Software Engineer III

Google

Let's simulate a coding interview scenario. I'd like you to solve a problem and articulate your thought process as you go. Imagine you're given an array of integers. Your task is to write a function that finds the length of the longest strictly increasing subsequence in that array. A strictly increasing subsequence is a sequence of numbers from the array such that each number is greater than the previous one, and their original order in the array is maintained. For example, in the array [1, 3, 2, 4, 5], one possible increasing subsequence is [1, 2, 4, 5], and the longest increasing subsequence is [1, 2, 4, 5], which has a length of 4. Another possible increasing subsequence is [1, 3, 4, 5] which has length of 4. Your function should return 4 in this case. Another example is [10, 9, 2, 5, 3, 7, 101, 18]. The longest increasing subsequence is [2, 3, 7, 18], which has a length of 4. Your function should return 4. Can you describe your approach and then implement the function? Consider edge cases, like an empty array or an array with only one element. How would your approach handle those? What is the time and space complexity of your solution?

Google

API Design Question: E-commerce Product Catalog Let's design a simplified API for an e-commerce product catalog. Imagine you're building the backend for a website like Amazon or Etsy, focusing specifically on how products are stored and retrieved. This API will allow client applications (like web browsers or mobile apps) to browse, search, and view product details. Define the Core Entities: What are the essential attributes of a Product? Consider attributes like product_id, name, description, price, category, image_url, and inventory_count. Are there other attributes you would include? Justify your choices. Design the API Endpoints: Propose the main API endpoints for interacting with the product catalog. Focus on the following functionalities. Provide example requests and responses (in JSON format) for each endpoint: Retrieve a product by ID: (/products/{product_id}) Search for products: (/products?keyword=example&category=example) List products by category: (/categories/{category_name}/products) Considerations: How would you handle pagination for large product lists? How would you implement filtering and sorting options in the search endpoint? (e.g., filter by price range, sort by popularity). How would you handle different image sizes and formats? Example Scenario: A user searches for red shoes on the website. Describe how the API would be used to fulfill this request, including the specific endpoint called, the parameters passed, and the format of the expected response.

Google

Okay, let's delve into your motivations. Why are you interested in working at this company specifically? I'm looking for more than just a generic answer about seeking a new job. I want to understand what resonates with you about our company's mission, values, and the specific role you're applying for. To give you some context, consider our commitment to innovation in the field of AI, particularly our recent work on developing more ethical and transparent algorithms. Or perhaps you're drawn to our collaborative work environment, where cross-functional teams work together to solve complex problems. Maybe you admire our company's dedication to social responsibility, like our initiatives to promote STEM education in underserved communities. When answering, please be specific and show that you've done your research. For instance, you could discuss a particular project that caught your attention, how your skills and experience align with the team's needs, or how you see yourself contributing to our company's long-term goals. Avoid vague statements like I'm a hard worker or I'm a team player without providing concrete examples. Instead, focus on demonstrating a genuine interest in our company and a clear understanding of how you can make a valuable contribution. To summarize, I want to know: What specifically attracts you to our company? How do your skills and experiences align with the requirements of this role and the company's goals? What unique contributions do you believe you can make to our team and our overall mission?