Scale Engineer

Senior Software Engineer

Software EngineerIC3Medium to Hard

Roblox is seeking a Senior Software Engineer (IC3) to join our dynamic team. This role involves designing, developing, and maintaining scalable and robust software solutions that power the Roblox platform. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality features and contribute to the technical direction of our products. We are looking for experienced engineers who are passionate about building engaging experiences for millions of users worldwide.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·5 - 8 yrs

Comp band·US$140000 - US$180000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Data structure knowledge
  • Code quality and efficiency
  • System design capabilities
  • Scalability and performance considerations
  • Communication and collaboration skills
  • Behavioral fit and cultural alignment

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
  3. Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
  4. Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, focusing on your contributions and the challenges you faced.
  5. Research Roblox's technology stack and recent product developments.
  6. Understand Roblox's company culture and values.
  7. Prepare 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 5-7 problems/day.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Practice implementing these from scratch and analyze their time and space complexity. Aim for 5-7 problems per day.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Design a system to handle real-time chat for millions of concurrent users on Roblox.
  • Given a large dataset of user interactions, how would you identify potential cheaters?
  • Describe a challenging technical problem you solved in a previous role and your approach.
  • How would you optimize the performance of a game server handling thousands of players?
  • Tell me about a time you disagreed with a technical decision and how you handled it.
  • What are the trade-offs between using a monolithic architecture versus a microservices architecture for a platform like Roblox?
  • How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in a large codebase?
  • Explain the concept of eventual consistency and when it might be appropriate to use.
  • How would you design a recommendation system for Roblox experiences?
  • Describe your experience with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

01 / 03

Location

San Francisco

Interview focus

San Francisco: Emphasis on distributed systems, real-time features, and large-scale data processing.San Mateo: Focus on game development technologies, engine architecture, and user-facing features.Remote (Global): Broader focus on core software engineering principles, problem-solving, and collaboration across different time zones and cultures.

Common questions

  • How would you handle a sudden spike in user traffic on the Roblox platform?
  • Describe a time you had to mentor a junior engineer. What was your approach?
  • In our San Francisco office, we often focus on real-time communication protocols. Can you discuss your experience with WebSockets or similar technologies?
  • How do you approach performance optimization in a large-scale distributed system, particularly relevant to our European operations which often deal with diverse network conditions?

Tips

  • San Francisco: Be prepared to discuss specific challenges related to scaling and real-time systems.
  • San Mateo: Highlight any experience with C++, Lua, or game engine development.
  • Remote (Global): Emphasize your ability to communicate effectively and work independently.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Roblox.

Frequently reported on Roblox loops

View all at Roblox

Other guides

More at Roblox.