Scale Engineer

Software Engineer (SWE) I

Software EngineerP1Medium

The Software Engineer (SWE) I interview at Workday is designed to assess foundational technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit for entry-level engineers. The process typically involves multiple rounds, including HR screening, technical interviews focusing on data structures and algorithms, and a behavioral/managerial interview.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·0 - 2 yrs

Comp band·US$85000 - US$110000

Interview time·120 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving approach and logical thinking.
  • Data structures and algorithms knowledge.
  • Coding proficiency and best practices.
  • Communication and collaboration skills.
  • Cultural fit and alignment with Workday values.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental computer science concepts, including data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, graph traversal).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or similar sites, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
  3. Understand object-oriented programming (OOP) principles.
  4. Prepare to discuss your resume, highlighting relevant projects and internships.
  5. Research Workday's products, values, and culture.
  6. Prepare STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) answers for common behavioral questions.
  7. Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.
  8. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 03 phases

01 / 03
01

Phase 01 of 03

Data Structures and Algorithms Fundamentals

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

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs), and hash maps. Practice implementing them and understanding their time and space complexity. Cover basic algorithms like sorting (bubble sort, merge sort, quicksort) and searching (binary search).

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Why are you interested in Workday?
  • Describe a challenging technical problem you faced and how you solved it.
  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Explain the time complexity of common sorting algorithms.
  • How would you design a URL shortener (high-level)?
  • Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate and how you handled it.
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Austin, TX

Interview focus

Adaptability to new technologies and team environments.Understanding of core computer science principles.Collaboration and communication skills.

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on during your internship.
  • How do you approach debugging a complex issue?
  • Describe a time you had to learn a new technology quickly.

Tips

  • Highlight projects where you demonstrated learning agility.
  • Be prepared to discuss your thought process for problem-solving.
  • Emphasize teamwork and communication in your examples.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Workday.

Frequently reported on Workday loops

View all at Workday

Other guides

More at Workday.