Screening

• When was the last time a production incident happen, and how did you handle it
• Implement pattern matching with at most one wildcard * (star)
• Follow up: what if there were multiple stars

Round 1: DS/Algo

• given a list of function names and the arguments they accept, implement a fast search for a function with certain args
• used trie and provided full implementation

Round 2: DS/Algo

• Design time based LRU cache
• I was told code is not as important as coming up with the right implementation
• I think I was able to come up with the right implementation. Required hints from the interviewer.
• I didn't find time to code it in the end

class C:
  def __init__(self, window_size)
  def set(key, value, timestamp)
  def get(key)  # if timestamp older than window_size return None

Round 3: Design Kafka as a Service (exactly what confluent is)

• prepared ppt
• based on K8s
• got a pretty positive feedback for this round

Round 4: Tech deep dive

• what was your most challenging project
  • explain product + biz + technology + engg. practices + deployment
• I had to give it on the go. I wasn’t prepared
• Recruiter did tell me before screening round about this round, but I forgot and didn't prepare for it - bad decision

Round 5: Hiring manager

• questions on work and expectations
• behavioural round + general know-the-work call, no technical questions