Browserstack

Role: Software Engineer Intern (converted to Software Engineer)

College: Not Specified

Interview Date: Aug 2021 (Internship Started Jan 2022)

Interview Type: Off-Campus Drive (for freshers, referral recommended)

Result: Selected

Difficulty: Medium - Hard

Rounds: 4 rounds

Topics Asked: Data Structures, Algorithms, Low-Level Design, Machine Coding, Projects, Technical Skills, System Design, Networking (TCP vs UDP, Tor Browser, CDN), OOPs, OS, DBMS, HR.

Experience:

The candidate applied through an off-campus drive for freshers in August 2021, recommending referrals. The role was Software Engineer Intern, later converted to Software Engineer based on performance. BrowserStack selects few candidates from on-campus.

Round 1: Online Assessment (HackerEarth)

• Time: 120 minutes.
• 3 coding problems: 2 DSA-based, 1 LLD (low-level design) implementation.
• Difficulty: 1 easy (50 marks), 1 medium (50 marks), 1 hard (100 marks).
• Specific coding question: Check if the given array of integers is spirally sorted (easy LeetCode problem based on Spiral Sort implementation).
• The candidate solved 2 problems completely and 60% of the third, scoring 160/200.

Round 2: Machine Coding Round

• Candidates were in separate Google Meet breakout rooms.
• Problem statement received via email, 2 hours to solve and prepare a working demo. Googling was allowed, screen sharing was required.
• Problem statement: Implement a log watching solution (similar to tail -f in UNIX) for a remote, append-only log file. A server-side program to monitor and stream updates, and a web-based client to print updates in real-time without page refresh.
• Next 30-60 minutes: Interviewer understood the approach of the working solution.
• Candidates submitted the solution in a zip file. Freedom to choose tech stack.

Round 3: Engineering Manager Round / Managerial

• Based on skimming the candidate's resume.
• Questions on projects and technical skills mentioned in the resume.
• Some system design questions.
• "Explain about the project you did in GSOC."
• Networking questions (as projects were networking-related): TCP vs UDP, how Tor Browser works, questions on CDN.
• Questions around internships and technologies used in projects.

Round 4: HR Round

• Taken by a hiring manager.
• Questions about BrowserStack, what the company does.
• "Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?"
• Questions about the interviewing experience at BrowserStack and any feedback.
• Note: Take these questions seriously and avoid discussing uncertain topics. Opportunity to guide the discussion.

Tips: BrowserStack focuses more on development skills than DSA (online assessment excluded). Machine coding round is difficult and unique, so prepare some machine coding questions beforehand. MapReduce algorithm has been asked quite a few times.