Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerL5Medium to Hard

This interview process is for a Software Engineer position at LINE, specifically at the L5 level. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, system design capabilities, and cultural fit within the company.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·4 - 8 yrs

Comp band·US$130000 - US$180000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving ability
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Data structure knowledge
  • Code quality and efficiency

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert.
  3. Study system design concepts, including scalability, reliability, and distributed systems.
  4. Prepare to discuss your past projects and technical challenges in detail.
  5. Understand LINE's products, services, and company culture.
  6. Prepare behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms

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

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. Aim for at least 5-10 problems per topic.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • 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 system to count the number of views for a popular video on YouTube?
  • Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.
  • What are the differences between TCP and UDP?
  • How do you optimize database queries for performance?
  • Describe the CAP theorem and its implications for distributed systems.
  • How would you approach debugging a performance issue in a production environment?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?
  • Why are you interested in working at LINE?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Asia-Pacific

Interview focus

Adaptability to local market technical trends.Understanding of regional user behavior and product needs.Collaboration with local engineering teams and stakeholders.

Common questions

  • How would you design a real-time notification system for a messaging app like LINE?
  • Describe a challenging technical problem you solved recently and your approach.
  • How do you handle large-scale data processing and storage?
  • What are your thoughts on microservices architecture vs. monolithic architecture in the context of LINE's services?
  • Tell me about a time you had to mentor a junior engineer.

Tips

  • Research LINE's products and services popular in this specific region.
  • Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with local user needs.
  • Highlight any experience working with diverse, international teams.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at LINE.

Frequently reported on LINE loops

View all at LINE

Other guides

More at LINE.