Lead Software Engineer, Engineering Productivity, Google Nest

Google

Given n pairs of parentheses, what is the total number of different, valid combinations of those parenthesis? For example: For n = 1, the only valid combination is (), so the answer is 1. For n = 2, the valid combinations are ()() and (()), so the answer is 2. For n = 3, the valid combinations are ((())), (()()), (())(), ()(()), and ()()(), so the answer is 5. Calculate the number of valid parenthesis combinations for a given n. Explain the formula or method used to arrive at the answer. What is the underlying mathematical concept at play here, and how does it ensure that we only count valid combinations, avoiding invalid ones such as )()(? Detail the relationship between this problem and Catalan numbers, and discuss how this relationship can be utilized to efficiently compute the number of valid combinations, even for relatively large values of n.

Google

Let's design a web proxy. Consider the following requirements: Basic Functionality: The proxy should be able to forward HTTP and HTTPS requests from clients to web servers and return the responses. Caching: Implement caching to reduce latency and bandwidth usage for frequently accessed resources. How would you handle cache invalidation? Security: The proxy should support HTTPS and protect client data. How would you handle SSL/TLS certificates? Scalability: The proxy should be able to handle a large number of concurrent connections. What architectural choices would you make to ensure scalability? Authentication: Implement basic authentication (username/password) to control access to certain websites. Logging: Log requests and responses for debugging and monitoring purposes. What information should be logged, and how would you manage log files? Blocking: Implement the functionality to block access to certain websites based on a blacklist. Discuss the architecture, components, and algorithms involved in building such a web proxy. Include considerations for performance, security, and maintainability. Provide example scenarios and solutions to potential challenges.

Google

Tell me about a time you had to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). What were the key terms, and how did you ensure compliance while working on the project? Consider these points in your answer: Context: Briefly describe the project and the purpose of the NDA. Who were the parties involved, and what information was being protected? Key Terms: What were the most important clauses or restrictions outlined in the NDA? This could include limitations on sharing information, reverse engineering, or using the protected information for purposes outside the scope of the agreement. Compliance Measures: What specific steps did you take to ensure you and your team complied with the NDA? Did you implement any specific procedures, such as data encryption, access controls, or regular training? Challenges: Did you face any challenges in adhering to the NDA? If so, how did you overcome them? Did you need to seek clarification on any terms or consult with legal counsel? Outcome: What was the result of the project, and how did the NDA contribute to its success? Did the NDA effectively protect the confidential information, and were there any lessons learned from the experience? For example, perhaps you worked on a project involving a new algorithm for a company. The NDA might have restricted you from sharing the algorithm with anyone outside the project team, reverse engineering it, or using it for any other projects. You might have implemented access controls to limit who could access the algorithm's source code and conducted regular training sessions to remind the team of their obligations under the NDA. You should talk about how you proactively avoided violations and made sure your actions were fully within the legal scope of the agreement.