# Software Engineer (SWE)
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** MTS
**Company:** [Salesforce](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/salesforce)
**Difficulty:** Medium to Hard
**Salary:** US$110000 - US$140000
**Experience:** 2 - 5
**Timeline:** ~14 days
This interview process is designed to assess candidates for a Software Engineer (SWE) role at Salesforce at the MTS (Member of Technical Staff) level. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, system design capabilities, and cultural fit within the Salesforce environment.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/salesforce/mts-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- System Design & Architecture
- Behavioral & Cultural Fit

## Questions asked

- Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
- Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
- Explain the difference between processes and threads.
- Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate and how you resolved it.
- How would you design a system to handle millions of concurrent users?
- What are the advantages of using a NoSQL database over a relational database?
- Describe a complex technical problem you solved.
- How do you approach code reviews?
- What is polymorphism?
- Design a rate limiter.

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review fundamental data structures and algorithms (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps, sorting, searching).
- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or similar.
- Study system design concepts (load balancing, caching, databases, message queues, microservices).
- Prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Understand Salesforce's core products and technologies, especially if you have prior experience.
- Research common interview questions for Software Engineers at Salesforce.
- Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.
- Be prepared to discuss your resume and past projects in detail.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Hash Tables) and basic algorithms (Sorting, Searching). Practice easy to medium LeetCode problems related to these topics. Understand time and space complexity analysis.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms. Practice easy/medium LeetCode."}
- {"title":"Advanced Algorithms and Problem Solving","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into more advanced data structures (Trees, Tries, Graphs, Heaps) and algorithms (Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms, Graph Traversal). Practice medium to hard LeetCode problems. Focus on problem-solving patterns.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Advanced DS & Algorithms. Practice medium/hard LeetCode."}
- {"title":"System Design Basics","longDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Begin system design preparation. Study concepts like API design, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, load balancing, message queues, and distributed systems. Review common system design interview questions and case studies.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: System Design Fundamentals. Study databases, caching, load balancing."}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Weeks 7-8: Focus on behavioral preparation. Identify key projects from your resume and prepare detailed explanations using the STAR method. Think about examples demonstrating teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and handling challenges. Research Salesforce's company values.","shortDescription":"Weeks 7-8: Behavioral Prep. Use STAR method. Research Salesforce values."}
- {"title":"Mock Interviews and Refinement","longDescription":"Week 9: Mock interviews. Practice coding and system design problems under timed conditions. Get feedback from peers or mentors. Refine your communication and explanation skills.","shortDescription":"Week 9: Mock Interviews. Practice coding & system design. Get feedback."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"United States","differences":{"tips":["For US roles, be prepared to discuss large-scale system design and performance optimization.","For roles in India, ensure a solid understanding of fundamental computer science concepts and coding proficiency.","Highlight any experience with Salesforce's specific technologies or cloud offerings if applicable."],"interviewFocus":["Emphasis on distributed systems and scalability for US-based roles.","Strong focus on data structures and algorithms, especially for roles in competitive tech hubs.","Cultural fit and collaboration skills are highly valued across all locations."],"commonQuestions":["How would you design a real-time notification system for a platform like Slack?","Discuss a challenging bug you encountered and how you debugged it.","Explain the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases for a specific use case.","Describe your experience with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP.","How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in a large project?"]}}
- {"location":"India","differences":{"tips":["Tailor your examples to showcase impact and results relevant to the specific region.","Be ready to discuss your contributions to team projects and collaborative efforts.","Research Salesforce's business and product presence in the specific country or region."],"interviewFocus":["Focus on practical application of skills and problem-solving in local market contexts.","Assessment of collaboration and communication within diverse teams.","Understanding of local market demands and Salesforce's presence in the region."],"commonQuestions":["Describe a project where you had to optimize performance for a web application.","How do you approach testing and quality assurance in your development process?","Explain the principles of RESTful API design.","What are your thoughts on microservices architecture?","How do you stay updated with the latest technology trends?"]}}

## Round 1: Coding Round 1
**Type:** Technical Coding Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Coding challenge focusing on data structures and algorithms.
This round focuses on your fundamental programming skills. You will be given one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to understand the problem, devise an efficient solution, write clean and correct code, and explain your thought process. Be prepared to discuss time and space complexity.
**Interviewers look for:** A candidate who can translate a problem into a working code solution.; Someone who can explain their approach and justify their choices.; Attention to detail and ability to write clean code.
**Evaluation criteria:** Correctness of the solution; Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity); Code clarity and readability; Ability to handle edge cases; Problem-solving approach
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate thought process clearly.; Poor coding practices (e.g., inefficient solutions, lack of error handling).; Failure to consider edge cases.; Lack of understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.
## Questions

- Given a binary tree, find its maximum depth.
- Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
- Find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode.
- Review common data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming).
- Practice explaining your solution out loud as you code.
- Consider edge cases and test your code thoroughly.

## Round 2: System Design Round
**Type:** System Design Interview · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
Design a scalable system based on a given problem statement.
This round assesses your ability to design and architect software systems. You'll be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., design Twitter's feed, design a URL shortener) and expected to propose a solution. Focus on scalability, reliability, performance, and trade-offs. Discuss components, data models, APIs, and potential bottlenecks.
**Interviewers look for:** A candidate who can think about large-scale systems.; Someone who can break down complex problems into manageable components.; An individual who understands the implications of design choices.; Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.
**Evaluation criteria:** System design approach; Scalability and performance considerations; Choice of technologies and justification; Understanding of trade-offs; Handling of constraints and requirements; Robustness and fault tolerance
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of understanding of distributed systems concepts.; Inability to design scalable and reliable systems.; Poor trade-off analysis in design decisions.; Not considering failure scenarios or operational aspects.
## Questions

- Design a system to count unique visitors to a website in real-time.
- Design Instagram's news feed.
- Design a distributed cache system.

## Preparation tips

- Study system design principles (e.g., CAP theorem, ACID properties).
- Learn about common system components (load balancers, databases, caches, message queues).
- Practice designing common systems (e.g., social media feeds, e-commerce platforms, notification systems).
- Be prepared to discuss trade-offs between different approaches.
- Think about scalability, availability, and latency.

## Round 3: Behavioral / Manager Round
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Assesses past experiences, work style, and cultural fit.
This round focuses on your past experiences, work style, and how you handle various workplace situations. Expect questions about teamwork, conflict resolution, handling failure, leadership, and your career goals. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and provide concrete examples.
**Interviewers look for:** A candidate who can work effectively in a team.; Someone who demonstrates ownership and accountability.; An individual who is passionate about technology and learning.; A good cultural fit for Salesforce.
**Evaluation criteria:** Teamwork and collaboration skills; Problem-solving approach in past projects; Adaptability and learning agility; Communication clarity; Cultural fit with Salesforce values; Motivation and career aspirations
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with company values.; Poor communication or interpersonal skills.; Inability to provide specific examples for behavioral questions.; Lack of enthusiasm or interest in the role/company.
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you faced a significant technical challenge and how you overcame it.
- Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you handle it?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?
- Why are you interested in working at Salesforce?

## Preparation tips

- Review your resume and prepare specific examples for common behavioral questions.
- Understand Salesforce's company values and how your experiences align with them.
- Practice answering questions using the STAR method.
- Be prepared to discuss your strengths, weaknesses, and career aspirations.
- Ask thoughtful questions about the team, role, and company culture.