Scale Engineer

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Software EngineerAMedium

This interview process for a Software Engineer at Rakuten (Level A) is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves multiple rounds, starting with HR screening and progressing through technical assessments and a final managerial interview.

Rounds·4

Timeline·~14d

Experience·2 - 5 yrs

Comp band·US$80000 - US$120000

Interview time·195 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical skills (coding, algorithms, data structures)
  • Problem-solving abilities
  • System design and architecture understanding
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Cultural fit and alignment with Rakuten's values

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental computer science concepts (data structures, algorithms, operating systems, databases).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or similar.
  3. Understand Rakuten's business, products, and recent news.
  4. Prepare examples for behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  5. Research common interview questions for Software Engineers at tech companies.
  6. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company culture.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 03 phases

01 / 03
01

Phase 01 of 03

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice (5-10 problems/topic).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps, sorting, searching, and dynamic programming. Practice at least 5-10 problems per topic.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target.
  • Design a URL shortening service.
  • How would you optimize a slow database query?
  • Tell me about a time you disagreed with a team member. How did you resolve it?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?
  • Why are you interested in working at Rakuten?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Tokyo, Japan

Interview focus

Adaptability to local market demandsTeam collaboration within a specific regional context

Common questions

  • How would you handle a situation where a critical bug is found in production?
  • Describe a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.

Tips

  • Research Rakuten's presence and recent projects in this specific region.
  • Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with local business needs.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.

DSA

Coding questions at Rakuten.

Frequently reported on Rakuten loops

View all at Rakuten

Other guides

More at Rakuten.