Scale Engineer

Software Engineer 2

Software EngineerL3Medium

The Software Engineer 2 (L3) 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·~14d

Experience·2 - 5 yrs

Comp band·US$110000 - US$150000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Data structure knowledge
  • Coding proficiency
  • System design fundamentals
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Adaptability and learning agility
  • Cultural alignment with Opendoor's values

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps, sorting, searching).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
  3. Understand core computer science concepts such as time and space complexity (Big O notation).
  4. Prepare for system design questions, focusing on common patterns and trade-offs for scalable applications.
  5. Reflect on your past projects and experiences to prepare for behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  6. Research Opendoor's mission, values, products, and recent news.
  7. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company culture.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 06 phases

01 / 06
01

Phase 01 of 06

Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms. Practice LeetCode Easy/Medium.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Hash Tables) and basic algorithms (Sorting, Searching). Practice implementing these and analyzing their time/space complexity. Solve 10-15 LeetCode Easy/Medium problems related to these topics.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
  • Design a system to store and retrieve user profiles.
  • How would you optimize a slow database query?
  • Tell me about a time you disagreed with a technical decision made by your team.
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?
  • How do you stay updated with new technologies?
  • Describe a situation where you had to learn a new technology quickly.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Remote

Interview focus

Adaptability to different tech stacks used in various Opendoor offices.Understanding of local market challenges and opportunities.Collaboration with geographically distributed teams.

Common questions

  • Describe a challenging technical problem you solved at your previous company.
  • 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 microservices vs. monolith architectures?
  • How would you design a URL shortener service?

Tips

  • Research Opendoor's presence and projects in the specific location.
  • Be prepared to discuss how you've collaborated with remote teams.
  • Highlight any experience with technologies prevalent in that region.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

Other guides

More at Opendoor.