Dhruv Interview Experience for Senior Principal Engineer

Interview Date: February 9, 2023

Company: Druva, Pune

Result: Rejected.

Senior Principal Engineer interview at Druva on 9 January 2023 was a nice experience delving into basic and advanced features of software technology The interview in Pune started with a friendly introduction and moved quickly went into discussions about Python, data structures and program design.

Knowledge of Python:

The beginning of the interview focused on Python, where the participant was asked about Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) and its implications. Interviewers examined how the candidate would perform tasks such as moving two sticks without resorting to repetitive strategies. This question delved into the candidate’s understanding of Python features and their ability to create high-performance, non-iterative solutions.

Algorithmic problem solving:

The interviews then shifted to algorithmic problem solving, with a particular emphasis on tree visits. The candidate was asked to use two randomly rotating sticks without iteration. This challenge not only tested candidates’ algorithmic skills but also their ability to creatively think of ways to solve common problems.

Code Analysis:

An important part of the interview was to discuss how the candidate would test non-recursive non-sequential sequencing code. Interviewees examined the testing process, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive testing to ensure the robustness and reliability of the implemented solution.

System Design:

Moving on to system design concepts, the interview touched upon the working principles of an LRU (Least Recently Used) cache. The candidate was required to explain how ‘get’ and ‘set’ operations work in an LRU cache and was then tasked with either providing code or pseudo code for the implementation.

Concurrency and Scalability:

Given the hypothetical scenario of the LRU cache being utilized by millions of customers, the interviewers delved into the candidate’s understanding of handling race conditions in a concurrent environment. This segment aimed at assessing the candidate’s expertise in designing systems that are not only efficient but also scalable and resilient in real-world scenarios.

Deployment Strategies:

The interview concluded with a discussion on deploying the LRU cache as a service. The candidate was expected to outline strategies for deploying the system, ensuring its availability, fault tolerance, and scalability. This section provided insights into the candidate’s grasp of practical considerations in turning a conceptual solution into a deployable and maintainable service.

Conclusion:

The Dhruva interview for the Senior Principal Engineer role on November 9, 2023, stood out as a comprehensive evaluation of the candidate’s technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and practical understanding of system design and deployment. The diverse range of topics covered provided a holistic view of the candidate’s capabilities, making it a challenging yet rewarding experience.