This interview process is for an Engineer II (L3) position at Samsung, focusing on assessing core software engineering skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~14d
Experience·2 - 5 yrs
Comp band·US$85000 - US$120000
Interview time·135 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 06 phases
01 / 06Phase 01 of 06
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice problems.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on fundamental data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and their common algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Traversal). Practice problems related to these topics.
Phase 02 of 06
Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms (DP, Greedy, Graphs). Solve medium/hard problems.
Weeks 3-4: Deep dive into algorithmic techniques like Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms, Backtracking, and graph algorithms. Solve medium to hard difficulty problems.
Phase 03 of 06
Week 5: Behavioral questions preparation (STAR method).
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral questions. Think about specific examples from your experience that demonstrate teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and handling challenges. Practice articulating these using the STAR method.
Phase 04 of 06
Week 6: System Design concepts (Scalability, Databases, Caching).
Week 6: If applicable to the role, study system design concepts. Focus on scalability, availability, databases, caching, load balancing, and common design patterns. Review case studies.
Phase 05 of 06
Week 7: Mock interviews and feedback.
Week 7: Mock interviews. Practice coding problems under timed conditions and simulate the interview environment. Get feedback from peers or mentors.
Phase 06 of 06
Week 8: Final review, Samsung research, prepare questions.
Week 8: Final review of all topics. Research Samsung specifically – its products, recent news, company culture, and values. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 03 locations
01 / 03Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer / Senior Software Engineer
This round focuses on assessing your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve 1-2 coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your approach to problem-solving, your ability to write clean and efficient code, and your understanding of time and space complexity. You'll also be asked to explain your thought process throughout the problem-solving exercise.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.
Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome.
Find the kth smallest element in a sorted matrix.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager
This round evaluates your ability to design and architect software systems. You'll be given a high-level problem (e.g., design Twitter's feed, design a URL shortener) and expected to break it down, discuss components, data models, APIs, scalability, and potential bottlenecks. The focus is on your thought process and ability to make reasoned design decisions.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system to handle real-time notifications for a social media platform.
How would you design a distributed key-value store?
Design an API for a ride-sharing service.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 30 min · Engineering Manager / Hiring Manager
This round focuses on your behavioral and situational responses. The interviewer will ask questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific work scenarios, your strengths and weaknesses, and your career aspirations. The goal is to understand your personality, work ethic, and how well you would fit into the team and company culture.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member.
Describe a project where you took initiative.
What are your long-term career goals?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Samsung loops
Other guides
