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Summary
I interviewed for an SSE 2 (Senior Software Engineer) role at Confluent remotely, which involved a comprehensive set of rounds covering data structures, algorithms, system design, and behavioral aspects. I successfully navigated these challenges and received an offer.
Full Experience
My interview process for the Senior Software Engineer (SSE 2) position at Confluent was quite thorough, conducted entirely remotely.
It kicked off with a Phone Screen, where I was tasked with designing a key-value store. This store needed to support put(key, value), get(key), and a unique get_average() function that returned the average of all non-expired values. A key detail was that data would be streamed in order of increasing timestamps, which influenced the expiration logic.
Following that, I had two Coding Rounds. The first focused on searching words and phrases within a list of documents, requiring efficient text processing and search algorithms. The second coding challenge was a classic: validating and solving a Sudoku puzzle, which tested my backtracking and matrix manipulation skills.
The interview then moved into System Design with two dedicated rounds. In the first design round, I was asked to architect a URL shortener. The discussion emphasized scalability, system reliability, strategies for database and cache sharding, and performing resource calculations for metrics like Requests Per Second (RPS), memory usage, and the number of servers required. We also explored the pros and cons of different architectural approaches. The second design round involved a more complex task: designing a system similar to Feedly. Here, the focus was on API design and data modeling, specifically addressing how to handle user subscriptions, unsubscriptions, and the efficient generation of personalized newsfeeds.
Beyond technical skills, there was a Values Round dedicated to behavioral questions. These questions were specifically aligned with Confluent's core values, aiming to understand my fit within the company culture.
Finally, I had a Hiring Manager Round, which felt akin to Google's team match process. We discussed various aspects of teamwork, my personal interests, and my motivations for seeking a role at Confluent.
The overall experience was challenging but engaging, covering a broad spectrum of engineering skills.
Interview Questions (7)
Design a key-value store with expiration. It should support the following functions: put(key, value), get(key), and get_average() (which returns the average of all non-expired values). Data is streamed in order of increasing timestamps.
Implement a system for word and phrase search within a given list of documents.
Given a Sudoku puzzle, write functions to validate if it's correct and to solve it.
Design a URL shortener. The design should focus on scalability, system reliability, database and cache sharding strategies, and resource calculations (e.g., Requests Per Second (RPS), memory, number of servers). Discuss the pros and cons of multiple architectural approaches.
Design a system similar to Feedly. The design should focus on API design and data modeling for features such as user subscriptions/unsubscriptions and efficient newsfeed generation.
Behavioral questions aligned with Confluent's core values, aimed at assessing cultural fit and past experiences relevant to the company's principles.
A discussion similar to a team match call, covering aspects of teamwork, personal interests, career motivations, and how they align with potential teams.