Scale Engineer

Engineer

Software EngineerL3Medium

Instacart's Software Engineer L3 interview process is designed to assess a candidate's foundational technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. The process typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an initial screening and progressing through technical interviews and a final hiring manager discussion.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·1 - 3 yrs

Comp band·US$100000 - US$130000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Data structures and algorithms knowledge
  • Coding proficiency
  • System design fundamentals
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Cultural fit and alignment with Instacart's values

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, recursion).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
  3. Understand basic system design concepts, such as scalability, availability, and trade-offs.
  4. Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, focusing on your contributions and the challenges you faced.
  5. Research Instacart's products, mission, and values to tailor your answers.
  6. Practice behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  7. Be ready to explain your thought process clearly and concisely during coding exercises.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Trees, HashMaps) & Basic Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Recursion).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, heaps), and hash tables. Practice problems related to these structures, emphasizing time and space complexity analysis. Cover basic algorithms like sorting (quicksort, mergesort), searching (binary search), and recursion.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target.
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • How would you design a URL shortener?
  • Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate and how you resolved it.
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Describe a situation where you had to deal with ambiguity.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Remote

Interview focus

Adaptability to different work environments.Communication skills in a diverse team.Understanding of local market trends (if applicable to the role).

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on at your previous company.
  • How do you handle conflicting priorities?
  • Describe a time you had to learn a new technology quickly.

Tips

  • Research Instacart's presence and operations in this specific region.
  • Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with local team needs.
  • Highlight any experience working with diverse or international teams.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.

DSA

Coding questions at Instacart.

Frequently reported on Instacart loops

View all at Instacart

Other guides

More at Instacart.