Scale Engineer

Software Engineer I

Software EngineerIC1Medium

This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Engineer I (IC1) role at Reddit. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, cultural fit, and potential for growth within the company.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·0 - 2 yrs

Comp band·US$100000 - US$130000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving abilities
  • Technical depth and breadth
  • Coding proficiency and best practices
  • System design and architecture understanding
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Cultural fit and alignment with Reddit's values
  • Learning agility and adaptability

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte.
  3. Understand core computer science concepts (e.g., operating systems, databases, networking).
  4. Familiarize yourself with common software design patterns.
  5. Prepare to discuss your past projects and experiences in detail, focusing on your contributions and learnings.
  6. Research Reddit's products, mission, and engineering culture.
  7. Practice behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  8. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company.

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 implementations and complexity analysis.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Recursion, Dynamic Programming). Practice implementing these in your preferred language and analyze their time and space complexity.

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 system to handle real-time notifications for a social media platform.
  • Tell me about a time you faced a technical challenge and how you overcame it.
  • How would you optimize a slow database query?
  • Describe your experience with version control systems like Git.
  • What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
  • How do you ensure the quality of your code?
  • What interests you about working at Reddit?
  • Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult teammate.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

San Francisco

Interview focus

Understanding of Reddit's specific tech stack and product.Ability to collaborate effectively within a fast-paced, evolving environment.Demonstrated initiative and ownership in previous roles.

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on at Reddit.
  • How would you handle a disagreement with a senior engineer on a technical approach?
  • Describe a time you had to adapt to a significant change in project requirements.

Tips

  • Research Reddit's recent product launches and engineering blog posts.
  • Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with Reddit's core values.
  • Highlight any experience with large-scale social platforms or community-driven products.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Reddit.

Frequently reported on Reddit loops

View all at Reddit

Other guides

More at Reddit.