This interview process is for a Software Engineer position at Pure Storage, specifically for the LS1 level. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~7d
Experience·1 - 3 yrs
Comp band·US$90000 - US$120000
Interview time·150 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 05 phases
01 / 05Phase 01 of 05
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms (Arrays, Lists, Trees, Graphs, Sorting, Searching). Practice Easy/Medium LeetCode.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, hash tables. Study sorting algorithms (merge sort, quicksort), searching algorithms (binary search), and graph traversal (BFS, DFS). Practice problems on platforms like LeetCode (Easy/Medium).
Phase 02 of 05
Weeks 3-4: System Design (Scalability, Availability, Databases, Caching, Load Balancing). Practice design problems.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into System Design. Understand concepts like scalability, availability, reliability, load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), and microservices. Study common design patterns and practice designing scalable systems.
Phase 03 of 05
Week 5: Behavioral & Cultural Fit (STAR method, Teamwork, Problem-solving). Research Pure Storage values.
Week 5: Focus on Behavioral and Cultural Fit. Prepare for questions about teamwork, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and leadership. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Research Pure Storage's values and mission.
Phase 04 of 05
Week 6: Technology Review (Storage, Cloud, C++, Python, Java). Practice relevant coding.
Week 6: Review specific technologies relevant to Pure Storage, such as storage systems, cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP), and programming languages commonly used (e.g., C++, Python, Java). Practice coding problems related to these technologies.
Phase 05 of 05
Week 7: Mock Interviews & Final Review. Refine answers.
Week 7: Mock interviews and final review. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors to simulate the actual interview environment. Review all topics and refine your answers.
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 Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer
This round focuses on your core technical skills. You will be asked to solve coding problems that test your knowledge of data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your problem-solving methodology.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Implement a function to check if a binary tree is a valid Binary Search Tree (BST).
Find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round assesses your ability to design scalable and robust software systems. You will be given a high-level problem and asked to design a solution, considering aspects like data storage, APIs, scalability, and reliability. The interviewer will probe your design choices and trade-offs.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system to handle real-time analytics for a website.
Design a distributed key-value store.
How would you design a notification service?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager
This round focuses on your behavioral aspects and how you fit into the team and company culture. You will be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle various situations, and your motivations. Prepare to provide specific examples using the STAR method.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult colleague.
Describe a project where you took initiative beyond your defined role.
What are your career aspirations for the next 3-5 years?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Pure Storage loops
Other guides
