Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerSenior Software EngineerMedium to Hard

Zendesk is looking for a Senior Software Engineer to join our dynamic team. This role involves designing, developing, and maintaining scalable and robust software solutions that power our customer service platform. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality products and contribute to the technical vision of the company.

Rounds·5

Timeline·~14d

Experience·5 - 10 yrs

Comp band·US$130000 - US$180000

Interview time·270 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical proficiency in relevant programming languages and technologies.
  • Problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • System design and architectural thinking.
  • Communication and collaboration abilities.
  • Cultural fit and alignment with Zendesk's values.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review core computer science concepts (data structures, algorithms, operating systems, databases).
  2. Brush up on system design principles and common architectural patterns.
  3. Understand Zendesk's products and how they function.
  4. Prepare examples from your past experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  5. Practice coding problems, focusing on efficiency and clarity.
  6. Research common interview questions for Senior Software Engineers.
  7. Be ready to discuss your career goals and why you're interested in Zendesk.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures & Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice (LeetCode Medium/Hard).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables, sorting, searching, and dynamic programming. Practice problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Describe a complex system you designed or significantly contributed to. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?
  • How would you design a scalable API for a real-time chat application?
  • Tell me about a time you had to deal with a production issue. What was your process for diagnosing and resolving it?
  • What are your thoughts on testing strategies for microservices?
  • How do you approach code reviews to ensure quality and provide constructive feedback?
  • Describe a situation where you had to influence a team or stakeholder to adopt a new technology or approach.
  • What are the trade-offs between different database technologies (e.g., SQL vs. NoSQL)?
  • How do you handle concurrency and race conditions in your code?
  • What are your favorite design patterns and when would you use them?
  • How do you measure and improve the performance of a web application?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

01 / 03

Location

APAC

Interview focus

Adaptability to local market challenges and customer needs.Understanding of regional compliance and data privacy regulations.Collaboration with local product and engineering teams.

Common questions

  • How would you handle a sudden surge in user traffic in our platform?
  • Describe a time you had to mentor a junior engineer. What was your approach?
  • What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architecture for a customer support platform?
  • How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in a large codebase?
  • Tell me about a challenging technical problem you solved recently and how you approached it.

Tips

  • Research Zendesk's presence and customer base in this specific region.
  • Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with local business objectives.
  • Highlight any experience working with distributed teams across different time zones.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Zendesk.

Frequently reported on Zendesk loops

View all at Zendesk

Other guides

More at Zendesk.