Netapp Software Engineer Interview
Summary
I recently had my first-round interview for a Software Engineer position at Netapp. The session covered a mix of LeetCode coding challenges and discussions on essential cloud computing and system design principles.
Full Experience
I underwent my first-round interview for a Software Engineer role at Netapp on December 1st, 2025. Although it was scheduled for 45 minutes, our discussion extended to about 1 hour and 15 minutes, which I found to be a very healthy and engaging exchange. The interviewer was quite supportive, offering hints that helped me navigate towards solutions when I needed them. We began with an introduction and a chat about my current professional work. Following that, I tackled two coding problems, which were direct LeetCode questions. We also delved into several fundamental cloud concepts, such as what Kubernetes is, the CAP theorem, the distinctions between SQL and NoSQL databases, and the crucial considerations when architecting a highly scalable system. With 2 years of experience and Python as my primary technology, I am now eagerly awaiting further updates on the next steps in the interview process.
Interview Questions (3)
Search a 2D Matrix
Write an efficient algorithm that searches for a value in an m x n matrix. This matrix has the following properties: Integers in each row are sorted in ascending order. The first integer of each row is greater than the last integer of the previous row.
Kth Smallest Element in a BST
Given the root of a binary search tree, and an integer k, return the k-th smallest value (1-indexed) of all the values of the nodes in the tree.
Cloud Concepts and Scalable System Design
Discussion covered fundamental cloud concepts, including an explanation of Kubernetes, the CAP theorem, the differences and use cases for SQL versus NoSQL databases, and key considerations when designing a highly scalable system.
Preparation Tips
For my preparation, I focused on practicing Data Structures and Algorithms, particularly by solving problems on LeetCode. Additionally, I brushed up on core cloud computing concepts and system design principles to be ready for the conceptual questions.