Scale Engineer

Associate Software Engineer

Software EngineerGL26Medium

The Associate Software Engineer (GL26) interview at Optum is designed to assess foundational software development skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. It typically involves a mix of technical and behavioral assessments to ensure candidates can contribute effectively to our engineering teams.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~7d

Experience·0 - 2 yrs

Comp band·US$60000 - US$75000

Interview time·135 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Technical proficiency (data structures, algorithms, coding)
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Cultural fit and alignment with Optum values
  • Learning agility and adaptability

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, sorting, searching).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or GeeksforGeeks, focusing on easy and medium difficulty.
  3. Understand basic object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts.
  4. Brush up on your chosen programming language's syntax and common libraries.
  5. Prepare to discuss your resume, highlighting relevant projects and experiences.
  6. Research Optum's products, services, and company culture.
  7. Practice answering common behavioral interview questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 05 phases

01 / 05
01

Phase 01 of 05

Data Structures Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Hash Maps) & Complexity Analysis. Easy problems.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, and hash maps. Practice basic algorithm concepts like time and space complexity analysis. Solve easy-level problems related to these topics.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Why are you interested in this role at Optum?
  • Describe a time you faced a technical challenge and how you overcame it.
  • How do you handle working in a team environment?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Write a function to reverse a string.
  • Explain the difference between a list and a tuple.
  • What is polymorphism?
  • How would you design a simple URL shortener?
  • Tell me about a time you made a mistake and what you learned from it.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 01 locations

01 / 01

Location

All Locations

Interview focus

Understanding of core computer science principles.Ability to articulate thought process during problem-solving.Enthusiasm for learning and adapting to new technologies.Teamwork and collaboration skills.

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on during your internship or academic career.
  • How do you approach debugging a complex issue?
  • Describe a time you had to learn a new technology quickly. What was your process?
  • What are your favorite programming languages and why?
  • How do you stay updated with the latest trends in software development?

Tips

  • Be prepared to discuss your academic projects in detail.
  • Practice explaining technical concepts clearly and concisely.
  • Research Optum's mission and values to align your answers.
  • Prepare questions about the team, technology stack, and company culture.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Optum.

Frequently reported on Optum loops

View all at Optum

Other guides

More at Optum.