Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerP7Hard

The Zillow Software Engineer P7 interview process is designed to assess a candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit within the company. It is a rigorous process that evaluates a candidate's ability to handle complex technical challenges and contribute to Zillow's innovative environment.

Rounds·4

Timeline·~14d

Experience·8 - 15 yrs

Comp band·US$180000 - US$250000

Interview time·195 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical proficiency in core programming languages and paradigms.
  • Ability to design, implement, and maintain scalable and robust software systems.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Effective communication and collaboration abilities.
  • Alignment with Zillow's values and culture.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Thoroughly review your resume and be prepared to discuss all projects in detail.
  2. Practice coding problems focusing on data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving.
  3. Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
  4. Prepare examples for behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  5. Research Zillow's products, mission, and recent news.
  6. Understand Zillow's tech stack and relevant technologies.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice coding.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, graph traversal). Practice implementing these in your preferred language. Review time and space complexity analysis.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Design a system to handle real-time bidding for online advertisements.
  • Given a large dataset of user activity, how would you identify fraudulent behavior?
  • Explain the trade-offs between different database technologies for a specific use case.
  • Describe a time you mentored a junior engineer. What was your approach?
  • How would you optimize the performance of a web application experiencing high latency?
  • What are the principles of RESTful API design?
  • Tell me about a challenging project you led. What were the key learnings?
  • How do you ensure the quality and reliability of the code you write?
  • Discuss your experience with distributed systems and microservices.
  • What are your thoughts on the future of real estate technology?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Seattle

Interview focus

Understanding of local market dynamics and how technology can address them.Adaptability to regional team structures and collaboration styles.Knowledge of specific regulatory or compliance aspects relevant to the location.

Common questions

  • Discuss a time you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder. How did you manage the situation?
  • Describe a complex technical problem you solved and the impact it had.
  • How do you approach designing a scalable system for real-time data processing?
  • What are your thoughts on the current state of the real estate tech industry?

Tips

  • Research Zillow's presence and initiatives in the specific city/region.
  • Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with local business needs.
  • Highlight any experience working with distributed teams if applicable to the location.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Zillow.

Frequently reported on Zillow loops

View all at Zillow

Other guides

More at Zillow.