Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerGL27Medium to Hard

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

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving approach
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Data structure knowledge
  • Code clarity and efficiency
  • Debugging skills

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert.
  3. Study common system design concepts and patterns.
  4. Prepare examples for behavioral questions using the STAR method.
  5. Research Optum's mission, values, and recent projects.
  6. Understand the technologies commonly used at Optum (e.g., Java, Python, cloud platforms).

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms

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.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
  • Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
  • Tell me about a time you disagreed with a team member. How did you resolve it?
  • How would you design a system to handle millions of concurrent users for a social media platform?
  • Explain the difference between processes and threads.
  • Describe a situation where you had to meet a tight deadline. How did you manage your time?
  • What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
  • How do you ensure the security of a web application?
  • What is your experience with cloud computing platforms?
  • Describe a complex technical problem you solved and your approach.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

01 / 03

Location

San Francisco, CA

Interview focus

System DesignProblem SolvingAPI DesignScalabilityCode Quality

Common questions

  • How would you design a system to handle real-time stock price updates for a global financial market?
  • Describe a challenging bug you encountered and how you debugged it.
  • Explain the principles of RESTful API design.
  • What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architectures?
  • How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in a large project?

Tips

  • Be prepared to discuss trade-offs in system design decisions.
  • Clearly articulate your thought process when solving problems.
  • Familiarize yourself with common design patterns.
  • Understand the implications of distributed systems.
  • Emphasize collaboration and communication skills.

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.