions.

Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design concepts. Study topics like scalability, availability, reliability, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, load balancing, and microservices. Work through common system design interview questions.

3

Behavioral and Company Fit

Week 5: Behavioral questions (STAR method) and company research.

Week 5: Prepare for behavioral and situational questions. Reflect on your past experiences and prepare examples using the STAR method. Understand InMobi's mission and values.

4

Mock Interviews and Review

Week 6: Mock interviews and final review.

Week 6: Mock interviews. Practice coding and system design problems under timed conditions. Get feedback from peers or mentors. Review any weak areas identified.

Commonly Asked Questions

Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
How would you design a news feed system?
Explain the difference between SQL and NoSQL databases.
Describe a time you faced a technical challenge and how you overcame it.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Why are you interested in InMobi?

Location-Based Differences

Bangalore, India

Interview Focus

Adaptability to local work culture and team dynamics.Understanding of regional market trends and user behavior (if applicable).

Common Questions

Discuss a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.

How do you handle tight deadlines and pressure?

Describe a time you disagreed with a team member and how you resolved it.

Tips

Research InMobi's presence and impact in the specific region.
Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with local business needs.

San Francisco, USA

Interview Focus

Cross-cultural communication and collaboration.Experience with global product development and diverse user bases.

Common Questions

Tell me about a time you had to influence a decision within your team.

How do you stay updated with the latest technology trends?

Describe your experience with remote collaboration tools and best practices.

Tips

Highlight experience working with international teams.
Showcase your ability to adapt to different time zones and communication styles.

Process Timeline

1
Data Structures and Algorithms Round45m
2
System Design Round60m
3
Managerial Round45m

Interview Rounds

3-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

1

Data Structures and Algorithms Round

Coding problems focusing on DSA.

Technical Interview - Data Structures And AlgorithmsMedium
45 minSoftware Engineer

This round focuses on your fundamental data structures and algorithms knowledge. You will be asked to solve coding problems, typically involving arrays, strings, trees, graphs, or dynamic programming. The interviewer will assess your ability to analyze the problem, devise an efficient solution, and implement it cleanly in code.

What Interviewers Look For

Logical thinkingAbility to translate requirements into codeUnderstanding of time and space complexity

Evaluation Criteria

Correctness of the solution
Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity)
Code readability and maintainability
Problem-solving approach

Questions Asked

Reverse a linked list.

Data StructuresLinked Lists

Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.

Data StructuresTreesAlgorithms

Implement a function to check if a binary tree is a valid Binary Search Tree.

Data StructuresTreesAlgorithms

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding on a whiteboard or a simple text editor.
2Think out loud and explain your approach before coding.
3Test your code with edge cases.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to articulate thought process.
Poor coding practices.
Fundamental gaps in DSA knowledge.
2

System Design Round

Design scalable and reliable systems.

Technical Interview - System DesignHard
60 minSenior Software Engineer / Architect

This round assesses your ability to design scalable, reliable, and maintainable software 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 expected to discuss various aspects of the design, including data modeling, API design, component interactions, and scalability strategies.

What Interviewers Look For

Ability to design complex systemsUnderstanding of distributed systems conceptsPragmatic approach to problem-solving

Evaluation Criteria

Scalability of the design
Availability and reliability considerations
Choice of appropriate technologies and data stores
Trade-off analysis
Clarity of the design

Questions Asked

Design a system to count unique visitors to a website.

System DesignScalabilityDistributed Systems

Design a rate limiter.

System DesignDistributed SystemsAlgorithms

Design a distributed key-value store.

System DesignDistributed SystemsDatabases

Preparation Tips

1Study common system design patterns.
2Understand trade-offs between different architectural choices.
3Practice designing systems for scale.
4Be prepared to justify your design decisions.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of understanding of distributed systems.
Inability to design scalable and reliable systems.
Poor trade-off analysis.
3

Managerial Round

Behavioral questions and team fit assessment.

Behavioral And Managerial InterviewMedium
45 minHiring Manager / Engineering Manager

This round is conducted by the hiring manager and focuses on your behavioral aspects, career aspirations, and overall fit with the team and InMobi's culture. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle challenges, your strengths and weaknesses, and your motivations for joining InMobi. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the team and the role.

What Interviewers Look For

Enthusiasm for the role and companyAbility to work effectively in a teamSelf-awareness and growth mindsetAlignment with InMobi's values

Evaluation Criteria

Communication skills
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving approach
Motivation and passion for technology
Cultural alignment with InMobi

Questions Asked

Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder.

BehavioralCommunication

What are your career goals for the next 3-5 years?

BehavioralCareer Goals

Describe a situation where you had to learn a new technology quickly.

BehavioralLearning

Preparation Tips

1Research InMobi's mission, vision, and values.
2Prepare examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions.
3Be ready to discuss your career goals and how this role aligns with them.
4Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Poor communication skills.
Lack of enthusiasm or interest.
Negative attitude.
Mismatch with company values.

Commonly Asked DSA Questions

Frequently asked coding questions at InMobi

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