# Software Engineer
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** L2
**Company:** [Notion](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/notion)
**Difficulty:** Medium
**Salary:** US$110000 - US$150000
**Experience:** 2 - 5
**Timeline:** ~7 days
The Software Engineer L2 interview process at Notion is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an initial HR screening, followed by technical interviews focusing on data structures, algorithms, and system design, and concluding with a behavioral and managerial interview.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/notion/l2-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- System Design
- Behavioral and Cultural Fit
- Motivation and Alignment

## Questions asked

- Tell me about yourself.
- Why are you interested in Notion?
- Describe a challenging project you worked on.
- How do you approach debugging a complex issue?
- Design a system for [specific problem, e.g., a real-time notification service].
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- How do you stay updated with new technologies?
- Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.
- What are your career goals?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Brush up on fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal).
- Practice coding problems, focusing on explaining your thought process aloud.
- Review system design concepts, including databases, caching, load balancing, and message queues.
- Prepare examples for behavioral questions using the STAR method.
- Research Notion's products, mission, and values to understand how your skills and experience align.
- Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company culture.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures and algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, heaps), hash tables, and graphs. Practice common algorithms like sorting (quicksort, mergesort), searching (binary search), recursion, dynamic programming, and graph traversal (BFS, DFS). Aim to solve 2-3 problems per day.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 2-3 problems daily."}
- {"title":"System Design","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design. Study concepts like API design, database choices (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching strategies, load balancing, message queues, and microservices architecture. Read case studies of popular systems and practice designing common applications like Twitter's feed or a URL shortener.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: System Design concepts. Study databases, caching, load balancing. Practice designing systems."}
- {"title":"Behavioral and Managerial Preparation","longDescription":"Week 5: Prepare for behavioral and managerial rounds. Reflect on past experiences and prepare specific examples using the STAR method for questions related to teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership, and handling failure. Understand Notion's values and how you embody them.","shortDescription":"Week 5: Behavioral preparation. Use STAR method for common questions. Align with Notion's values."}
- {"title":"Mock Interviews and Final Review","longDescription":"Week 6: Mock interviews and review. Conduct mock interviews for both technical and behavioral aspects. Review any weak areas identified during practice. Prepare insightful questions to ask the interviewers.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Mock interviews and review weak areas. Prepare questions for interviewers."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"San Francisco","differences":{"tips":["Be prepared to discuss trade-offs in system design choices.","Understand common distributed system patterns.","Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly."],"interviewFocus":["System Design","Scalability","Distributed Systems"],"commonQuestions":["How would you design a URL shortener service?","Explain the CAP theorem and its implications for distributed systems.","Describe a challenging technical problem you solved and how you approached it."]}}
- {"location":"New York","differences":{"tips":["Review common data structures and their time/space complexities.","Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode.","Be ready to explain your thought process and justify your solutions."],"interviewFocus":["Data Structures","Algorithms","Coding Proficiency"],"commonQuestions":["Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.","Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.","How would you reverse a linked list in place?"]}}
- {"location":"Remote","differences":{"tips":["Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).","Highlight collaboration and communication skills.","Showcase your ability to learn from feedback."],"interviewFocus":["Teamwork","Communication","Problem-solving in a team context"],"commonQuestions":["Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult stakeholder.","Describe a situation where you disagreed with your team's technical direction.","How do you handle constructive criticism?"]}}

## Round 1: Coding Challenge
**Type:** Technical Interview - Coding · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Solve 1-2 coding problems focusing on data structures and algorithms.
This round focuses on your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve 1-2 coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to understand the problem, devise an efficient solution, write clean and correct code, and explain your reasoning. Expect questions on arrays, strings, linked lists, trees, graphs, and common algorithms like sorting and searching.
**Interviewers look for:** Clear and logical approach to problem-solving; Correct implementation of algorithms; Efficient and clean code; Ability to explain trade-offs
**Evaluation criteria:** Problem-solving skills; Algorithmic knowledge; Coding proficiency; Communication of thought process
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate thought process; Poor understanding of fundamental algorithms; Inefficient or incorrect code
## Questions

- Given a binary tree, invert the tree.
- Find the first non-repeating character in a string.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank.
- Focus on understanding time and space complexity.
- Be prepared to write code on a whiteboard or shared editor.
- Practice explaining your solution step-by-step.

## Round 2: System Design
**Type:** Technical Interview - System Design · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
Design a scalable system for a given problem, discussing components and trade-offs.
This round assesses your ability to design complex systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem (e.g., design Twitter's feed, a URL shortener, or a rate limiter) and expected to design a high-level solution. This involves discussing requirements, identifying components, choosing appropriate technologies, and considering scalability, reliability, and performance. You should be prepared to justify your design decisions and discuss trade-offs.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to design scalable and reliable systems; Knowledge of various system components (databases, caches, load balancers); Clear communication of design choices and trade-offs; Understanding of distributed system concepts
**Evaluation criteria:** System design approach; Scalability and performance considerations; Database knowledge; Trade-off analysis; Understanding of distributed systems
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of understanding of system design principles; Inability to handle scale or performance requirements; Poor consideration of trade-offs
## Questions

- Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
- Design a system to count unique visitors to a website.

## Preparation tips

- Study common system design patterns and architectures.
- Understand databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, load balancing, and message queues.
- Practice designing various systems and articulating your thought process.
- Be ready to discuss trade-offs between different approaches.

## Round 3: Behavioral and Situational Interview
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Discuss past experiences and how you handle workplace situations using the STAR method.
This round focuses on your past experiences and how you handle various workplace situations. You'll be asked behavioral questions designed to understand your teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership potential. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide specific, concise examples from your career.
**Interviewers look for:** Evidence of collaboration and teamwork; Ability to handle conflict and feedback constructively; Clear and concise communication; Alignment with Notion's values and culture; Self-awareness and learning from experiences
**Evaluation criteria:** Behavioral competencies; Teamwork and collaboration; Communication skills; Problem-solving in a team context; Cultural fit
**Common rejection reasons:** Poor communication skills; Lack of collaboration or teamwork; Inability to provide specific examples; Mismatch with company culture or values
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a colleague and how you resolved it.
- Describe a project where you had to work under a tight deadline.

## Preparation tips

- Prepare examples for common behavioral questions using the STAR method.
- Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and career goals.
- Understand Notion's company values and how you align with them.
- Be ready to discuss your motivations for applying.

## Round 4: Hiring Manager Discussion
**Type:** Managerial Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 30 min
Discuss career goals, motivation, and fit with the hiring manager.
This final round is typically with the hiring manager. It's an opportunity for the manager to assess your overall fit with the team and company culture, understand your career aspirations, and answer any remaining questions you might have. They will also gauge your enthusiasm for the role and Notion.
**Interviewers look for:** Genuine interest in Notion's mission and products; Clear understanding of the role and responsibilities; Positive attitude and collaborative spirit; Potential to grow within the company
**Evaluation criteria:** Motivation and enthusiasm; Alignment with team and company goals; Potential for growth; Cultural alignment
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of enthusiasm for the role or company; Unrealistic expectations; Poor fit with team dynamics; Failure to demonstrate leadership potential
## Questions

- What are your long-term career goals?
- Why do you want to work at Notion specifically?

## Preparation tips

- Research Notion's recent news and product updates.
- Think about how your skills and experience can contribute to the team's success.
- Prepare thoughtful questions about the team, projects, and career growth opportunities.
- Express your enthusiasm for the role and the company.