Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerL2Medium

The Software Engineer L2 interview at Zoox is designed to assess a candidate's foundational knowledge in computer science, problem-solving abilities, and practical coding skills. It evaluates their capacity to contribute effectively to software development projects, collaborate with a team, and demonstrate a growing understanding of software engineering principles.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~7d

Experience·2 - 4 yrs

Comp band·US$110000 - US$140000

Interview time·120 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Problem-solving approach and logical thinking.
  • Coding proficiency and efficiency.
  • Understanding of data structures and algorithms.
  • Ability to write clean, maintainable, and testable code.
  • Communication skills and clarity of thought.
  • Behavioral competencies and cultural fit.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, graph traversal, dynamic programming).
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
  3. Understand core computer science concepts such as operating systems, databases, and networking.
  4. Prepare to discuss your past projects and technical experiences in detail, focusing on your contributions and learnings.
  5. Brush up on object-oriented programming (OOP) principles and design patterns.
  6. Be ready to answer behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  7. Research Zoox's mission, values, and recent projects to tailor your answers and show genuine interest.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 05 phases

01 / 05
01

Phase 01 of 05

Data Structures

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Trees, Hash Maps). Practice implementations and complexity analysis.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, AVL trees), heaps, and hash tables. Practice implementing these structures and solving problems related to them. Understand their time and space complexities.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
  • Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder.
  • How would you design a URL shortening service?
  • What are the principles of object-oriented programming?
  • Write a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.
  • Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

San Francisco Bay Area

Interview focus

Adaptability to local tech ecosystem and project needs.Understanding of specific regional market trends and user behaviors.

Common questions

  • Describe a challenging bug you encountered and how you debugged it.
  • How do you approach code reviews?
  • Tell me about a time you had to learn a new technology quickly.

Tips

  • Research local Zoox projects and their impact.
  • Understand the specific challenges and opportunities in the region.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Zoox.

Frequently reported on Zoox loops

View all at Zoox

Other guides

More at Zoox.