This interview process is for a Software Engineer I (L Band) position at Nike. It is designed to assess a candidate's foundational software engineering skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~10d
Experience·1 - 3 yrs
Comp band·US$85000 - US$110000
Interview time·120 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 05 phases
01 / 05Phase 01 of 05
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms Fundamentals. Practice implementations and basic algorithms.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and their common operations and time complexities. Practice implementing these structures and solving problems related to them. Review sorting and searching algorithms.
Phase 02 of 05
Weeks 3-4: Algorithmic Techniques & Complexity Analysis. Solve problems using DP, recursion, graphs.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into algorithmic techniques such as recursion, dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, and graph traversal. Work on problems that require applying these techniques. Understand time and space complexity analysis (Big O notation).
Phase 03 of 05
Week 5: Object-Oriented Design & Patterns. Study SOLID and common design patterns.
Week 5: Focus on object-oriented design principles (SOLID) and common design patterns (e.g., Factory, Singleton, Observer). Practice designing simple systems and discussing trade-offs.
Phase 04 of 05
Week 6: Behavioral Preparation. Practice STAR method for common behavioral questions.
Week 6: Prepare for behavioral questions. Reflect on your past experiences and identify examples that demonstrate teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and adaptability. Practice articulating these using the STAR method.
Phase 05 of 05
Week 7: Company Research & Question Preparation. Learn about Nike and prepare questions.
Week 7: Research Nike's company culture, values, recent news, and products. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about the team, projects, and company.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer (Peer)
This round focuses on assessing your core technical skills. You will be asked to solve coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your problem-solving approach, coding style, and ability to explain your thought process. Expect questions that test your understanding of fundamental computer science concepts.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.
Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome.
Find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview (Experience & System Design) · 45 min · Senior Software Engineer / Tech Lead
In this round, you'll discuss your past projects and technical experiences in detail. The interviewer will probe into your contributions, the challenges you faced, and how you approached them. This is an opportunity to showcase your technical depth and problem-solving skills in practical scenarios. Be prepared to discuss design choices, trade-offs, and the impact of your work.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a complex system you designed or contributed to. What were the key challenges and how did you address them?
Describe a time you had to optimize the performance of a system. What metrics did you use, and what was the outcome?
Walk me through the process of building a feature from requirements to deployment.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 30 min · Hiring Manager
This round is focused on understanding your behavioral competencies and how you align with Nike's culture and values. The hiring manager will ask questions about your teamwork, communication, problem-solving approach in non-technical contexts, and your motivation for joining Nike. Use the STAR method to provide specific examples from your past experiences.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate. How did you handle it?
Describe a situation where you had to adapt to a significant change at work.
Why Nike? What excites you about working here?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Nike loops
Other guides
