# Associate Software Engineer
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** GL26
**Company:** [Optum](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/optum)
**Difficulty:** Medium
**Salary:** US$60000 - US$75000
**Experience:** 0 - 2
**Timeline:** ~7 days
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.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/optum/gl26-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- Communication & Behavioral Skills

## Questions 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.

## Preparation tips

### lists

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

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures Fundamentals","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Hash Maps) & Complexity Analysis. Easy problems."}
- {"title":"Algorithms and Advanced Data Structures","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into more complex data structures such as trees (binary trees, BSTs) and graphs. Learn about common algorithms like sorting (bubble, merge, quick), searching (binary search), and basic graph traversal (BFS, DFS). Solve medium-level problems.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Trees, Graphs, Sorting & Searching Algorithms. Medium problems."}
- {"title":"Object-Oriented Programming","longDescription":"Week 5: Focus on Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles (encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction). Understand how to apply these concepts in your chosen language. Review common design patterns.","shortDescription":"Week 5: OOP Concepts & Design Patterns."}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation & Company Research","longDescription":"Week 6: Prepare for behavioral questions. Practice articulating your experiences using the STAR method. Research Optum's values and mission. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Behavioral Questions (STAR method) & Company Research."}
- {"title":"Final Preparation","longDescription":"Week 7: Mock interviews and final review. Practice coding problems under timed conditions. Review all topics covered and refine your answers to common questions.","shortDescription":"Week 7: Mock Interviews & Final Review."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"All Locations","differences":{"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."],"interviewFocus":["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."],"commonQuestions":["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?"]}}

## Round 1: Initial Technical Assessment
**Type:** Technical Screening · **Difficulty:** Easy · **Duration:** 45 min
Technical screening to assess basic coding and problem-solving skills.
This initial round is typically a technical phone screen or online coding assessment. It focuses on fundamental programming skills, data structures, and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to write code to solve a given problem and explain your approach.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to write clean, working code.; Logical thinking.; Basic understanding of time/space complexity.
**Evaluation criteria:** Basic coding proficiency; Understanding of data structures; Problem-solving approach
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to solve basic coding problems.; Poor understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.; Lack of clarity in explaining thought process.; Negative attitude or poor cultural fit.
## Questions

- Write a function to find the maximum element in an array.
- Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome.
- Given two sorted arrays, merge them into a single sorted array.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems on platforms like HackerRank or LeetCode (easy difficulty).
- Ensure your development environment is set up for coding interviews.
- Be ready to explain your code and its complexity.

## Round 2: Core Technical Interview
**Type:** Data Structures and Algorithms Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 60 min
In-depth technical round focusing on DSA and problem-solving.
This round involves more in-depth technical questions, often including coding challenges that require knowledge of trees, graphs, or dynamic programming. You'll be expected to discuss your approach, analyze time and space complexity, and write efficient code.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to design and implement solutions for moderately complex problems.; Understanding of trade-offs between different approaches.; Clear communication of logic and reasoning.
**Evaluation criteria:** Proficiency in data structures and algorithms; Problem-solving and analytical skills; Code quality and efficiency; Ability to handle edge cases
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to solve medium-difficulty coding problems.; Lack of understanding of more complex data structures (trees, graphs).; Poor explanation of algorithmic approaches.; Difficulty in debugging or identifying edge cases.
## Questions

- Given a binary tree, perform a level order traversal.
- Find the shortest path between two nodes in a graph.
- Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in a Binary Search Tree.

## Preparation tips

- Practice medium-level problems on LeetCode, focusing on trees, graphs, and dynamic programming.
- Be prepared to whiteboard or code solutions live.
- Think out loud and explain your thought process clearly.

## Round 3: Behavioral and Fit Interview
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Easy · **Duration:** 30 min
Behavioral round to assess cultural fit and soft skills.
This round focuses on your behavioral and situational responses. The interviewer will ask questions about your past experiences, how you handle teamwork, challenges, and your career aspirations. The goal is to assess your fit within the team and Optum's culture.
**Interviewers look for:** Positive attitude.; Good communication and listening skills.; Examples of teamwork and problem-solving in past experiences.; Genuine interest in Optum.
**Evaluation criteria:** Communication skills; Teamwork and collaboration; Motivation and alignment with company values; Cultural fit
**Common rejection reasons:** Poor communication or interpersonal skills.; Lack of enthusiasm or interest in the role/company.; Inability to provide specific examples for behavioral questions.; Mismatch in values or cultural fit.
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you worked effectively in a team.
- Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult colleague.
- What are your career goals for the next 3-5 years?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions.
- Research Optum's mission, vision, and values.
- Be ready to discuss your career goals and why you're a good fit for the team.