# Software Engineer **Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** L3 **Company:** [Rokt](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/rokt) **Difficulty:** Medium **Salary:** US$110000 - US$150000 **Experience:** 2 - 5 **Timeline:** ~10 days This interview process is for a Software Engineer (L3) role at Rokt. It is designed to assess technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/rokt/l3-software-engineer --- ## Overall evaluation - Technical Skills - Communication - Cultural Fit ## Questions asked - Write a function to find the kth largest element in an unsorted array. - Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly. - Describe a time you disagreed with a teammate. How did you handle it? - How would you implement a rate limiter? - What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases? - Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of. ## Preparation tips ### lists - Review fundamental data structures and algorithms. - Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. - Understand core computer science concepts (OS, networking, databases). - Prepare to discuss past projects and technical challenges in detail. - Research Rokt's business, products, and company culture. - Prepare questions to ask the interviewers. ### studyPlan - {"title":"Data Structures & Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Practice coding problems related to these topics.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice."} - {"title":"System Design","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into System Design concepts. Understand scalability, availability, reliability, and common design patterns (e.g., load balancing, caching, message queues). Study common system design interview questions.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: System Design principles and patterns."} - {"title":"Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Week 5: Prepare for behavioral questions. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Reflect on past experiences related to teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership.","shortDescription":"Week 5: Behavioral questions preparation (STAR method)."} - {"title":"Company Research","longDescription":"Week 6: Research Rokt thoroughly. Understand their business model, products, recent news, and company values. Prepare specific questions about the role and the company.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Company research and question preparation."} ## Location differences - {"location":"Sydney","differences":{"tips":["Research Rokt's presence and recent news in this specific region.","Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with the local business objectives."],"interviewFocus":["Understanding of local market trends and customer behavior.","Experience with specific regional compliance or data privacy regulations (if applicable)."],"commonQuestions":["How would you optimize a database query for a high-traffic e-commerce site?","Describe a time you had to deal with a production issue under pressure. What was your approach?","What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architecture for a growing platform like ours?"]}} - {"location":"New York","differences":{"tips":["Familiarize yourself with Rokt's global product offerings and strategy.","Highlight any experience working with diverse, remote teams."],"interviewFocus":["Adaptability to a fast-paced, international work environment.","Experience with distributed systems and global scalability challenges."],"commonQuestions":["How would you design a caching strategy for a global user base?","Tell me about a complex technical challenge you faced and how you overcame it.","What are your preferred methods for ensuring code quality and maintainability in a team environment?"]}} ## Round 1: Coding Challenge **Type:** Technical Interview - Coding · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min Assess coding proficiency with data structures and algorithms. This round focuses on your core programming 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 approach to problem-solving and your understanding of computational complexity. **Interviewers look for:** Clean, efficient, and correct code.; Ability to break down complex problems.; Understanding of time and space complexity.; Good communication of the thought process. **Evaluation criteria:** Correctness of the solution; Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity); Code clarity and readability; Problem-solving approach **Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate thought process.; Poor coding practices.; Fundamental misunderstanding of data structures or algorithms. ## Questions - Given a binary tree, invert the tree. - Find the first non-repeating character in a string. ## Preparation tips - Practice coding on a whiteboard or a shared editor. - Think out loud and explain your approach before coding. - Test your code with edge cases. - Be prepared to discuss alternative solutions and their trade-offs. ## Round 2: System Design **Type:** Technical Interview - System Design · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min Assess ability to design scalable and robust software systems. This round evaluates your ability to design and scale software systems. You'll be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., design Twitter's feed, design a URL shortener) and expected to discuss various components, trade-offs, and scaling strategies. This includes database choices, caching mechanisms, load balancing, and API design. **Interviewers look for:** A structured approach to system design.; Ability to identify bottlenecks and propose solutions.; Understanding of distributed systems concepts.; Pragmatic decision-making regarding technology choices. **Evaluation criteria:** Scalability of the design; Availability and reliability considerations; Understanding of trade-offs; Ability to handle large-scale data; Knowledge of system components (databases, caches, load balancers) **Common rejection reasons:** Lack of understanding of distributed systems.; Inability to design scalable solutions.; Poor consideration of trade-offs. ## Questions - Design a system to track the top K trending items on Twitter. - How would you design a distributed cache? ## Preparation tips - Study common system design patterns. - Understand concepts like CAP theorem, eventual consistency, and ACID properties. - Practice designing popular applications. - Be prepared to justify your design choices. ## Round 3: Behavioral and Manager Interview **Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min Assess behavioral competencies and cultural fit. This interview focuses on your past experiences, behavioral competencies, and how you align with Rokt's culture. You'll be asked questions about teamwork, conflict resolution, handling failure, and your motivations. The goal is to understand your working style and predict your future performance. **Interviewers look for:** Honesty and self-awareness.; Ability to provide concrete examples using the STAR method.; Enthusiasm for the role and company.; Good interpersonal skills. **Evaluation criteria:** Behavioral competencies (teamwork, problem-solving, initiative); Alignment with company values; Past experiences and learnings; Motivation and career goals **Common rejection reasons:** Poor communication.; Lack of self-awareness.; Inability to provide specific examples.; Poor cultural fit. ## Questions - Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it? - Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague. - Why are you interested in Rokt? ## Preparation tips - Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions. - Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses. - Understand Rokt's values and how you embody them. - Be ready to discuss your career aspirations.