Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerBBBMedium to Hard

This interview process is for a Software Engineer position at Rakuten, targeting candidates with a BBB level of experience. The process is designed to assess technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within Rakuten's dynamic environment.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·3 - 7 yrs

Comp band·US$90000 - US$120000

Interview time·165 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

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

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental computer science concepts.
  2. Practice coding problems regularly, focusing on efficiency and edge cases.
  3. Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
  4. Prepare behavioral examples using the STAR method.
  5. Research Rakuten's products, services, and company culture.
  6. Understand the specific technologies and frameworks mentioned in the job description.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables, sorting, searching, and dynamic programming. Practice problems on LeetCode (Easy/Medium).

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
  • Design a system to handle real-time notifications for a social media platform.
  • Tell me about a time you disagreed with a team member and how you resolved it.
  • What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
  • How would you optimize the performance of a web application?
  • Describe your experience with cloud computing platforms like AWS or GCP.
  • What is a deadlock and how can it be prevented?
  • How do you approach debugging a complex issue?
  • 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

Interview focus

System Design for scalability and reliabilityDeep understanding of data structures and algorithmsProblem-solving approach and communication

Common questions

  • How would you design a URL shortening service?
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Describe a challenging technical problem you faced and how you solved it.

Tips

  • Familiarize yourself with common system design patterns.
  • Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on optimal solutions.
  • Be prepared to discuss your past projects in detail, highlighting your contributions and technical decisions.

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.