# Software Engineer **Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** Software Engineer 2 **Company:** [MathWorks](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/mathworks) **Difficulty:** Medium to Hard **Salary:** US$95000 - US$130000 **Experience:** 2 - 5 **Timeline:** ~14 days This interview process is for a Software Engineer position at MathWorks, specifically for the Software Engineer 2 level. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/mathworks/software-engineer-2-software-engineer --- ## Overall evaluation - Technical Skills - Communication - Behavioral and Experiential ## Questions asked - Write a function to reverse a linked list. - Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum. - Design a URL shortening service. - Explain the difference between a process and a thread. - Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate and how you resolved it. - How would you optimize a slow database query? - Describe your experience with version control systems like Git. - What are the advantages of using MATLAB for engineering tasks? - How do you approach testing your code? - What motivates you as a software engineer? ## Preparation tips ### lists - Review fundamental data structures and algorithms. - Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. - Understand object-oriented programming (OOP) principles. - Brush up on your knowledge of C++, MATLAB, or Python, depending on the role requirements. - Prepare for behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). - Research MathWorks' products and company culture. - Be ready to discuss your past projects in detail. - Practice explaining technical concepts clearly and concisely. ### studyPlan - {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, hash tables) and their common operations. Practice algorithms like sorting, searching, recursion, dynamic programming, and graph traversal. Solve at least 2-3 problems per day.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 2-3 problems daily."} - {"title":"Object-Oriented Design and System Design","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Deep dive into object-oriented design principles (SOLID), design patterns, and system design concepts. Consider scalability, reliability, and maintainability. Work through system design case studies.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: OOP, Design Patterns, System Design basics. Study case studies."} - {"title":"Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Week 5: Prepare for behavioral questions. Reflect on past projects and experiences, identifying examples that showcase leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. Practice articulating these using the STAR method.","shortDescription":"Week 5: Behavioral preparation. Use STAR method for past experiences."} - {"title":"Technology-Specific Review","longDescription":"Week 6: Review specific technologies relevant to the role (e.g., C++, MATLAB, Python, specific libraries or frameworks). Practice coding problems related to these technologies. Revisit any weak areas identified during practice.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Technology-specific review and practice. Revisit weak areas."} ## Location differences - {"location":"Natick, MA","differences":{"tips":["Research the specific product or division you are interviewing for.","Be prepared to discuss your experience with MathWorks' core technologies.","Highlight any experience with scientific computing or engineering software."],"interviewFocus":["Strong emphasis on MATLAB/Simulink proficiency for roles in specific product groups.","Adaptability to different project methodologies (Agile, Waterfall).","Understanding of core engineering principles relevant to the specific team's domain."],"commonQuestions":["Discuss a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.","How do you approach debugging complex issues?","Describe your experience with MATLAB or Simulink.","Explain a time you had to collaborate with a team with differing opinions."]}} - {"location":"Remote","differences":{"tips":["Showcase your ability to work effectively in a remote or hybrid environment.","Be ready to discuss your contributions to open-source projects if applicable.","Prepare examples that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in a software engineering context."],"interviewFocus":["Focus on software development best practices and clean code.","Emphasis on collaboration and communication within a distributed team.","Understanding of cloud technologies and distributed systems (depending on the role)."],"commonQuestions":["How do you ensure code quality and maintainability?","Describe a situation where you had to learn a new technology quickly.","What are your thoughts on test-driven development (TDD)?","How do you handle constructive criticism from peers?"]}} ## Round 1: Technical Coding Interview **Type:** Technical Screening (Coding) · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min Coding challenge focused on data structures and algorithms. This initial technical screening round focuses on assessing fundamental computer science knowledge. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your approach to problem-solving and your communication of your thought process. **Interviewers look for:** Logical thinking; Ability to break down complex problems; Clean and efficient coding practices; Understanding of time and space complexity **Evaluation criteria:** Correctness of the solution; Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity); Code clarity and readability; Problem-solving approach **Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate thought process.; Poor coding style or syntax errors.; Incorrect or inefficient algorithmic solutions.; Lack of understanding of fundamental data structures. ## Questions - Given a binary tree, determine if it is a valid binary search tree. - Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array. ## Preparation tips - Practice coding on a whiteboard or a shared editor. - Think out loud and explain your approach before coding. - Consider edge cases and test your solution mentally. - Be prepared to discuss the time and space complexity of your solution. ## Round 2: System Design Interview **Type:** System Design · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min Design a scalable software system. This round assesses your ability to design and architect software systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., design a social media feed, a URL shortener, or a ride-sharing service) and expected to propose a solution. The focus is on scalability, reliability, trade-offs, and the ability to articulate your design choices. **Interviewers look for:** Ability to design scalable and robust systems; Understanding of distributed systems concepts; Knowledge of various architectural patterns; Ability to make reasoned design decisions and justify them; Communication of complex ideas **Evaluation criteria:** System design approach; Scalability considerations; Trade-off analysis; Component design; API design; Database selection; Clarity of explanation **Common rejection reasons:** Lack of understanding of system design principles.; Inability to handle scale or trade-offs.; Poor communication of design choices.; Not considering failure scenarios or bottlenecks. ## Questions - Design a system to handle real-time analytics for a website. - How would you design a distributed cache system? ## Preparation tips - Study common system design patterns and architectures. - Understand concepts like load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), message queues, and microservices. - Practice designing systems for scale. - Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and justify your decisions. ## Round 3: Behavioral Interview **Type:** Behavioral and Managerial · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min Behavioral questions and discussion about past experiences. This round focuses on your behavioral and experiential aspects. The hiring manager will ask questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific situations (e.g., challenges, conflicts, successes), and your motivations. The goal is to understand your work style, your ability to collaborate, and how well you would fit into the team and MathWorks culture. **Interviewers look for:** Team player attitude; Ability to handle conflict and feedback constructively; Self-awareness and reflection; Passion for technology and problem-solving; Alignment with MathWorks' values **Evaluation criteria:** Teamwork and collaboration skills; Problem-solving approach in past projects; Adaptability and learning agility; Motivation and career goals; Cultural fit with MathWorks **Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with company values.; Poor communication or interpersonal skills.; Inability to provide specific examples for behavioral questions.; Lack of enthusiasm or interest in the role/company. ## Questions - Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it. - Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague. - Why are you interested in working at MathWorks? ## Preparation tips - Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions. - Think about your strengths and weaknesses. - Be ready to discuss your career aspirations. - Show enthusiasm for MathWorks and the specific role.