Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerL2Medium

This interview process is for a Software Engineer (L2) role at Wells Fargo. It is designed to assess technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the organization.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·2 - 5 yrs

Comp band·US$90000 - US$120000

Interview time·135 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical proficiency in core programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, C++)
  • Understanding of data structures and algorithms
  • Problem-solving and analytical skills
  • System design and architecture knowledge
  • Communication and collaboration skills
  • Behavioral competencies and cultural fit

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental computer science concepts, including data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or AlgoExpert, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
  3. Understand common software design patterns and principles (e.g., SOLID).
  4. Prepare for system design questions, focusing on scalability, reliability, and trade-offs.
  5. Research Wells Fargo's mission, values, and recent projects to tailor your answers.
  6. Prepare specific examples from your past experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
  7. Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely, even when you're unsure of the answer.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 05 phases

01 / 05
01

Phase 01 of 05

Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals

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

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, hash tables) and their common operations. Practice implementing them and solving problems related to their usage. Cover basic algorithms like sorting (quicksort, mergesort) and searching (binary search).

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder.
  • How would you design a system to handle millions of concurrent users?
  • What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
  • Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.
  • How do you stay updated with new technologies?
  • Explain the concept of recursion with an example.
  • Design an API for a simple e-commerce product catalog.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Remote

Interview focus

Remote collaboration skillsAdaptability to distributed work environmentsProficiency with remote development tools

Common questions

  • Describe a challenging project you worked on in a remote setting.
  • How do you ensure effective communication with a distributed team?
  • What tools do you use for remote collaboration and version control?

Tips

  • Highlight your experience with asynchronous communication.
  • Be prepared to discuss your home office setup and internet reliability.
  • Showcase your ability to work independently and manage your time effectively.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

Med

Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer (Peer)

This round focuses on your core technical skills. You will be asked to solve 1-2 coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your problem-solving approach and communication skills. Be prepared to explain your thought process, discuss alternative solutions, and analyze the time and space complexity of your code.

What they look for

Clean, well-structured codeLogical problem-solving approachUnderstanding of time and space complexityAbility to communicate technical ideas clearly

Evaluation

  • Correctness of the solution
  • Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity)
  • Code quality and readability
  • Ability to explain the approach and trade-offs

Sample questions

  • Given a binary tree, determine if it is a valid binary search tree.

    Data StructuresAlgorithmsTrees

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

    Data StructuresAlgorithmsArraysSorting

  • Write a program to detect a cycle in a linked list.

    Data StructuresAlgorithmsLinked Lists

Prep for this round

  1. 01Practice coding problems on a whiteboard or a shared editor.
  2. 02Think out loud and explain your approach before you start coding.
  3. 03Test your code with edge cases.
  4. 04Be ready to discuss the time and space complexity of your solution.

Common rejection reasons

  • ×Inability to articulate thought process
  • ×Poor understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms
  • ×Difficulty in debugging code
  • ×Lack of clarity in explanations

DSA

Coding questions at Wells Fargo.

Frequently reported on Wells Fargo loops

View all at Wells Fargo

Other guides

More at Wells Fargo.