# Software Engineer
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** Senior Software Engineer
**Company:** [Revolut](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/revolut)
**Difficulty:** Hard
**Salary:** US$140000 - US$180000
**Experience:** 5 - 10
**Timeline:** ~14 days
This interview process is designed to assess candidates for a Senior Software Engineer position at Revolut. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, system design capabilities, and cultural fit.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/revolut/senior-software-engineer-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- System Design
- Behavioral and Cultural Fit
- Experience and Mentorship

## Questions asked

- Design a URL shortening service.
- How would you design a system to track user activity on a website?
- Explain the concept of eventual consistency.
- Describe a situation where you had to deal with a production issue. What steps did you take?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of microservices?
- How do you approach code reviews?
- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
- Design a rate limiter.
- How would you optimize a slow database query?
- What are your thoughts on test-driven development (TDD)?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review core data structures and algorithms.
- Practice system design problems, focusing on scalability and trade-offs.
- Prepare examples for behavioral questions using the STAR method.
- Understand Revolut's products and values.
- Brush up on your chosen programming language(s) and relevant frameworks.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms (Medium/Hard)"}
- {"title":"System Design","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design concepts. Study topics like distributed systems, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, load balancing, message queues, and API design. Work through common system design interview questions.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: System Design Fundamentals"}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Week 5: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Reflect on your past experiences and prepare stories using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for common questions related to teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.","shortDescription":"Week 5: Behavioral Interview Preparation"}
- {"title":"Final Preparation","longDescription":"Week 6: Research Revolut's company culture, values, and recent news. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers. Review your resume and be ready to discuss any project or experience in detail.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Company Research & Final Review"}

## Location differences

- {"location":"London","differences":{"tips":["Be prepared to discuss specific examples of large-scale systems you've worked on.","Highlight instances where you've influenced technical direction or mentored teams.","Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely."],"interviewFocus":["Emphasis on practical application of distributed systems concepts.","Strong focus on leadership and mentorship experience.","Deep dive into problem-solving methodologies."],"commonQuestions":["How would you design a distributed caching system for a high-traffic e-commerce platform?","Describe a time you had to mentor a junior engineer. What was your approach?","Discuss a complex technical challenge you faced and how you overcame it."]}}
- {"location":"Berlin","differences":{"tips":["Familiarize yourself with RESTful API design patterns.","Be ready to discuss your experience with CI/CD pipelines and testing strategies.","Showcase your ability to work effectively in a team environment."],"interviewFocus":["Focus on API design principles and best practices.","Assessment of understanding of software development lifecycle and quality assurance.","Evaluation of collaboration and communication skills."],"commonQuestions":["Design an API for a real-time notification service.","How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in a large codebase?","Tell me about a time you disagreed with a technical decision and how you handled it."]}}
- {"location":"Remote","differences":{"tips":["Prepare to discuss specific scaling strategies you've implemented.","Be ready to talk about your experience with AWS, GCP, or Azure.","Demonstrate a strong understanding of database performance optimization."],"interviewFocus":["In-depth knowledge of scalability patterns and distributed systems.","Experience with modern cloud infrastructure and deployment strategies.","Understanding of data modeling and database selection criteria."],"commonQuestions":["How would you scale a social media feed to handle millions of users?","Describe your experience with cloud-native architectures (e.g., microservices, Kubernetes).","What are your thoughts on the trade-offs between different database technologies?"]}}

## Round 1: Data Structures and Algorithms
**Type:** Technical Interview (Coding) · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
Coding challenge focusing on data structures and algorithms.
This round focuses on your core technical skills. You will be asked to solve coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your problem-solving approach and communication of your thought process.
**Interviewers look for:** Logical thinking; Ability to break down complex problems; Clean and maintainable code; Understanding of trade-offs
**Evaluation criteria:** Problem-solving skills; Algorithmic proficiency; Coding efficiency and correctness; Understanding of time and space complexity
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate thought process clearly.; Lack of fundamental data structures and algorithms knowledge.; Inefficient or incorrect solutions to coding problems.
## Questions

- Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
- Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
- Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank.
- Focus on understanding the underlying data structures and algorithms.
- Practice explaining your thought process out loud.
- Be prepared to discuss time and space complexity (Big O notation).

## Round 2: System Design
**Type:** System Design Interview · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
Design a scalable system, discussing architecture and trade-offs.
This round assesses your ability to design scalable, reliable, and maintainable systems. You'll be presented with a high-level problem and expected to design a solution, discussing various components, trade-offs, and potential bottlenecks. This often involves distributed systems concepts.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to design complex systems from scratch.; Knowledge of distributed systems concepts.; Pragmatic approach to problem-solving.; Clear communication of design choices.
**Evaluation criteria:** System design capabilities; Scalability and performance; Reliability and fault tolerance; Trade-off analysis; Understanding of architectural patterns
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of understanding of distributed system principles.; Inability to design scalable and reliable systems.; Poor trade-off analysis.; Not considering edge cases or failure scenarios.
## Questions

- Design a distributed key-value store.
- Design a notification system.
- How would you design a system to handle real-time analytics?

## Preparation tips

- Study common system design patterns (e.g., microservices, event-driven architecture).
- Understand concepts like caching, load balancing, databases, and message queues.
- Practice designing systems like Twitter feed, URL shortener, etc.
- Be prepared to justify your design choices and discuss alternatives.

## Round 3: Behavioral and Cultural Fit
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Assesses behavioral competencies, teamwork, and cultural fit.
This interview focuses on your past experiences, behavioral competencies, and how you align with Revolut's culture. You'll be asked questions about teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution, and how you handle challenges. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is highly recommended.
**Interviewers look for:** Honesty and self-awareness.; Ability to articulate experiences clearly.; Proactiveness and ownership.; Alignment with Revolut's values.
**Evaluation criteria:** Communication skills; Teamwork and collaboration; Problem-solving approach; Leadership potential; Cultural alignment
**Common rejection reasons:** Poor communication skills.; Lack of self-awareness.; Inability to provide specific examples.; Poor cultural fit or misalignment with company values.
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult colleague.
- Describe a project you are particularly proud of and your role in it.
- How do you handle constructive criticism?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions.
- Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and career goals.
- Research Revolut's company values and mission.
- Be ready to discuss your motivations for joining Revolut.

## Round 4: Hiring Manager Discussion
**Type:** Managerial / Fit Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 30 min
Final discussion with the hiring manager about role fit and aspirations.
This is typically the final round where the hiring manager or a senior team member will discuss the role in more detail, assess your overall fit with the team, and answer any remaining questions you may have. It's an opportunity to ensure mutual alignment.
**Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for the role and company.; Clear understanding of responsibilities.; Good questions that show engagement.; Potential for growth within the team.
**Evaluation criteria:** Candidate's motivation and interest; Alignment with team goals; Understanding of the role; Cultural fit at a team level; Candidate's questions
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with the team's technical direction.; Unrealistic salary expectations.; Poor communication regarding career aspirations.; Not asking insightful questions about the role or team.
## Questions

- What are your career goals for the next 3-5 years?
- What interests you most about this specific role at Revolut?
- Do you have any questions for me about the team or the role?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare thoughtful questions about the team, projects, and career growth.
- Reiterate your interest and enthusiasm for the role.
- Be prepared to discuss your career aspirations.
- Ensure your understanding of the role matches the expectations.