Harness

Role: Software Engineer 2

College: Not Specified

Interview Date: January-February 2024 (Video published March 15, 2024)

Interview Type: Off-Campus (Referral)

Result: Selected

Difficulty: Not Specified (Implied challenging/exhausting)

Rounds: 5 (HR Screen, Problem Solving/Coding 1, LLD 1, HM/HLD, Coding + LLD 2)

Topics Asked: Data Structures, Algorithms, Low-Level Design, High-Level Design, Behavioral, Projects, Tech Stack (Java Backend)

Experience:

The candidate applied for a Software Engineer 2 role (requiring 1+ years of experience) through a friend's referral. The entire process took about a month due to some requirement changes and less urgent hiring at the time. All rounds were conducted online via Zoom, using CoderPad or similar IDEs for coding. The recruiter provided feedback after each round, which were all elimination rounds.

HR Screen (Telephonic): This was the initial conversation after the referral.

Round 1: Problem Solving and Coding (1 hour): This round involved two coding questions, which the candidate found to be of a medium level. The candidate had been preparing with LeetCode mock assessments, which helped significantly.

Round 2: Low-Level Design (1 hour): This round focused on an LLD question to design an "exchange system." The candidate emphasized the time constraint of one hour for LLD.

Round 3: Hiring Manager / High-Level Design (1 hour): This round was with the product owner. It was more about discussing projects and high-level design concepts.

Round 4: Coding + Low-Level Design (1.5 hours): This round was longer than the others. It included two medium-level coding questions and one LLD question to "design a lift." The LLD portion alone typically takes an hour, indicating the intensity of this round. The candidate received very positive feedback.

Overall Experience: The candidate highlighted that Harness's interview process was "a bit more exhausting" compared to another company they received an offer from. They recommended continuous preparation, especially with mock assessments, and emphasized that each round is an elimination round.