Microsoft - SDE II Interview experience
A breakdown of my recent 3-round interview process at Mircosoft for SDE II. The focus was heavily on Low-Level Design (LLD) and the reasoning behind architectural choices.
YOE : Almost 5 years.
Round 1: DSA (60 min) - Feb 27, 2026
Problem: Meeting Rooms II (Finding the minimum rooms required) - https://leetcode.com/problems/meeting-rooms-ii/description/.
Discussion: We explored three approaches: Priority Queue, Two-Pointer, and an Array-based solution (for specific time ranges). I was asked to implement both the PQ and Two-Pointer versions.
Round 2: System Design/LLD (75 min) - Feb 27, 2026
Task: Design a Multi-floor Parking Lot.
Focus: After a project deep-dive, we spent the bulk of the time on the implementation details and class structures.
Round 3: System Design/LLD (60 min) - March 02, 2026
Task: Design an Undo/Redo mechanism for a text editor with configurable limits.
Focus: Heavy emphasis on choosing the right data structures to handle history efficiently.
- Key Takeaway: The design rounds weren't just about diagrams; they were about the "why" behind DSA choices and actual code implementation.
Currently waiting for the results.


