This interview process is for a Software Engineer (L6) role at Twitch. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit within the company. The process is rigorous and aims to identify individuals who can contribute significantly to Twitch's platform and engineering culture.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·5 - 10 yrs
Comp band·US$150000 - US$200000
Interview time·180 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 5-7 problems daily.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice implementing these in your preferred language and analyze their time and space complexity. Aim for at least 5-7 problems per day.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design principles. Study load balancing, caching, databases, microservices. Practice system design questions.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design. Study concepts like load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), message queues, and microservices architecture. Work through common system design interview questions and practice drawing diagrams and explaining trade-offs. Focus on designing systems like Twitter feed, URL shortener, or a chat application.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral questions (STAR method). Research Twitch values.
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral and situational questions. Reflect on your past experiences and identify examples that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and handling conflict. Use the STAR method to structure your answers. Also, research Twitch's values and mission.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Mock interviews. Review weak areas. Prepare questions for interviewers.
Week 6: Mock interviews and review. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors to simulate the actual interview environment. Focus on receiving and incorporating feedback. Review any weak areas identified during practice and mock interviews. Prepare questions to ask the interviewers.
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.
HR Screening · 30 min · HR Representative / Recruiter
This initial screening round with HR is designed to assess your overall fit with Twitch's culture and values. They will ask about your motivations for applying, your understanding of the company, and your career aspirations. This is also a chance for you to ask questions about the role, the team, and the interview process. Be prepared to discuss your salary expectations.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Why are you interested in working at Twitch?
What do you know about Twitch's culture?
What are your salary expectations?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer
This round focuses on your fundamental programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to understand the problem, devise a solution, implement it efficiently, and test it thoroughly. Expect to write code on a shared editor and explain your reasoning throughout the process.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
Find the kth 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 assesses your ability to design large-scale, distributed systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a service like Twitter's feed or a video streaming platform. The interviewer will expect you to ask clarifying questions, define requirements, propose a high-level design, and then dive deeper into specific components, considering aspects like databases, caching, APIs, and scalability. You'll need to discuss trade-offs and justify your decisions.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
Design a system to handle millions of concurrent WebSocket connections for a chat application.
Design a distributed rate limiter.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral And Managerial Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Engineering Manager
In this round, the hiring manager will delve into your resume and past experiences. They will ask behavioral questions to understand how you approach work, collaborate with others, handle challenges, and lead initiatives. Be prepared to discuss specific projects in detail, highlighting your contributions, the technologies you used, and the impact of your work. This is also an opportunity to learn more about the team and the role.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you led a complex project from start to finish.
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult team member.
What are your strengths and weaknesses as an engineer?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Twitch loops
Other guides
