Software Engineering Manager II, Search

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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.

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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.

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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.