BrowserStack Interview Experience <> SDE 1 - Backend

browserstack logo
browserstack
SDE 1 - BackendOffer
February 2, 202540 reads

Summary

I successfully cleared a five-round interview process at BrowserStack for an SDE 1 - Backend role, despite an extended bar-raiser stage, ultimately receiving an offer that included a 17L base salary.

Full Experience

I got a referral from a friend, which initiated my interview process at BrowserStack for the SDE 1 - Backend role.

Round 1 - Discussion with Lead Engineer (60 Mins)

My first round was a 60-minute discussion with a Lead Engineer. We covered my past projects in detail and brainstormed ways to optimize their time efficiency. This round concluded positively, and I was selected.

Round 2 - Machine Coding Drive (120 Mins)

The second stage was a 120-minute Machine Coding Drive. I was among 8-10 other candidates, each placed in a separate breakout room, tasked with solving a standard coding question within two hours. I was selected for the next stage, but with a note for a bar-raiser round.

Round 3 - Machine Coding Drive (Bar Raiser) (120 Mins)

Due to some perceived mistakes in the previous round, I had an additional Machine Coding Bar Raiser round. This was also a 120-minute session alongside other candidates, and I managed to clear it successfully.

Round 4 - DOE Round (60 Mins)

The fourth round was a 60-minute discussion with the Director of Engineering. We delved into a classic system design question: 'What happens when you type google.com in a browser?' Additionally, I was presented with an open-ended problem concerning the efficient processing of a large file. I was again selected.

Round 5 - HR Culture Round (30 Mins)

My final round was a 30-minute HR Culture discussion. The questions revolved around my personal productivity habits, specifically 'How do I plan my day to stay productive?', and my reasons for leaving my current company. There were some other general questions as well. I successfully cleared this round.

Final Outcome

Ultimately, I received an offer from BrowserStack, which included a 17L Base salary along with a 2L yearly retention bonus for two years. The entire process, which typically involves three rounds, was exceptionally long for me due to the bar-raiser rounds, extending over nearly 1.5 months and involving considerable frustration and sleepless nights.

Interview Questions (4)

Q1
What Happens When You Type google.com?
System Design

Describe the detailed sequence of events that unfold from the moment a user types 'google.com' into a web browser's address bar and presses Enter, covering aspects such as DNS resolution, TCP connection establishment, HTTP request/response, server processing, and browser rendering.

Q2
Processing a Large File
System Design

Discuss various strategies and architectural considerations for efficiently processing an extremely large file (e.g., several terabytes) given typical resource constraints (memory, CPU). This is an open-ended question; consider aspects like batch processing, distributed systems, memory mapping, and fault tolerance.

Q3
Productivity Planning
Behavioral

Walk me through your typical day and how you plan and prioritize tasks to ensure maximum productivity and effective time management.

Q4
Reasons for Leaving Current Company
Behavioral

Could you elaborate on your primary reasons for seeking to leave your current role and what you are looking for in your next career opportunity?

Discussion (0)

Share your thoughts and ask questions

Join the Discussion

Sign in with Google to share your thoughts and ask questions

No comments yet

Be the first to share your thoughts and start the discussion!