Whatnot

Software Engineer

Software EngineerL8Hard

The Software Engineer L8 interview at Whatnot is a comprehensive assessment designed to evaluate a candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit. This role requires a strong foundation in computer science principles, experience with large-scale systems, and the ability to mentor junior engineers.

Rounds

4

Timeline

~14 days

Experience

7 - 10 yrs

Salary Range

US$180000 - US$250000

Total Duration

180 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills & Problem Solving

Technical proficiency in core computer science concepts.
Ability to design scalable, reliable, and maintainable systems.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
Effective communication and collaboration abilities.
Leadership potential and mentorship capabilities.
Alignment with Whatnot's values and culture.

System Design & Architecture

Experience with distributed systems architecture.
Proficiency in at least one major cloud platform (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Deep understanding of data structures and algorithms.
Familiarity with various database technologies and their trade-offs.
Experience with performance optimization and debugging.

Leadership & Collaboration

Demonstrated leadership and ability to influence others.
Experience mentoring junior engineers.
Effective communication and ability to articulate complex ideas.
Collaboration skills and ability to work cross-functionally.
Adaptability and resilience in challenging situations.

Cultural Fit & Motivation

Cultural fit with Whatnot's values.
Passion for building impactful products.
Proactive approach to learning and problem-solving.
Ownership and accountability for work.

Preparation Tips

1Review fundamental computer science concepts (data structures, algorithms, operating systems, databases).
2Practice system design problems, focusing on scalability, reliability, and trade-offs.
3Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, highlighting your contributions and challenges.
4Brush up on behavioral interview questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
5Research Whatnot's mission, values, products, and recent news.
6Understand common distributed systems patterns and challenges.
7Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
8Prepare questions to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and company culture.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures & Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals. Practice Easy/Medium LeetCode.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables, heaps, sorting, searching, dynamic programming, and graph traversal algorithms. Practice problems on LeetCode (Easy/Medium).

2

System Design

Weeks 3-4: System Design principles. Practice designing common systems.

Weeks 3-4: Dive into System Design. Study concepts like load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), message queues, microservices, API design, and CAP theorem. Review common system design interview questions and practice designing systems like Twitter feed, URL shortener, etc.

3

Behavioral & Leadership

Week 5: Behavioral prep. Use STAR method. Align with Whatnot values.

Week 5: Behavioral and Leadership Preparation. Reflect on your career experiences and prepare stories using the STAR method for common behavioral questions related to teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership, and failure. Understand Whatnot's values and how your experiences align.

4

Mock Interviews & Refinement

Week 6: Mock interviews. Refine answers and address weak areas.

Week 6: Mock Interviews and Refinement. Conduct mock interviews for both technical and behavioral rounds. Get feedback and refine your answers and approach. Review any weak areas identified during practice.

Commonly Asked Questions

Describe a complex system you designed or significantly contributed to. What were the key challenges and how did you address them?
How would you design a system to handle real-time updates for millions of users?
Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult technical trade-off. What was your reasoning?
How do you approach mentoring junior engineers and fostering technical growth within a team?
What are the trade-offs between monolithic and microservices architectures?
Describe a situation where you had to deal with a production incident. What was your role and what did you learn?
How would you design a distributed caching system?
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a team member or manager on a technical decision. How did you resolve it?
What are your strategies for ensuring the scalability and reliability of a large-scale application?
How do you approach code reviews to ensure quality and maintainability?

Location-Based Differences

San Francisco

Interview Focus

Deep dive into distributed systems design and implementation.Emphasis on scalability, reliability, and performance optimization.Behavioral questions focused on leadership, mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration.Problem-solving scenarios involving complex algorithmic challenges.

Common Questions

Discuss a challenging technical problem you solved at scale.

How do you approach designing a real-time notification system?

Describe a time you had to influence a team to adopt a new technology.

What are your strategies for debugging complex distributed systems?

How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in a large codebase?

Tips

Be prepared to discuss your contributions to significant projects in detail.
Highlight experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
Showcase your ability to lead technical discussions and mentor other engineers.
Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.
Research Whatnot's tech stack and recent product developments.

New York

Interview Focus

Focus on system design, particularly for high-traffic applications.Evaluation of architectural decision-making and trade-off analysis.Behavioral questions assessing collaboration, conflict resolution, and adaptability.Coding challenges that test proficiency in data structures and algorithms.

Common Questions

How would you design a system to handle millions of concurrent users?

Describe your experience with data modeling and database optimization.

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a technical decision and how you handled it.

What are the trade-offs between different caching strategies?

How do you approach performance tuning in a production environment?

Tips

Prepare to draw system diagrams and explain your design choices.
Emphasize experience with performance optimization and scalability challenges.
Be ready to discuss your approach to code reviews and fostering a culture of quality.
Demonstrate a strong understanding of software development lifecycle best practices.
Understand the business context of the problems you've solved.

Remote

Interview Focus

Assessment of end-to-end system design capabilities.Evaluation of problem-solving skills in the context of real-world scenarios.Behavioral questions focusing on initiative, ownership, and continuous learning.Technical questions probing depth of knowledge in specific areas relevant to Whatnot's domain.

Common Questions

Design an API for a service that requires high availability.

How do you approach testing and quality assurance for complex systems?

Describe a situation where you had to deliver a project under tight deadlines.

What are the key considerations when choosing a database for a new application?

How do you stay updated with the latest trends in software engineering?

Tips

Be prepared to discuss your experience with building and scaling services from scratch.
Highlight your ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Showcase your understanding of operational aspects of software development.
Articulate your thought process clearly during problem-solving exercises.
Connect your past experiences to the challenges faced by Whatnot.

Process Timeline

1
Technical Coding Round 145m
2
System Design Round60m
3
Behavioral & Leadership Round45m
4
Hiring Manager Round30m

Interview Rounds

4-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

1

Technical Coding Round 1

Coding challenge focused on DSA.

Data Structures And Algorithms InterviewMedium
45 minSoftware Engineer

This round focuses on your fundamental programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems that test your knowledge of 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 thought process.

What Interviewers Look For

Solid grasp of DSA.Clean and efficient code.Clear communication of thought process.Ability to test and debug code.

Evaluation Criteria

Understanding of data structures and algorithms.
Coding proficiency and ability to write clean, efficient code.
Problem-solving approach and logical thinking.
Ability to communicate thought process during coding.

Questions Asked

Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.

ArrayDynamic Programming

Implement a function to reverse a linked list.

Linked ListPointers

Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.

TreeBinary Search TreeRecursion

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte.
2Focus on understanding the time and space complexity of your solutions.
3Be prepared to explain your approach and justify your choices.
4Practice writing code on a whiteboard or in a shared editor.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to articulate technical concepts clearly.
Lack of depth in understanding fundamental computer science principles.
Poor problem-solving approach.
Difficulty in handling ambiguity in problem statements.
2

System Design Round

Design a scalable system.

System Design InterviewHard
60 minSenior Software Engineer / Architect

This round assesses your ability to design and architect complex systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem and asked to design a system that meets specific requirements, considering factors like scalability, reliability, performance, and cost. You'll need to discuss various components, data models, APIs, and potential bottlenecks.

What Interviewers Look For

System design thinking.Knowledge of distributed systems.Ability to handle scale and performance.Consideration of trade-offs.Clear articulation of design.

Evaluation Criteria

Ability to design complex, scalable, and reliable systems.
Understanding of distributed systems principles (e.g., consistency, availability, partitioning).
Knowledge of various architectural patterns and technologies.
Ability to analyze trade-offs and make informed design decisions.
Clear communication of design choices and rationale.

Questions Asked

Design a URL shortening service like Bitly.

System DesignScalabilityDatabases

Design a system to track user activity on a website.

System DesignData PipelinesScalability

Design a distributed rate limiter.

System DesignConcurrencyDistributed Systems

Preparation Tips

1Study common system design patterns and architectures.
2Practice designing systems like social media feeds, e-commerce platforms, or real-time data processing systems.
3Be prepared to draw diagrams and explain your design choices.
4Understand the trade-offs associated with different technologies and approaches.
5Familiarize yourself with cloud services and their applications.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to design scalable and reliable systems.
Poor understanding of distributed systems concepts.
Difficulty in identifying and mitigating system bottlenecks.
Lack of consideration for trade-offs in design decisions.
3

Behavioral & Leadership Round

Behavioral and leadership assessment.

Behavioral InterviewMedium
45 minHiring Manager / Senior Leader

This round focuses on your behavioral and leadership qualities. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle challenging situations, your approach to teamwork, and your career aspirations. The goal is to understand how you operate within a team and if you align with Whatnot's culture and values.

What Interviewers Look For

Teamwork and collaboration.Leadership qualities.Problem-solving approach.Cultural alignment.Motivation and passion.

Evaluation Criteria

Behavioral competencies (teamwork, communication, problem-solving).
Leadership potential and ability to influence.
Cultural fit and alignment with company values.
Motivation and passion for the role and company.
Self-awareness and ability to learn from experiences.

Questions Asked

Tell me about a time you had to lead a project or initiative. What was the outcome?

LeadershipProject ManagementBehavioral

Describe a situation where you faced a significant challenge at work. How did you overcome it?

Problem SolvingResilienceBehavioral

How do you handle disagreements within a team?

TeamworkConflict ResolutionBehavioral

What motivates you in your work?

MotivationCareer GoalsBehavioral

Preparation Tips

1Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common behavioral questions.
2Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and career goals.
3Research Whatnot's company culture and values.
4Be ready to discuss your leadership experiences and how you mentor others.
5Ask thoughtful questions about the team and company.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of leadership or initiative.
Poor collaboration or teamwork skills.
Inability to handle conflict constructively.
Not demonstrating alignment with company values.
Lack of self-awareness or reflection on past experiences.
4

Hiring Manager Round

Final discussion with the hiring manager.

Hiring Manager InterviewMedium
30 minHiring Manager

This is typically the final round with the hiring manager. It's an opportunity for the manager to assess your overall fit for the team and the company, discuss your career aspirations, and answer any remaining questions you might have. They will evaluate your enthusiasm, your understanding of the role, and how you might contribute to the team's success.

What Interviewers Look For

Interest in the role and company.Good questions.Overall fit.Potential for growth.

Evaluation Criteria

Alignment of skills and experience with the team's needs.
Enthusiasm and interest in the role and Whatnot.
Ability to ask relevant and insightful questions.
Overall impression of candidate's fit and potential.

Questions Asked

What are your long-term career goals?

Career GoalsMotivationBehavioral

What interests you most about this role and Whatnot?

MotivationCompany FitBehavioral

Do you have any questions for me?

EngagementCuriosity

Preparation Tips

1Prepare thoughtful questions about the team's projects, challenges, and culture.
2Reiterate your interest in the role and how your skills align.
3Be prepared to discuss your career goals and how this role fits into them.
4Showcase your understanding of Whatnot's business and mission.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of alignment with the specific technical needs of the team.
Unclear career goals or lack of enthusiasm for the role.
Failure to ask insightful questions.
Poor overall impression regarding fit and potential.

Commonly Asked DSA Questions

Frequently asked coding questions at Whatnot

View all
Group AnagramsMEDIUMWord SearchMEDIUMNumber of IslandsMEDIUMSearch a 2D Matrix IIMEDIUMValid Palindrome IIEASYSquares of a Sorted ArrayEASYRemove All Adjacent Duplicates In StringEASY