Software Engineer · Onsite · Multiple Types

Meta — Software Engineer ❌ Failed

Level: Senior-Level

Round: Onsite · Type: Multiple Types · Difficulty: 7/10 · Duration: 180 min · Interviewer: Unfriendly

Topics: System Design, Front-end Development, Back-end Development, Node.js, AI, Algorithms, Breadth-First Search, Maze

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Interview date: 2025-12-15

Got offer: False

Summary

Interview Rounds Overview Round 1: Project Enhancement Round 2: Code Augmentor

Details

The interview was divided into two parts.

Part 1: Project Enhancement

I was given an overview of a project. The front-end was a mock Facebook posting page, and the back-end was Node.js, with all functionalities mocked. The requirement was to add a violation detection module to this system, including prompts and asterisks. I had the freedom to add new features. The process was 30 minutes for project introduction, then over an hour to implement the content on my own, using any AI. No one was watching me. Then, I spent an hour and a half discussing my implementation with the interviewer and answering their questions. The interviewer then proposed two feature requests, which I implemented live.

Part 2: Code Augmentor

This involved an AI-enabled coding task on a codepad with an AI assistant and the ability to run code. The problem was a maze. There were four failed test cases, corresponding to four minor issues. The first was an incorrect print function, the second was that the BFS algorithm didn't record visited nodes, the third involved adding < and > type cells, and the fourth involved keys and locks.

The interviewer for the second part was late. They also asked about my work experience, leaving only 30 minutes for the coding question. I was a bit nervous at the beginning, which caused me to only solve three of the minor issues. I ultimately failed.