This interview process is for a Software Engineer position at Optum, specifically for the GL27 level. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the organization.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~10d
Experience·2 - 5 yrs
Comp band·US$110000 - US$140000
Interview time·150 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice coding.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, recursion). Practice implementing these from scratch and analyze their time and space complexity.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design concepts and patterns. Study scalability and databases.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design principles. Study topics like scalability, availability, consistency, load balancing, caching, and database design. Review common architectural patterns like microservices and event-driven architectures.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral interview preparation. Use STAR method.
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Identify key projects and experiences that demonstrate your skills in teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and handling challenges. Practice articulating these using the STAR method.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Company research and question preparation.
Week 6: Research Optum thoroughly. Understand the company's products, services, culture, and recent news. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 03 locations
01 / 03Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Screening (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer / Technical Screener
This initial technical screening round focuses on assessing fundamental programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your ability to understand the problem, devise an efficient solution, write clean and correct code, and explain your reasoning.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Reverse a linked list.
Find the two numbers in an array that add up to a specific target.
Implement a binary search tree.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round focuses on your ability to design complex, scalable systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., design Twitter's feed, a URL shortener, or a distributed cache) and expected to discuss various aspects of the design, including data models, APIs, scalability strategies, and potential bottlenecks.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system like Instagram.
Design a rate limiter.
Design a distributed key-value store.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Senior Team Member
This round focuses on your past experiences and how they align with the role and Optum's culture. You'll be asked behavioral questions that require you to provide specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). The interviewer wants to understand your work style, how you handle challenges, and your potential fit within the team.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you faced a significant challenge at work and how you overcame it.
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle it?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Why are you interested in this role at Optum?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Optum loops
Other guides
