The Software Engineer II (L2) interview at Poshmark is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves multiple rounds focusing on data structures, algorithms, system design, and behavioral aspects.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~7d
Experience·2 - 5 yrs
Comp band·US$110000 - US$150000
Interview time·150 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms. Practice implementations and basic problems.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, hash tables) and their common operations. Practice implementing these structures and solving problems related to them. Cover basic algorithms like sorting (quicksort, mergesort) and searching (binary search).
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms. Focus on DP, Greedy, Graphs. Medium LeetCode.
Weeks 3-4: Dive deeper into algorithms, including dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, graph algorithms (BFS, DFS, Dijkstra's), and string manipulation. Work on medium-level LeetCode problems that combine multiple concepts.
Phase 03 of 04
Weeks 5-6: System Design. Scalability, Databases, Caching, APIs. Practice design problems.
Weeks 5-6: Study system design principles. Cover topics like database design (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, load balancing, message queues, API design, and microservices architecture. Practice designing scalable systems for common applications.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 7: Behavioral Interview Prep. STAR method, past experiences.
Week 7: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Reflect on past projects and experiences, identifying examples that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. Practice answering common behavioral questions using the STAR method.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Interview - Coding · 45 min · Software Engineer
This round focuses on assessing your core 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 code, and explain your thought process.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, determine if it is a valid binary search tree.
Find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview - System Design · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager
In this round, you'll be asked to design a scalable system, often related to Poshmark's platform (e.g., a feed, a search service, or a notification system). The interviewer will assess your ability to break down a complex problem, identify requirements, propose a high-level architecture, and discuss trade-offs.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system to handle real-time notifications for Poshmark.
Design a news feed for a social media platform.
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 you approach work, collaboration, and challenges. You'll be asked behavioral questions designed to understand your work style, problem-solving approach in non-technical situations, and how you align with Poshmark's culture. Use the STAR method to structure your answers.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague.
Why are you interested in Poshmark?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Poshmark loops
Other guides
