Scale Engineer

L3

Software EngineerAssociate Software EngineerMedium

This interview process is for an Associate Software Engineer (L3) position at Visa. It is designed to assess a candidate's foundational knowledge in computer science, problem-solving abilities, coding proficiency, and cultural fit within the company.

Rounds·2

Timeline·~14d

Experience·0 - 2 yrs

Comp band·US$75000 - US$95000

Interview time·75 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Algorithmic thinking
  • Code quality and efficiency
  • Data structures knowledge
  • Object-Oriented Programming principles
  • Debugging skills

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, recursion).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or similar.
  3. Understand Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts and design patterns.
  4. Brush up on your knowledge of a primary programming language (e.g., Java, Python, C++).
  5. Prepare for behavioral questions by thinking about specific examples from your past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  6. Research Visa's mission, values, and recent projects.
  7. Understand the basics of software development lifecycle and version control systems like Git.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Maps) & Basic Algorithms (Sorting, Searching).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, and hash maps. Practice implementing them and solving problems involving their efficient use. Cover basic sorting and searching algorithms.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target.
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Describe a time you faced a technical challenge and how you overcame it.
  • How would you design a URL shortening service?
  • What are the principles of SOLID design?
  • Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of.
  • How do you handle code reviews?
  • What is polymorphism?
  • Explain Big O notation.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Austin, TX

Interview focus

Adaptability to local work culture.Understanding of local market trends.Communication skills in the local language.

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on.
  • How do you handle tight deadlines?
  • Describe a time you disagreed with a teammate. How did you resolve it?

Tips

  • Research Visa's presence and projects in this specific region.
  • Be prepared to discuss your understanding of the local tech ecosystem.
  • Practice articulating your thoughts clearly in the primary language of the office.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.

Med

Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer / Senior Software Engineer

This round focuses on assessing your core technical skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your approach to problem-solving, your ability to write clean and efficient code, and your understanding of computational complexity. You'll be expected to articulate your thought process throughout the problem-solving session.

What they look for

Logical thinkingProblem-solving approachCoding proficiencyUnderstanding of time and space complexityAbility to communicate technical ideas

Evaluation

  • Correctness of the solution
  • Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity)
  • Code clarity and organization
  • Ability to explain the thought process
  • Handling of edge cases

Sample questions

  • Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.

    Data StructuresTreesRecursion

  • Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.

    AlgorithmsSortingQuickselect

Prep for this round

  1. 01Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on medium-difficulty questions.
  2. 02Understand the time and space complexity of your solutions.
  3. 03Be prepared to explain your code line by line.
  4. 04Practice thinking out loud and communicating your approach clearly.

Common rejection reasons

  • ×Inability to solve coding problems efficiently.
  • ×Poor understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.
  • ×Code that is not clean, readable, or maintainable.
  • ×Failure to consider edge cases or optimize solutions.

DSA

Coding questions at Visa.

Frequently reported on Visa loops

View all at Visa

Other guides

More at Visa.