# L1
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** SWE I
**Company:** [Samsara](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/samsara)
**Difficulty:** Medium
**Salary:** US$90000 - US$110000
**Experience:** 0 - 2
**Timeline:** ~7 days
This interview process is designed for entry-level Software Engineers (SWE I) at Samsara, focusing on foundational technical skills and problem-solving abilities. It aims to assess a candidate's potential to contribute to our engineering teams.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/samsara/swe-i-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Aptitude
- Communication Skills
- Behavioral Attributes

## Questions asked

- Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
- Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
- Write a program to check if a binary tree is a Binary Search Tree.
- Describe a time you had to deal with a conflict within a team.
- How would you design a URL shortener?
- What are the differences between a process and a thread?
- Explain the concept of recursion with an example.
- Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, recursion, dynamic programming).
- Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on Easy and Medium difficulty.
- Understand Big O notation for time and space complexity.
- Prepare to discuss your past projects, highlighting your contributions and the challenges you faced.
- Brush up on object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts.
- Research Samsara's products and mission to understand our business context.
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company culture.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Foundational Data Structures and Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, and hash maps. Practice problems involving these structures. Understand their time and space complexities. Begin with basic sorting and searching algorithms.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Hash Maps) & Basic Algorithms (Sorting, Searching)."}
- {"title":"Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Dive into more complex data structures such as trees (binary trees, BSTs) and graphs. Learn about tree traversals and graph traversal algorithms (BFS, DFS). Introduce recursion and basic dynamic programming concepts. Practice problems related to these topics.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Trees, Graphs, Recursion, Dynamic Programming."}
- {"title":"System Design Fundamentals and Behavioral Prep","longDescription":"Week 5: Focus on system design fundamentals suitable for an entry-level role. Understand concepts like scalability, availability, and basic database design. Practice explaining how you would design a simple system. Also, prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on past experiences.","shortDescription":"Week 5: System Design Basics & Behavioral Preparation."}
- {"title":"Practice and Refinement","longDescription":"Week 6: Mock interviews, focusing on both coding and behavioral aspects. Refine your explanations and problem-solving approach. Review any weak areas identified during practice.","shortDescription":"Week 6: Mock Interviews and Review."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Remote","differences":{"tips":["Be prepared to discuss your academic projects in detail.","Practice explaining your thought process clearly.","Show genuine interest in Samsara's mission and products.","Ask thoughtful questions about the team and culture."],"interviewFocus":["Understanding of core computer science concepts.","Problem-solving approach.","Communication skills.","Enthusiasm for learning and growth."],"commonQuestions":["Tell me about a challenging project you worked on in college.","Describe a time you had to debug a complex issue.","How do you approach learning a new technology?","What are your favorite programming languages and why?"]}}
- {"location":"San Francisco","differences":{"tips":["Be ready to provide specific examples from your experience.","Emphasize your ability to work well with others.","Demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving.","Research Samsara's values and how they align with yours."],"interviewFocus":["Teamwork and collaboration.","Adaptability and learning agility.","Understanding of software development lifecycle.","Cultural fit."],"commonQuestions":["Walk me through your resume and highlight relevant experience.","Describe a situation where you collaborated effectively with a team.","How do you handle constructive criticism?","What are your career aspirations?"]}}

## Round 1: Data Structures and Algorithms Screening
**Type:** Technical Interview (Coding) · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Coding challenge focused on data structures and algorithms.
This round is a technical screening focused on data structures and algorithms. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving arrays, strings, linked lists, or trees. The interviewer will assess your ability to translate a problem into code, optimize your solution, and explain your reasoning.
**Interviewers look for:** Strong problem-solving skills.; Proficiency in at least one programming language.; Understanding of core CS concepts.; Ability to communicate technical ideas clearly.
**Evaluation criteria:** Correctness of the solution; Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity); Clarity and correctness of the code; Ability to explain the approach and trade-offs
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to solve coding problems within the given time.; Poor understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.; Difficulty explaining thought process.; Incorrect or inefficient solutions.
## Questions

- Given a string, find the length of the longest substring without repeating characters.
- Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.

## Preparation tips

- Practice coding problems on a whiteboard or shared editor.
- Think out loud and explain your approach before coding.
- Test your code with edge cases.
- Be prepared to discuss time and space complexity.

## Round 2: Behavioral and Project Deep Dive
**Type:** Behavioral and Experience Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Assesses past experiences, teamwork, and cultural fit.
This round focuses on your past experiences, behavioral aspects, and overall fit with the team and company culture. You'll be asked questions about your projects, teamwork, problem-solving approaches in real-world scenarios, and career aspirations. The interviewer wants to understand how you work, learn, and collaborate.
**Interviewers look for:** Passion for software development.; Ability to learn and adapt.; Good communication and interpersonal skills.; Alignment with Samsara's values.
**Evaluation criteria:** Depth of understanding of past projects.; Ability to articulate technical challenges and solutions.; Teamwork and collaboration skills.; Cultural alignment and motivation.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clarity in explaining past projects.; Inability to articulate technical decisions.; Poor fit with team dynamics.; Lack of enthusiasm or curiosity.
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult teammate. How did you handle it?
- Describe a challenging technical problem you encountered and how you solved it.

## Preparation tips

- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Be ready to discuss your strengths and weaknesses.
- Show genuine interest in Samsara's mission and technology.
- Ask thoughtful questions about the team and work environment.