Interview Experience: Senior Backend Engineer at Remitly

If you’re preparing for an interview for a Senior Backend Engineer role at Remitly, here’s a comprehensive overview of the interview process, typical questions, and tips for success, all based on actual experiences from candidates who have been through the process.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for a Senior Backend Engineer at Remitly typically consists of several stages, each designed to assess different aspects of your technical and collaborative skills:

1. Initial Screening (Phone Interview with Recruiter)

Duration: 30-45 minutes
Focus: The recruiter will discuss your background, experience, and why you’re interested in the role. They’ll also gauge your understanding of the company and its mission.

Example Questions:

• “Can you walk me through your experience working with backend systems?”
• “What interests you about Remitly and this particular role?”
• “What backend technologies are you most comfortable with?”

Tip: This is your opportunity to align your skills and experience with the company’s mission of providing financial services to underserved populations.

2. Technical Screening (Coding Challenge or Technical Interview)

Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Focus: You’ll be tested on your problem-solving skills, coding abilities, and knowledge of data structures and algorithms. You may be given a coding challenge or be asked to solve problems on a platform like CoderPad or LeetCode.

Common Topics:

• Data Structures: Arrays, Linked Lists, Trees, Graphs
• Algorithms: Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming
• Backend Development: REST APIs, Microservices, Database Design

Example Questions:

• “Write a function to merge two sorted lists into one sorted list.”
• “How would you design a rate-limiting mechanism for an API?”
• “Can you explain the differences between SQL and NoSQL databases and when to use each?“

3. Onsite/Virtual Interview (Multiple Rounds)

Duration: 3-4 hours
Focus: This round involves multiple technical and behavioral interviews. You’ll likely have 3-4 rounds with different interviewers, including team members, engineers, and possibly a hiring manager. The interviews are typically divided into:

• Behavioral/Team Fit Interview: Focuses on your ability to work in teams, solve conflicts, and your overall approach to software engineering.
• System Design: This is a key part of the senior engineer role. You’ll be asked to design systems and architectures, such as scalable backend services, microservices, or handling high-volume transactions.
• Coding Interviews: Expect more coding problems or optimizations, potentially on algorithms or backend-specific tasks.

Example System Design Questions:

• “Design a scalable system for processing money transfers across different countries.”
• “How would you handle distributed databases for a globally scaled backend system?”

Example Behavioral Questions:

• “Tell us about a time when you had to resolve a conflict in your team.”
• “How do you prioritize tasks when faced with multiple urgent issues?“

4. Final Interview (Culture Fit and Leadership)

Duration: 1 hour
Focus: In this stage, the interviewers will assess whether you are a cultural fit for Remitly. They’ll be interested in how you align with the company’s values, how you approach leadership, and how you handle challenges in a collaborative environment.

Example Questions:

• “What’s your approach to mentoring junior engineers?”
• “Describe a time when you led a project or initiative. How did you manage it?”
• “How do you approach debugging complex issues in a production environment?”

Key Skills and Technologies Tested

For the Senior Backend Engineer position, here are the core skills and technologies you’ll be expected to be proficient in:

• Backend Frameworks: Experience with modern backend frameworks like Node.js, Django, or Spring Boot.
• Programming Languages: Proficiency in Python, Java, Go, or similar languages used for backend development.
• Databases: Strong knowledge of SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, Cassandra) databases. You should be able to design efficient schemas and handle large datasets.
• System Design: Ability to design scalable, distributed systems. Expect to discuss patterns like microservices, event-driven architectures, and data consistency mechanisms.
• Cloud and DevOps: Familiarity with cloud services like AWS or Azure and DevOps tools for CI/CD, containerization (Docker), and orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Performance Optimization: Experience with caching strategies, load balancing, and handling high-traffic systems.

Behavioral and Problem-Solving Examples

Here are some examples of how to respond to common interview questions:

Managing a Team Conflict:

Example Question: “Tell us about a time when you had to resolve a conflict within your team.”
Response:
“In one instance, there was a disagreement between two developers about the approach to handle database migrations. One favored a manual migration strategy, while the other suggested automated scripts. I facilitated a meeting where we discussed the pros and cons of both approaches, considering the scale of our application and future maintainability. We ultimately decided to implement automated scripts for consistency across environments, and I worked with both engineers to create a streamlined solution.”

Handling High-Pressure Situations:

Example Question: “How do you handle tight deadlines and high-pressure situations?”
Response:
“I prioritize communication and breaking down tasks into manageable chunks. When I was working on a critical feature release, I ensured that everyone in the team understood their tasks and deadlines. If something slipped, I proactively communicated with stakeholders and worked with the team to identify the most impactful tasks to focus on. I’ve also found that maintaining a calm demeanor helps in creating a positive environment during stressful situations.”

Debugging a Complex Issue:

Example Question: “Can you walk me through how you would debug a production issue involving transaction failures?”
Response:
“First, I would look at the logs for any anomalies or exceptions during the transaction process. I would also check if the issue is isolated to specific users or transactions, and run tests in a staging environment to reproduce the error. I would inspect any recent changes to the backend system that could have affected transaction flows. Once I identify the root cause, I would implement a fix, test it, and deploy it. I would also work on preventative measures, such as automated tests, to avoid similar issues in the future.”

Final Tips for Preparation

• Review Core Concepts: Make sure you have a solid understanding of system design, algorithms, and backend architecture. Practice with LeetCode, HackerRank, or similar platforms.
• Practice Behavioral Questions: Be ready to discuss your previous work experiences and how you’ve handled challenges, managed teams, and worked with cross-functional partners.
• Brush Up on Cloud and DevOps: Since Remitly uses cloud services, knowing how to deploy and manage scalable systems is a plus.
• Understand Remitly’s Mission: Be prepared to explain why you’re excited about the company’s mission to help immigrants with financial services. Show that you are aligned with their goals.