Flexport || SWE-1 || Rejected || Bangalore

My Flexport Interview Experience

Round 0 – Online Assessment

The online assessment consisted of 4 questions: 3 Data Structures & Algorithms problems and 1 API-related question. I successfully cleared this round and proceeded to the interview stages.

Round 1 – DSA Round

This round focused on Data Structures & Algorithms. The main problem presented was an Infinite Grid Game:

• Players drop colored balls (colors numbered 1 to n) from the top into an infinite grid.
• The win condition initially was: if a player gets 3 balls of the same color in a column, they win.

The interviewer then posed follow-up questions:

1. Generalize the win condition to 3 in a row or 3 in a column.
2. Further generalize the win condition to k in a row or k in a column.

My approach involved using an unordered_map<int, vector<int>> to keep track of ball positions for both rows and columns. For the generalized 'k' case, I implemented a sliding window approach. This meant that if the current position was 'x', I would check the range [x-(k-1), x+(k-1)] and maintain frequency counts within a window of size 'k' for both rows and columns. I successfully coded and explained the solutions for the first two follow-ups. For the 'k' case, my logic was correct, but I had a minor coding bug where I was returning early instead of checking all possible windows, which I realized moments after the interview concluded. We also discussed diagonals, but I didn't code them. I received positive feedback from the interviewer and advanced to the next stage.

Round 2 – Low-Level Design (LLD)

This round was split into two parts:

1. The first part, lasting about 30 minutes, involved a detailed discussion about my current project. I explained the design patterns I use, the rationale behind my choices, and the benefits they provided.
2. The second part focused on a design problem: Design Splitwise. I presented an end-to-end solution clearly. Due to time constraints, I coded a simpler version without incorporating complex design patterns, but I managed to achieve the correct output.

Round 3 – Managerial Round

The managerial round covered a variety of topics:

• Discussions about my current work, my motivations for seeking a change, and my interest in Flexport.
• My LinkedIn profile was reviewed live during the interview.
• We delved into High-Level Design (HLD) topics, specifically discussing the CAP Theorem, strategies for choosing a database, and ACID properties.
• The interviewer clarified that the role was for Flexport's Shopify team, not the core Flexport platform.
• I was also asked a series of situational and managerial problem-solving questions.

Verdict & Offer

I received an offer for the SWE-1 position in Bangalore, which included a base salary of ₹30 LPA, a joining bonus of ₹3 LPA, an annual bonus of ₹3 LPA, and RSUs valued at $12,000. Ultimately, I decided to reject the offer as I had another SWE-2 opportunity at a public company with comparable base pay and more attractive stock options.