Verily

Software Engineer

Software EngineerL5Hard

Verily's Software Engineer L5 interview process is designed to assess a candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit. The process typically involves multiple rounds, including HR screening, technical interviews focusing on data structures and algorithms, system design, and behavioral assessments. The goal is to identify candidates who can contribute effectively to Verily's innovative projects and uphold its collaborative culture.

Rounds

4

Timeline

~21 days

Experience

5 - 10 yrs

Salary Range

US$140000 - US$180000

Total Duration

180 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills

Problem-solving skills
Algorithmic thinking
Data structure knowledge
Coding proficiency
Ability to write clean, maintainable, and efficient code

System Design

System design capabilities
Scalability and performance considerations
Trade-off analysis
Understanding of distributed systems
API design

Behavioral and Cultural Fit

Communication skills
Teamwork and collaboration
Leadership potential
Adaptability
Alignment with Verily's values

Communication

Ability to articulate thought process
Clarity of explanation
Responsiveness to feedback

Preparation Tips

1Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal).
2Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
3Study system design principles, common architectural patterns (microservices, monolithic), and trade-offs.
4Prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
5Understand Verily's mission, values, and recent projects to tailor your answers.
6Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.
7Research common interview questions for Software Engineer roles at top tech companies.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms. Practice implementations and related problems.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Maps) and their common operations. Practice implementing them and solving problems related to their usage. Cover basic algorithms like sorting (Merge Sort, Quick Sort) and searching (Binary Search).

2

Advanced Algorithms and Complexity Analysis

Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms (DP, Greedy, Graphs, Strings). Analyze complexity.

Weeks 3-4: Dive into more advanced algorithms such as Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms, Graph Algorithms (BFS, DFS, Dijkstra's), and String Manipulation. Focus on time and space complexity analysis for all problems.

3

System Design Principles

Weeks 5-6: System Design Fundamentals. Study scalability, databases, caching, APIs.

Weeks 5-6: Begin system design preparation. Study concepts like scalability, availability, reliability, load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), message queues, and API design. Work through common system design case studies.

4

Behavioral Preparation and Company Research

Week 7: Behavioral Prep. Use STAR method. Research Verily's culture.

Week 7: Focus on behavioral preparation. Identify key projects and experiences that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Practice articulating these using the STAR method. Research Verily's culture and values.

5

Mock Interviews and Final Review

Week 8: Mock Interviews & Final Review. Practice coding and system design under pressure.

Week 8: Mock interviews and final review. Practice coding problems under timed conditions and conduct mock system design interviews. Review all topics and refine explanations.

Commonly Asked Questions

Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
How would you design a system to track the top K trending items in real-time?
Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder. How did you handle it?
Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
Discuss the trade-offs between using a relational database and a NoSQL database for a social media platform.
How do you approach debugging a complex issue in a distributed system?
Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
Design a system for a ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft.

Location-Based Differences

Mountain View, CA

Interview Focus

Deep dive into distributed systems and scalability challenges relevant to the specific office's projects.Emphasis on practical application of algorithms and data structures in real-world scenarios.Understanding of local tech community trends and best practices.

Common Questions

How would you design a distributed caching system for a large-scale web application?

Discuss a challenging technical problem you solved and your approach.

Explain the trade-offs between different database technologies for a specific use case.

How do you handle concurrency in a multi-threaded environment?

Describe your experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and their services.

Tips

Research Verily's projects and teams based in this specific location.
Be prepared to discuss your experience with technologies commonly used in this region.
Network with Verily employees in this location if possible to gain insights.

Cambridge, MA

Interview Focus

Focus on data-intensive applications and machine learning infrastructure.Assessment of experience with large-scale data processing and analytics.Understanding of cloud-native architectures and DevOps practices.

Common Questions

Design an API for a real-time collaboration tool.

How would you optimize a slow-performing database query?

Discuss your experience with machine learning pipelines and deployment.

Explain the principles of microservices architecture and its benefits.

How do you ensure the security of a web application?

Tips

Familiarize yourself with Verily's work in genomics and healthcare data.
Highlight projects involving large datasets and machine learning.
Be ready to discuss your contributions to open-source projects if applicable.

Process Timeline

0
HR Screening30m
1
Coding and Algorithms45m
2
System Design60m
3
Behavioral and Cultural Fit45m

Interview Rounds

4-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

0

HR Screening

Initial call with HR to discuss background, motivation, salary expectations, and logistics.

HR ScreeningEasy
30 minRecruiter / HR

This initial screening call with HR or a recruiter is to understand your background, career aspirations, and motivation for applying to Verily. They will also discuss logistics, salary expectations, and provide an overview of the interview process. This is a good opportunity to ask any initial questions you might have about the company or the role.

What Interviewers Look For

Clear understanding of the role and its impact.Alignment with team and company goals.Genuine interest in Verily and the position.Professionalism and good communication.

Evaluation Criteria

Understanding of the role and responsibilities.
Alignment of expectations (role, team, career growth).
Enthusiasm and interest in the position.
Logistical fit (start date, location preferences).

Questions Asked

Can you walk me through your resume?

ResumeExperience

What are your salary expectations for this role?

CompensationLogistics

Why are you looking to leave your current role?

MotivationCareer Goals

What do you know about Verily?

Company ResearchMotivation

Preparation Tips

1Be prepared to discuss your resume and career history.
2Have a clear understanding of your salary expectations.
3Research Verily's mission, values, and recent news.
4Prepare questions about the role, team, and company culture.
5Be enthusiastic and professional.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of alignment on role expectations.
Unrealistic salary expectations.
Poor understanding of the role's impact.
Lack of enthusiasm for the opportunity.
1

Coding and Algorithms

Solve 1-2 coding problems involving data structures and algorithms. Focus on efficiency and code quality.

Technical Interview (Data Structures & Algorithms)Medium
45 minSoftware Engineer

This round focuses on your core computer science knowledge. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems that typically involve data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to understand the problem, devise an efficient solution, write clean and correct code, and explain your reasoning. Expect to discuss time and space complexity.

What Interviewers Look For

Strong grasp of fundamental data structures and algorithms.Ability to translate a problem into a working code solution.Clear and logical thinking process.Attention to edge cases and constraints.

Evaluation Criteria

Correctness of the solution
Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity)
Code quality (readability, maintainability)
Problem-solving approach
Ability to explain the solution

Questions Asked

Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.

TreeRecursionIteration

Find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.

ArraySortingQuickSelect

Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome, ignoring non-alphanumeric characters and case.

StringTwo Pointers

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on medium difficulty.
2Be prepared to explain your approach before coding.
3Write clean, well-commented code.
4Test your code with various edge cases.
5Clearly articulate your thought process throughout the problem-solving session.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Poor communication of thought process.
Inability to write working code.
Fundamental misunderstanding of data structures or algorithms.
Not asking clarifying questions.
2

System Design

Design a scalable, distributed system. Focus on architecture, components, data flow, and trade-offs.

System Design InterviewHard
60 minSenior Software Engineer / Architect

This round assesses your ability to design large-scale, distributed systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem (e.g., design Twitter's feed, a URL shortener, a distributed cache) and expected to break it down, identify components, discuss data models, APIs, scalability bottlenecks, and trade-offs. The focus is on your architectural thinking and ability to handle complexity.

What Interviewers Look For

Experience in designing complex systems.Knowledge of architectural patterns and technologies.Ability to think critically about trade-offs.Effective communication of technical ideas.

Evaluation Criteria

Ability to design scalable and reliable systems.
Understanding of distributed systems concepts.
Trade-off analysis and justification of design choices.
Clarity and structure of the design.
Handling of requirements and constraints.

Questions Asked

Design a system like TinyURL.

System DesignScalabilityDatabasesAPI Design

Design a distributed message queue.

System DesignDistributed SystemsConcurrencyReliability

Design the backend for a real-time chat application.

System DesignWebSocketsScalabilityDatabases

Preparation Tips

1Study common system design patterns (e.g., microservices, load balancing, caching strategies, database sharding).
2Practice designing systems like Twitter, Facebook news feed, Uber, etc.
3Understand the trade-offs between different technologies (e.g., SQL vs. NoSQL, REST vs. gRPC).
4Be prepared to draw diagrams and explain your design clearly.
5Think about scalability, availability, reliability, and latency.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of clarity in system design.
Failure to consider scalability and trade-offs.
Inability to handle ambiguity.
Poor communication of design choices.
3

Behavioral and Cultural Fit

Discuss past experiences and work style using the STAR method. Assess cultural fit and behavioral competencies.

Behavioral InterviewMedium
45 minHiring Manager / Senior Team Member

This round focuses on your past experiences, work style, and how you handle various workplace situations. You'll be asked behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to understand your strengths, weaknesses, how you collaborate, handle conflict, and your motivation for joining Verily.

What Interviewers Look For

Evidence of collaboration and teamwork.Ability to handle challenges and learn from mistakes.Alignment with Verily's mission and values.Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Evaluation Criteria

Behavioral competencies (teamwork, leadership, problem-solving).
Cultural fit with Verily.
Past experiences and learnings.
Communication and interpersonal skills.

Questions Asked

Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you handle it?

BehavioralTeamworkConflict Resolution

Describe a project where you took initiative or demonstrated leadership.

BehavioralLeadershipInitiative

What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?

BehavioralSelf-awareness

Why are you interested in Verily?

BehavioralMotivationCompany Fit

Preparation Tips

1Prepare specific examples from your past experiences using the STAR method.
2Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and career goals.
3Understand Verily's mission, values, and culture.
4Be ready to discuss why you are interested in this role and Verily.
5Ask thoughtful questions about the team and the role.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of self-awareness.
Inability to provide specific examples.
Poor alignment with company values.
Negative attitude or lack of enthusiasm.

Commonly Asked DSA Questions

Frequently asked coding questions at Verily

View all
Group AnagramsMEDIUMJump GameMEDIUMHappy NumberEASYKth Largest Element in an ArrayMEDIUMGuess the WordHARDMinimum Area RectangleMEDIUMMinimum Area Rectangle IIMEDIUMVideo StitchingMEDIUMLongest String ChainMEDIUMFind Original Array From Doubled ArrayMEDIUM