The Software Engineer L5 interview process at SmartNews is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit. The process typically involves multiple rounds, including technical screenings, coding challenges, system design discussions, and behavioral interviews.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·5 - 10 yrs
Comp band·US$130000 - US$180000
Interview time·210 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 20-30 LeetCode medium problems.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice implementing these in your preferred language. Solve at least 20-30 medium-difficulty problems on LeetCode.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design principles. Study scalability, databases, caching. Practice designing common systems.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design. Study concepts like scalability, availability, consistency, load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), message queues, and microservices. Read system design case studies and practice designing common systems like Twitter's feed or a URL shortener.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral preparation. Use STAR method. Research company values and prepare questions.
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral questions. Reflect on your past experiences and identify examples that showcase leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and handling challenges. Use the STAR method to structure your answers. Research SmartNews' values and prepare questions to ask the interviewer.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Mock interviews. Practice technical and behavioral rounds. Get feedback.
Week 6: Mock interviews. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors, focusing on both technical and behavioral aspects. Get feedback on your communication, problem-solving approach, and overall presentation. Review any weak areas identified during practice.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Screening (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer
This initial round focuses on assessing your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your ability to understand the problem, devise a solution, implement it efficiently, and explain your thought process. Expect questions on time and space complexity analysis.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, return indices of the two numbers such that they add up to a specific target.
Reverse a linked list.
Find the k-th smallest element in a Binary Search Tree.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round evaluates your ability to design large-scale, distributed systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem (e.g., design a URL shortener, a social media feed, or a notification system) and expected to propose a high-level architecture. The discussion will cover components, data models, APIs, scalability considerations, and potential bottlenecks.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system like Twitter's news feed.
Design a rate limiter.
Design a distributed cache system.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral / Managerial Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Team Lead
This round focuses on your past experiences, motivations, and how you fit within the team and company culture. You'll be asked behavioral questions about your career, teamwork, handling challenges, and leadership. The interviewer will also assess your understanding of SmartNews and your career aspirations.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.
Describe a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.
How do you handle constructive criticism?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Advanced Technical Interview · 60 min · Senior Engineer / Engineering Manager
This round often involves a deeper dive into specific technical areas relevant to the role, which might include advanced algorithms, data structures, operating systems, databases, or networking concepts. It could also involve a more complex coding problem or a discussion about a past project in significant detail. The goal is to assess the breadth and depth of your technical expertise.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Explain the difference between processes and threads.
How does a database index work?
Describe a scenario where you would choose a NoSQL database over a SQL database.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on smartnews loops
Other guides
