# Software Engineer
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** L5
**Company:** [Verily](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/verily)
**Difficulty:** Hard
**Salary:** US$140000 - US$180000
**Experience:** 5 - 10
**Timeline:** ~21 days
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.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/verily/l5-software-engineer
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Skills
- System Design
- Behavioral and Cultural Fit
- Communication

## Questions asked

- 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.

## Preparation tips

### lists

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

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals","longDescription":"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).","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms. Practice implementations and related problems."}
- {"title":"Advanced Algorithms and Complexity Analysis","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms (DP, Greedy, Graphs, Strings). Analyze complexity."}
- {"title":"System Design Principles","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: System Design Fundamentals. Study scalability, databases, caching, APIs."}
- {"title":"Behavioral Preparation and Company Research","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Week 7: Behavioral Prep. Use STAR method. Research Verily's culture."}
- {"title":"Mock Interviews and Final Review","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Week 8: Mock Interviews & Final Review. Practice coding and system design under pressure."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Mountain View, CA","differences":{"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."],"interviewFocus":["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."],"commonQuestions":["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."]}}
- {"location":"Cambridge, MA","differences":{"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."],"interviewFocus":["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."],"commonQuestions":["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?"]}}

## Round 0: HR Screening
**Type:** HR Screening · **Difficulty:** Easy · **Duration:** 30 min
Initial call with HR to discuss background, motivation, salary expectations, and logistics.
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.
**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).
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment on role expectations.; Unrealistic salary expectations.; Poor understanding of the role's impact.; Lack of enthusiasm for the opportunity.
## Questions

- Can you walk me through your resume?
- What are your salary expectations for this role?
- Why are you looking to leave your current role?
- What do you know about Verily?

## Preparation tips

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

## Round 1: Coding and Algorithms
**Type:** Technical Interview (Data Structures & Algorithms) · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Solve 1-2 coding problems involving data structures and algorithms. Focus on efficiency and code quality.
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.
**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
**Common rejection reasons:** Poor communication of thought process.; Inability to write working code.; Fundamental misunderstanding of data structures or algorithms.; Not asking clarifying questions.
## Questions

- Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.
- Find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.
- Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome, ignoring non-alphanumeric characters and case.

## Preparation tips

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

## Round 2: System Design
**Type:** System Design Interview · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
Design a scalable, distributed system. Focus on architecture, components, data flow, and trade-offs.
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.
**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.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clarity in system design.; Failure to consider scalability and trade-offs.; Inability to handle ambiguity.; Poor communication of design choices.
## Questions

- Design a system like TinyURL.
- Design a distributed message queue.
- Design the backend for a real-time chat application.

## Preparation tips

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

## Round 3: Behavioral and Cultural Fit
**Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Discuss past experiences and work style using the STAR method. Assess cultural fit and behavioral competencies.
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.
**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.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of self-awareness.; Inability to provide specific examples.; Poor alignment with company values.; Negative attitude or lack of enthusiasm.
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you handle it?
- Describe a project where you took initiative or demonstrated leadership.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?
- Why are you interested in Verily?

## Preparation tips

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