Scale Engineer

Software Engineer II

Software EngineerIC2Medium

This interview process is designed to assess candidates for a Software Engineer II position at Reddit. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, system design capabilities, and cultural fit within the company.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·2 - 5 yrs

Comp band·US$120000 - US$160000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving approach
  • Code quality and efficiency
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Data structure knowledge

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice system design problems, focusing on scalability and trade-offs.
  3. Prepare examples for common behavioral questions using the STAR method.
  4. Understand Reddit's products, mission, and recent developments.
  5. Familiarize yourself with common technologies used at Reddit (e.g., Python, Go, React, AWS).

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures & Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: DSA Fundamentals (Arrays, Lists, Trees, Graphs, Hash Maps, Sorting, Searching, DP, Graph Traversal).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, and Cracking the Coding Interview.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Given a stream of user activity logs, how would you detect anomalies?
  • Design a system to recommend related subreddits to users.
  • Describe a time you disagreed with a technical decision and how you handled it.
  • How would you optimize the performance of a high-traffic API endpoint?
  • What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases for a social media platform?
  • Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of.
  • How would you implement a real-time notification system for new comments on a post?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

San Francisco Bay Area

Interview focus

Adaptability to local tech community trendsUnderstanding of regional user behavior

Common questions

  • How would you design a URL shortener for Reddit?
  • Discuss a time you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder.
  • What are your thoughts on the current state of web development frameworks?

Tips

  • Research local Reddit communities and their specific interests.
  • Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with the local job market.

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.