Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerL2Medium

This interview process is for a Software Engineer (L2) position at LINE. It aims to assess technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·2 - 5 yrs

Comp band·US$90000 - US$120000

Interview time·135 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving ability
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Data structures knowledge
  • Code quality and efficiency
  • System design and architecture
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Adaptability and learning agility
  • Cultural fit with LINE's values

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Codewars.
  3. Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
  4. Prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on past experiences using the STAR method.
  5. Research LINE's products, services, and company culture.
  6. Understand the specific technologies and languages mentioned in the job description.
  7. Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.
  8. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 05 phases

01 / 05
01

Phase 01 of 05

Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms (Easy/Medium).

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 problems related to these topics on platforms like LeetCode (Easy/Medium).

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Tell me about a challenging technical problem you solved.
  • How do you approach designing a scalable system?
  • Describe a time you had a conflict with a teammate and how you resolved it.
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?
  • How do you stay updated with new technologies?
  • Explain the concept of RESTful APIs.
  • What is the difference between a process and a thread?
  • How would you design a system to handle real-time notifications for millions of users?
  • Describe a project you are particularly proud of and your role in it.
  • Why are you interested in working at LINE?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Global (Remote)

Interview focus

Deep understanding of distributed systems and scalability.Experience with large-scale data processing.Familiarity with cloud-native technologies (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker).Strong problem-solving skills applied to real-world scenarios.

Common questions

  • How would you optimize a database query for a high-traffic social media platform?
  • Describe a challenging bug you encountered and how you debugged it.
  • What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architecture for a new product?
  • How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in a team environment?

Tips

  • Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you dealt with scalability challenges.
  • Familiarize yourself with common cloud provider services (AWS, GCP, Azure).
  • Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.
  • Research LINE's tech stack and recent product launches.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

Med

Data Structures And Algorithms Interview · 45 min · Software Engineer (Peer)

This round focuses on your core technical skills, primarily data structures and algorithms. You will be given coding problems to solve, and you'll need to explain your thought process, discuss trade-offs, and write clean, efficient code. The interviewer will assess your problem-solving abilities and your understanding of fundamental computer science concepts.

What they look for

Logical thinkingAbility to break down complex problemsClean and efficient coding practicesUnderstanding of fundamental CS concepts

Evaluation

  • Problem-solving approach
  • Correctness of solution
  • Code efficiency and readability
  • Understanding of time and space complexity

Sample questions

  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.

    ArrayDynamic ProgrammingKadane's Algorithm

  • Implement a function to reverse a linked list.

    Linked ListPointers

  • Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.

    TreeBinary Search TreeIn-order Traversal

Prep for this round

  1. 01Practice coding on a whiteboard or a shared editor.
  2. 02Think out loud and explain your approach before coding.
  3. 03Consider edge cases and test your solution thoroughly.
  4. 04Be prepared to discuss the time and space complexity of your solution.

Common rejection reasons

  • ×Inability to articulate thought process.
  • ×Poor understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.
  • ×Code contains significant bugs or is inefficient.
  • ×Lack of problem-solving skills.
  • ×Poor communication.

DSA

Coding questions at LINE.

Frequently reported on LINE loops

View all at LINE

Other guides

More at LINE.