Juniper Networks Interview Experience (2.6 years experience)

I recently got interviewed for a SDE 2 role at Juniper Networks, and I wanted to share my experience in case it helps someone else on their job search! Here’s the breakdown, from that initial recruiter message to the offer letter.

How it Began

It all started with a message on LinkedIn. A recruiter from Juniper contacted me, asking if I wanted to interview. I had been getting ready for a job change since January 2023, but really got serious about it in September. Even though I wasn’t feeling super confident, I decided to give it a try.

Interview Process:

Interview process at Juniper consisted of three rounds:

Round 1: Technical Interview (1 hour):

The interviewer started by introducing himself, followed by my turn. We then started with technical questions. They covered a range of topics, including:

• Counting set bits in an integer
• Checking if a binary tree is height balanced
• GRE protocol (since it was mentioned in my resume)
• How the “ping” command works (fundamental computer networks question)
• Inter-process communication (another core OS concept)

At the end, I asked the interviewer about his experience at Juniper and the team’s tech stack. It’s always good to show genuine interest!

Round 2: Technical Interview (1 hour):

This round had a slightly different vibe. The interviewer didn’t introduce himself and jumped straight into “let’s start coding!” Here’s what he asked me:

• Multiplying two numbers without the multiplication operator
• Deleting all nodes in a linked list
• Writing a program to print “toppers” in an array (think element greater than all its right-side elements in an array is called topper of the array)
• Rotating the elements of an array to the right by one position

Since introductions were skipped initially, I took this opportunity to give a brief intro and ask about the interviewer’s experience at Juniper.

Round 3: Behavioral and Technical Interview with Hiring Manager

This round, unlike the previous two, focused more on my experience and the projects I mentioned in my resume. The hiring manager asked me to elaborate on a product I worked on at my previous company. While it was technically focused, the overall feel was more conversational. He also mentioned receiving positive feedback from the previous rounds, which was a confidence booster!

The Verdict:

The positive vibes from the hiring manager turned out to be a good sign. The very next day, HR contacted me to discuss salary, and shortly, I received the official offer letter!

Key Takeaways:

This whole experience taught me a few valuable lessons:

Preparation is key: In addition to coding, it’s important to brush up on concepts related to operating systems, databases, and computer networks. I utilized 450dsa.com to cover questions from all data structures, and I used LeetCode Blind 75 for revising before interviews.

Confidence Matters: Even if you’re feeling a little nervous, projecting confidence can make a significant difference. Remember, interviews are opportunities to learn and grow.

One crucial takeaway is the importance of utilising opportunities even in times of self-doubt. After getting offer letter from Juniper, my confidence boosted, helped me to get offers from other leading companies.

Ask questions: Show genuine interest in the company and the role.

I hope this breakdown helps anyone preparing for software development engineer interviews