Scale Engineer

Software Engineer 1

Software EngineerL2Medium

The Software Engineer 1 (L2) interview at Opendoor is designed to assess a candidate's foundational software engineering skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. The process typically involves multiple rounds, including technical assessments, behavioral interviews, and a final hiring manager discussion.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~7d

Experience·1 - 3 yrs

Comp band·US$100000 - US$130000

Interview time·135 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical Proficiency: Assesses coding skills, understanding of data structures and algorithms, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Communication Skills: Evaluates clarity of thought, ability to explain technical concepts, and active listening.
  • Behavioral Competencies: Gauges teamwork, adaptability, initiative, and alignment with company values.
  • Cultural Fit: Determines how well the candidate's personality and work style align with Opendoor's culture.
  • Problem-Solving Approach: Analyzes how the candidate breaks down problems, considers edge cases, and arrives at solutions.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, graph traversal).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
  3. Understand common software design patterns and principles (e.g., SOLID).
  4. Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, focusing on your contributions and the technical challenges you faced.
  5. Brush up on your knowledge of object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts.
  6. Research Opendoor's products, services, and company culture.
  7. Prepare STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) answers for behavioral questions.
  8. Think about questions you want to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and company.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 03 phases

01 / 03
01

Phase 01 of 03

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice (2-3 medium problems/day).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, AVL trees), graphs, hash tables. Practice algorithms like sorting (quicksort, mergesort), searching (binary search), graph traversal (BFS, DFS), dynamic programming. Aim to solve 2-3 medium problems per day.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target.
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Describe a time you received constructive criticism and how you handled it.
  • How would you design a system to handle user authentication?
  • What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
  • Tell me about a project where you had to optimize performance.
  • How do you stay updated with new technologies?
  • Describe a situation where you had to disagree with a team member or manager.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Remote

Interview focus

Understanding of core data structures and algorithms.Ability to write clean, maintainable, and efficient code.Problem-solving and analytical thinking.Communication and collaboration skills.Alignment with Opendoor's values (e.g., customer obsession, bias for action).

Common questions

  • Describe a challenging technical problem you solved at your previous role.
  • How do you approach debugging a complex issue?
  • Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult teammate.
  • What are your thoughts on test-driven development (TDD)?

Tips

  • Be prepared to discuss specific projects and your contributions in detail.
  • Practice explaining your thought process clearly, especially during coding challenges.
  • Research Opendoor's mission and values to tailor your answers.
  • Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the role and company culture.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

Other guides

More at Opendoor.