Coinbase Interview Experience — Software Engineer Backend (G2501)
In this article, I would like to share my interview experience for the Software Engineer, Backend ( G2501 ) Remote role at Coinbase. This was an off-campus drive, and I will take you through my journey.
Additionally, I share some off-campus tips that helped me in securing interviews with major companies here.
Short Info about me
I graduated in Computer Science and Engineering from NIT Calicut in 2024. Prior to this, I interned at Arcesium (a D.E. Shaw Group ) and Sandvine Technologies.
Application Process
The journey began with the application process. On February 04, 2024, I applied for the Software Engineer, Backend (G2501) Remote role at Coinbase. Although it was an experienced role (0–2+ years), fresh graduates were also encouraged to apply. Coinbase prefers candidates with experience, and my internship experience significantly contributed to receiving the assessment link. Additionally, a referral from a Coinbase employee further supported my application. The entire interview process consisted of four rounds.
Round — 1 ( Online Assessment )
On April 2, 2024, I received an email regarding an online assessment on CodeSignal. The assessment window was open for 7 days, providing me with sufficient time to prepare and complete the task. The assessment comprised four medium-level questions focused on data structures and algorithms (DSA), with a total duration of 90 minutes.
During the assessment, I successfully solved three out of the four questions.
After three days, I received an email from the recruiter for the next round.
Round — 2 ( Phone Screening Round )
On April 8, 2024, I had a 15–30 minute call with the recruiter. The discussion was formal and aimed at understanding my interests, internship experiences, and ambitions. Additionally, the recruiter asked several questions based on my resume, inquired about my preferred coding language, and provided a detailed explanation of the interview process. He has also shared me the interview preparation documents.
Round — 3 ( Technical Interview — 1 )
The interview was scheduled for April 17, 2024, providing me ample time to prepare. This round was a Technical Execution round, comprising Machine Coding and Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA), with a total duration of one hour.
The machine coding round involves solving a design problem in a matter of a couple of hours. It requires designing and coding a clean, modular, and extensible solution.
This website has been the most helpful resource I have found for excelling in the machine coding round.
The interview was conducted on CodeSignal. Without any delay, the interviewer presented a basic question based on transactions, emphasizing the importance of neat and clean code, writing different classes, and maintaining code clarity.
While they focused on a working solution, edge cases were not the primary concern. The main emphasis was on class division and optimal coding practices.
Upon completing the initial coding task, I was given an extension to the problem. After solving the first extension, I was presented with another extension, more complex one.
The initial question was of easy-medium difficulty, but the extensions ranged from medium to hard. Due to time constraints, I was unable to fully code the second extension, but I successfully explained my approach to the interviewer.
In situations with limited time, it is advisable to explain your approach to the interviewer before completing the code, so that the interview will at least end on an average note.
Overall, I would rate my performance between average and good. The interview difficulty was medium to hard, as it was a unique interview experience for me.
Round — 4 ( Technical Interview — 2 )
The interview was scheduled for April 18, 2024. This round was a Domain Execution round, comprising Machine Coding and Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), with a total duration of one hour.
The interview was conducted on CodeSignal. The interviewer presented a question based on iterators. I outlined the division of classes and received assistance from the interviewer whenever I encountered difficulties.
Upon completing the initial coding task, I was given additional extensions to complete. The initial question was of easy difficulty, while the extensions were of medium difficulty.
At Coinbase, the interview difficulty is not based on the candidate’s experience but rather on the role being applied for, meaning the difficulty level is consistent for both freshers and experienced individuals.
Overall, I would rate my performance between average and good. The interviewer was very friendly, and the interview difficulty ranged from medium to hard.
Result
On April 20, 2024, two days after the interview, I received a rejection email. Nevertheless, this was one of the best interview experiences I have had. I gained valuable insights into how low-level design (LLD) and machine coding interviews are conducted. This experience will be beneficial for me in future interviews.
Please feel free to share any important concepts in the comments section. If you have any specific queries, do not hesitate to contact me on LinkedIn.
All the best! :)
