This interview process is for a Software Engineer (L3) role at Snap. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~14d
Experience·1 - 3 yrs
Comp band·US$100000 - US$130000
Interview time·150 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice coding.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, recursion). Practice implementing these from scratch and analyzing their time/space complexity.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design concepts. Scalability, databases, caching.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design principles. Study topics like scalability, availability, consistency, load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), and message queues. Review common design patterns for services like news feeds, chat applications, or URL shorteners.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral preparation. STAR method. Company research.
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Identify key projects and experiences that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and handling challenges. Practice articulating these using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Research Snap's culture and values.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Mock interviews and final review.
Week 6: Mock interviews and final review. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors to simulate the actual interview environment. Review any weak areas identified during practice and solidify understanding of key concepts.
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 Interview - Data Structures And Algorithms · 45 min · Software Engineer
This round focuses on your fundamental programming skills. You will be asked to solve coding problems that test your knowledge of data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to analyze a problem, devise an efficient solution, and implement it correctly in code. You'll be expected to explain your thought process and discuss the time and space complexity of your solution.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Reverse a linked list.
Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.
Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager
In this round, you will be presented with a high-level system design problem. You'll need to design a system that meets specific requirements, considering factors like scalability, reliability, and performance. This involves choosing appropriate technologies, designing APIs, and discussing trade-offs. You should be prepared to draw diagrams and explain your design choices in detail.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
Design a system to count unique visitors to a website.
Design a real-time notification system.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager
This interview focuses on your past experiences and how you approach various situations. You'll be asked behavioral questions designed to understand your work style, problem-solving abilities, and how you collaborate with others. Prepare to share specific examples using the STAR method. The interviewer will also assess your motivation for joining Snap and your cultural fit.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample 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 team member.
Why are you interested in working at Snap?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Snap loops
Other guides
