Zillow

Mid Level Engineer

Software EngineerP3Medium to Hard

The Zillow Mid-Level Software Engineer (P3) interview process is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit within the company. The process typically involves multiple rounds, starting with an initial HR screening, followed by several technical interviews, and concluding with a hiring manager or senior leadership discussion.

Rounds

5

Timeline

~14 days

Experience

3 - 7 yrs

Salary Range

US$120000 - US$160000

Total Duration

210 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills

Problem-solving skills
Algorithmic thinking
Data structure knowledge
Code quality and efficiency
Debugging skills

System Design

System design principles
Scalability considerations
Trade-off analysis
API design
Database knowledge

Behavioral and Cultural Fit

Communication clarity
Teamwork and collaboration
Adaptability
Ownership and accountability
Learning agility

Preparation Tips

1Review fundamental computer science concepts (data structures, algorithms, operating systems, databases).
2Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium to hard difficulty.
3Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
4Prepare to discuss past projects in detail, focusing on your contributions and challenges.
5Research Zillow's products, mission, and values.
6Practice behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
7Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company culture.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice (2-3 problems/day).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables, heaps, sorting, searching, dynamic programming, and recursion. Practice implementing these and analyzing their time and space complexity. Aim for 2-3 coding problems per day.

2

System Design

Weeks 3-4: System Design principles and practice.

Weeks 3-4: Dive into System Design. Study concepts like scalability, availability, reliability, load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), microservices, and message queues. Work through common system design interview questions and practice designing systems like Twitter feed, URL shortener, or a ride-sharing service.

3

Behavioral and Company Research

Week 5: Behavioral questions (STAR method) and company research.

Week 5: Behavioral preparation. Reflect on your past experiences and prepare stories using the STAR method for common behavioral questions related to teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership, and failure. Also, research Zillow's company culture and values.

4

Mock Interviews and Final Review

Week 6: Mock interviews and final review.

Week 6: Mock interviews and review. Conduct mock interviews with peers or use online platforms to simulate the interview experience. Review weak areas identified during practice and mock interviews. Prepare questions to ask the interviewers.

Commonly Asked Questions

Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Design a system to shorten URLs.
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate. How did you handle it?
How would you design a real-time notification system?
Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
Describe a complex technical problem you solved.
How do you ensure the scalability of your code?
What are the trade-offs between REST and GraphQL?
Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of.
How would you implement a cache for a web application?

Location-Based Differences

Seattle, WA

Interview Focus

Understanding of local real estate market nuances.Ability to adapt technical solutions to regional requirements.Communication skills tailored to diverse teams.

Common Questions

How would you design a real estate listing platform for a specific city?

Discuss a time you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder in a project.

Explain the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases for a real estate data warehousing solution.

Tips

Research Zillow's presence and operations in the specific city.
Be prepared to discuss how technology impacts local real estate.
Highlight any experience working with geographically distributed teams.

Remote

Interview Focus

Scalability and performance optimization.Deep understanding of data structures and algorithms.Experience with distributed systems and cloud technologies.

Common Questions

How would you optimize a search algorithm for a large volume of property data?

Describe a challenging bug you encountered and how you resolved it.

What are your thoughts on microservices architecture for a platform like Zillow?

Tips

Brush up on common data structures and algorithms, especially those related to search and data retrieval.
Prepare to discuss your experience with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP.
Be ready to whiteboard solutions to complex technical problems.

Process Timeline

1
Recruiter Screen30m
2
Coding Interview 145m
3
System Design Interview60m
4
Behavioral and Hiring Manager Interview45m
5
Executive/Senior Manager Interview30m

Interview Rounds

5-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

1

Recruiter Screen

Initial call with HR to assess basic qualifications and fit.

HR ScreeningEasy
30 minRecruiter/HR

This initial screening call with a recruiter or HR representative is to assess your overall fit for the role and Zillow. They will discuss your background, career goals, salary expectations, and provide an overview of the interview process. It's also an opportunity for you to ask initial questions about the company and the position.

What Interviewers Look For

Enthusiasm for ZillowClear communicationBasic alignment with role requirements

Evaluation Criteria

Basic qualifications match
Communication clarity
Interest in Zillow and the role

Questions Asked

Tell me about yourself.

Behavioral

Why are you interested in Zillow?

BehavioralCompany Research

What are your salary expectations?

Behavioral

What are you looking for in your next role?

Behavioral

Preparation Tips

1Be prepared to talk about your resume and career aspirations.
2Research Zillow's mission, values, and recent news.
3Have your salary expectations ready.
4Prepare a few questions to ask the recruiter.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Poor communication skills
Inability to articulate thought process
Lack of enthusiasm or interest
2

Coding Interview 1

Assess coding skills with data structures and algorithms problems.

Technical Interview (Coding)Medium
45 minSoftware Engineer

This round focuses on your fundamental coding skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to understand the problem, devise an efficient solution, write clean code, and explain your thought process.

What Interviewers Look For

Logical thinkingClean and efficient codeUnderstanding of time and space complexityAbility to communicate the solution clearly

Evaluation Criteria

Problem-solving approach
Algorithmic knowledge
Coding proficiency
Code clarity and efficiency
Ability to explain technical concepts

Questions Asked

Given a binary tree, invert the tree.

Data StructuresAlgorithmsTrees

Find the kth largest element in an unsorted array.

Data StructuresAlgorithmsArrays

Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome.

AlgorithmsStrings

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on common data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming).
2Be comfortable discussing the time and space complexity of your solutions.
3Practice explaining your code and thought process out loud.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to solve coding problems efficiently
Poor code quality
Incorrect time/space complexity analysis
Difficulty explaining the solution
3

System Design Interview

Assess system design skills for scalable applications.

Technical Interview (System Design)Hard
60 minSenior Software Engineer / Architect

This round evaluates your ability to design complex systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a specific Zillow feature or a well-known service (e.g., a social media feed, a ride-sharing app). The interviewer will assess your approach to requirements gathering, high-level design, component breakdown, data modeling, and identifying potential bottlenecks and trade-offs.

What Interviewers Look For

Ability to design scalable and reliable systemsKnowledge of architectural patternsUnderstanding of database choicesAbility to handle ambiguity and make reasoned decisions

Evaluation Criteria

System design capabilities
Scalability and performance considerations
Understanding of distributed systems
Trade-off analysis
API design

Questions Asked

Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.

System DesignScalability

Design the Twitter feed.

System DesignScalabilityAPIs

Design a system to count unique visitors to a website.

System DesignAlgorithmsDatabases

Preparation Tips

1Study common system design concepts: load balancing, caching, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), message queues, CDNs, microservices.
2Practice designing systems like Twitter, Facebook News Feed, Uber, Netflix, etc.
3Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and justify your design decisions.
4Understand how to scale systems to handle millions of users.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of understanding of system design principles
Inability to handle scale and trade-offs
Poorly designed architecture
Difficulty in justifying design choices
4

Behavioral and Hiring Manager Interview

Assess behavioral competencies and cultural fit.

Behavioral InterviewMedium
45 minHiring Manager / Senior Engineer

This round focuses on your behavioral aspects and how you've handled various situations in your past roles. You'll be asked questions about teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership, dealing with failure, and your motivations. The interviewer aims to understand your work style, how you collaborate, and if you align with Zillow's culture.

What Interviewers Look For

Evidence of teamwork and collaborationAbility to handle challenges and learn from mistakesOwnership and accountabilityPositive attitude and cultural alignment

Evaluation Criteria

Behavioral competencies
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving in past projects
Adaptability and learning
Alignment with Zillow's values

Questions Asked

Tell me about a time you faced a significant technical challenge and how you overcame it.

BehavioralProblem Solving

Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you handle it?

BehavioralTeamwork

Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?

BehavioralLearning

How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple competing deadlines?

BehavioralTime Management

Preparation Tips

1Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for common behavioral questions.
2Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses.
3Think about times you demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.
4Be ready to discuss your career goals and why you're interested in this specific role at Zillow.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Poor cultural fit
Lack of collaboration skills
Negative attitude
Inability to articulate past experiences effectively
5

Executive/Senior Manager Interview

Final discussion with leadership to ensure alignment and fit.

Final Interview / Fit InterviewMedium
30 minSenior Engineering Manager / Director

This final round, often with a senior leader or the hiring manager, is to ensure alignment on expectations, discuss career growth opportunities, and make a final assessment of your fit within the broader organization. It's also your last chance to ask in-depth questions about the team, projects, and company strategy.

What Interviewers Look For

Clear understanding of the role and its impactAbility to communicate technical visionEnthusiasm for Zillow's missionGood rapport with potential team members

Evaluation Criteria

Alignment with team's technical direction
Communication with stakeholders
Understanding of Zillow's business goals
Overall fit for the team and company

Questions Asked

What are your long-term career goals?

BehavioralCareer Goals

How do you stay updated with new technologies?

BehavioralLearning

What are your thoughts on the future of real estate technology?

Company ResearchIndustry Trends

Preparation Tips

1Reiterate your interest in the role and Zillow.
2Prepare questions about team dynamics, project roadmaps, and career development.
3Be ready to discuss how your skills and experience align with the team's needs.
4Show enthusiasm for contributing to Zillow's success.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of alignment with team goals
Poor communication with leadership
Mismatch in expectations regarding role responsibilities

Commonly Asked DSA Questions

Frequently asked coding questions at Zillow

View all
Valid ParenthesesEASYFind First and Last Position of Element in Sorted ArrayMEDIUMNumber of IslandsMEDIUM