Coursera Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Coursera is a leading online learning platform that connects learners with top universities and organizations worldwide, offering courses, specializations, and degrees across a variety of subjects.

In the role of a Software Engineer at Coursera, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining robust software solutions that enhance the learning experience for millions of users globally. Key responsibilities include writing clean, efficient code, collaborating with cross-functional teams to gather requirements, and implementing scalable solutions through best practices in software development. A strong understanding of algorithms, data structures, and system design is essential, as you will be tasked with tackling complex technical challenges that directly impact product performance and user satisfaction.

Ideal candidates will possess proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or JavaScript, along with experience in working with APIs and web technologies. A passion for education and a commitment to Coursera’s mission of making quality education accessible to everyone will set you apart. Being adaptable, communicative, and collaborative is crucial in a fast-paced environment like Coursera, where innovation and continuous improvement are at the forefront of its operations.

This guide aims to equip you with insights and preparation strategies to excel in your upcoming interview with Coursera, giving you a competitive edge in showcasing your technical skills and alignment with the company’s values.

Coding and Algorithms

1. Describe your approach to solving a problem using a specific algorithm. Can you give an example?

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and understanding of algorithms. Be prepared to discuss a specific algorithm, its time and space complexity, and when you would use it.

How to Answer

Choose an algorithm you are comfortable with and explain its purpose, how it works, and provide a real-world example of its application.

Example

"I often use the Dijkstra algorithm for finding the shortest path in graphs. For instance, in a navigation app, it helps determine the quickest route from one location to another by evaluating the distances between various points."

2. How would you implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome?

This question tests your understanding of string manipulation and basic algorithmic logic.

How to Answer

Explain your thought process clearly, including the steps you would take to check for a palindrome, and discuss the time complexity of your solution.

Example

"I would iterate through the string from both ends towards the center, comparing characters. If all corresponding characters match, the string is a palindrome. This approach runs in O(n) time."

3. Can you explain the difference between a stack and a queue? Provide an example of when you would use each.

This question evaluates your knowledge of data structures and their applications.

How to Answer

Define both data structures, their characteristics, and provide examples of scenarios where each would be appropriate.

Example

"A stack follows Last In First Out (LIFO) order, useful for undo operations in applications. A queue follows First In First Out (FIFO) order, ideal for managing tasks in a print queue."

4. How would you approach solving a dynamic programming problem?

This question assesses your understanding of dynamic programming concepts and your problem-solving strategy.

How to Answer

Discuss the principles of dynamic programming, such as breaking problems into subproblems and using memoization or tabulation.

Example

"I would first identify overlapping subproblems and optimal substructure. For instance, in the Fibonacci sequence, I would store previously computed values to avoid redundant calculations, reducing the time complexity from exponential to linear."

5. Describe a time when you optimized an algorithm. What was the original algorithm, and how did you improve it?

This question looks for your ability to analyze and enhance existing solutions.

How to Answer

Detail the original algorithm, the inefficiencies you identified, and the changes you made to improve performance.

Example

"I worked on a sorting algorithm that initially used bubble sort, which had O(n^2) complexity. I replaced it with quicksort, reducing the average time complexity to O(n log n), significantly improving performance for large datasets."

System Design

1. How would you design a URL shortening service?

This question tests your system design skills and ability to think through scalability and performance.

How to Answer

Outline the components of the system, including how you would handle database storage, URL encoding, and redirection.

Example

"I would use a hash function to generate a unique key for each URL, store it in a database, and create a mapping between the key and the original URL. For scalability, I would implement caching to speed up retrieval."

2. Explain how you would design a chat application. What considerations would you take into account?

This question evaluates your understanding of real-time communication and system architecture.

How to Answer

Discuss the architecture, including client-server communication, message storage, and user authentication.

Example

"I would use WebSockets for real-time communication, a NoSQL database for storing messages, and implement user authentication with OAuth for security. Scalability would be achieved through load balancing."

3. How would you handle data consistency in a distributed system?

This question assesses your knowledge of distributed systems and consistency models.

How to Answer

Explain the trade-offs between consistency, availability, and partition tolerance, and discuss strategies like eventual consistency or distributed transactions.

Example

"I would implement eventual consistency for non-critical data, allowing for higher availability. For critical transactions, I would use distributed transactions with two-phase commit to ensure consistency."

4. Describe how you would implement a caching mechanism for a web application.

This question tests your understanding of caching strategies and their impact on performance.

How to Answer

Discuss different caching strategies, such as in-memory caching, cache expiration, and cache invalidation.

Example

"I would use Redis for in-memory caching, setting expiration times for frequently accessed data. Cache invalidation would be handled through a combination of time-based and event-based strategies to ensure data freshness."

5. How would you design a recommendation system?

This question evaluates your ability to create algorithms that provide personalized user experiences.

How to Answer

Discuss the types of recommendation algorithms, such as collaborative filtering and content-based filtering, and how you would gather and analyze user data.

Example

"I would implement collaborative filtering by analyzing user behavior and preferences to suggest items. I would also incorporate content-based filtering by analyzing item features to enhance recommendations."

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Interview Process

Familiarize yourself with the typical interview structure at Coursera, which often includes an initial HR screening, followed by a coding challenge, and then technical interviews. Knowing this will help you prepare accordingly. Expect a mix of coding challenges and behavioral questions, and be ready to discuss your past projects and experiences in detail.

Prepare for Coding Challenges

Coding challenges are a significant part of the interview process. Practice problems from platforms like HackerRank and LeetCode, focusing on data structures and algorithms. Be prepared for medium-level questions that may involve arrays, hash maps, and dynamic programming. Time management is crucial, as you may have limited time to complete these challenges, so practice solving problems within a set timeframe.

Brush Up on Technical Skills

Make sure you are comfortable with the programming languages and technologies relevant to the role. For a software engineering position, this often includes proficiency in languages like Python, Java, or JavaScript, as well as a solid understanding of algorithms, data structures, and system design principles. Be prepared to explain your thought process and the trade-offs of your solutions during technical interviews.

Be Ready for Behavioral Questions

While technical skills are essential, Coursera also values cultural fit. Prepare for behavioral questions that assess your teamwork, problem-solving abilities, and alignment with the company's mission. Reflect on your past experiences and be ready to discuss challenges you've faced, how you overcame them, and what you learned from those experiences.

Communicate Clearly and Effectively

During the interview, articulate your thought process clearly. If you encounter a challenging problem, talk through your approach and reasoning. Interviewers appreciate candidates who can communicate their ideas effectively, even if they don't arrive at the correct solution immediately. This demonstrates your problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate.

Follow Up Professionally

After your interviews, consider sending a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity and reiterate your interest in the position. This can help you stand out and leave a positive impression, especially in a competitive hiring environment.

Stay Positive and Resilient

The interview process can be lengthy and may involve setbacks. Stay positive and resilient, even if you experience ghosting or lack of feedback. Use each experience as a learning opportunity to refine your approach for future interviews.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you can enhance your chances of success in the interview process at Coursera. Good luck!

The interview process for a Software Engineer position at Coursera is structured and involves several key steps designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit.

1. Initial Screening

The process typically begins with a brief phone interview with a recruiter, lasting around 15 to 30 minutes. During this call, the recruiter will ask about your background, experience, and motivation for applying to Coursera. This is a standard introductory conversation, and no technical questions are usually posed at this stage.

2. Online Assessment

Following the initial screening, candidates are usually required to complete an online coding assessment, often hosted on platforms like HackerRank. This assessment typically consists of two coding problems that test your knowledge of algorithms and data structures. Candidates are generally given a set time, often around 60 to 90 minutes, to complete these challenges. The questions may range from basic to medium difficulty, focusing on common topics such as arrays, hash maps, and dynamic programming.

3. Technical Interview

If you successfully pass the online assessment, the next step is a technical interview, which can be conducted over the phone or via video conferencing. This interview usually lasts about an hour and involves solving coding problems in real-time. Interviewers may ask you to explain your thought process and approach to problem-solving, and they may also inquire about your past projects and experiences. Be prepared for questions that assess your understanding of data structures, algorithms, and coding best practices.

4. Onsite Interview (or Virtual Onsite)

The final stage of the interview process is typically an onsite interview, which may also be conducted virtually. This stage usually consists of multiple rounds of interviews, often including both technical and behavioral assessments. Candidates can expect to face several technical questions, including system design problems, coding challenges, and discussions about previous work experiences. The onsite interview may also include a lunch interview with team members, providing an opportunity to assess cultural fit.

Throughout the process, candidates should be aware that feedback may not always be provided, and communication from the recruiting team can sometimes be limited.

As you prepare for your interview, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the types of questions that may be asked during each stage.

1. Create a function find_bigrams to return a list of all bigrams in a sentence.

Write a function called find_bigrams that takes a sentence or paragraph of strings and returns a list of all its bigrams in order. A bigram is a pair of consecutive words.

2. Write a query to get the last transaction for each day from a table of bank transactions.

Given a table of bank transactions with columns id, transaction_value, and created_at, write a query to get the last transaction for each day. The output should include the id, datetime, and transaction amount, ordered by datetime.

3. Create a function find_change to find the minimum number of coins for a given amount.

Write a function find_change to find the minimum number of coins that make up the given amount of change cents. Assume we only have coins of value 1, 5, 10, and 25 cents.

4. Write a function to simulate drawing balls from a jar based on their counts.

Write a function to simulate drawing balls from a jar. The colors of the balls are stored in a list named jar, with corresponding counts of the balls stored in the same index in a list called n_balls.

5. Create a function calculate_rmse to compute the root mean squared error.

Write a function calculate_rmse to calculate the root mean squared error of a regression model. The function should take in two lists, one representing the predictions y_pred and another with the target values y_true.

6. How would you set up an A/B test for button color and position changes?

A team wants to A/B test changes in a sign-up funnel, such as changing a button from red to blue and/or moving it from the top to the bottom of the page. How would you set up this test?

7. Would you suspect anything unusual about an A/B test with 20 variants and one significant result?

Your manager ran an A/B test with 20 different variants and found one significant result. Would you think there was anything fishy about the results?

8. Why might the average number of comments per user decrease despite user growth?

A social media company launched in a new city and saw a slow decrease in the average number of comments per user from January to March, despite consistent user growth. What are some reasons for this decrease, and what metrics would you look into?

9. What metrics would you use to determine the value of marketing channels for Mode?

Given all the different marketing channels and their respective costs at Mode, a company selling B2B analytics dashboards, what metrics would you use to determine the value of each marketing channel?

10. How would you find the mouse in a 4x4 grid using the fewest scans?

You have a 4x4 grid with a mouse trapped in one of the cells. You can “scan” subsets of cells to know if the mouse is within that subset. How would you figure out where the mouse is using the fewest number of scans?

11. What is the expected number of good ads rated by different types of raters?

1. Suppose we have 100 raters each rating one ad independently. What’s the expected number of good ads?
2. Now suppose we have 1 rater rating 100 ads. What’s the expected number of good ads?
3. Suppose we have 1 ad, rated as bad. What’s the probability the rater was lazy?

12. Write a function to simulate coin tosses with a given probability of heads.

Create a function that takes the number of tosses and the probability of heads as input and returns a list of randomly generated results (‘H’ for heads, ’T’ for tails).

Example 1:

tosses = 5
probability_of_heads = 0.6

Output:

coin_toss(tosses, probability_of_heads) -> ['H', 'T', 'H', 'H', 'T']

Example 2:

tosses = 3
probability_of_heads = 0.2

Output:

coin_toss(tosses, probability_of_heads) -> ['T', 'T', 'T']

13. Write a function to calculate the sample variance of a list of integers.

Create a function that takes a list of integers and returns the sample variance, rounded to 2 decimal places.

Example:

test_list = [6, 7, 3, 9, 10, 15]

Output:

get_variance(test_list) -> 13.89

14. What is the probability of rolling at least one 3 with dice?

1. What’s the probability of rolling at least one 3 with 2 dice?
2. What’s the probability of rolling at least one 3 given N dice?

15. What is the probability of finding an item on Amazon’s website given its availability in warehouses?

Given that the probability of item X being available at warehouse A is 0.6 and at warehouse B is 0.8, what is the probability that item X would be found on Amazon’s website?

16. How would you measure the difference between two credit risk models?

Given that personal loans are monthly installments, how would you compare the performance of two credit risk models over a specific timeframe?

17. What metrics would you track to measure the success of a new credit risk model?

Identify the key metrics to track to measure the success of a new credit risk model for personal loans.

18. What metrics would you use to track the accuracy and validity of a spam classifier model?

Assume you have built a V1 of a spam classifier for emails. Specify the metrics you would use to evaluate its accuracy and validity.

19. What are the key differences between classification models and regression models?

Explain the main differences between classification models and regression models.

20. When would you use a bagging algorithm versus a boosting algorithm?

Compare two machine learning algorithms and provide an example of the tradeoffs between using a bagging algorithm and a boosting algorithm.

21. What would happen when you run logistic regression on perfectly linearly separable data?

Describe the outcome of running logistic regression on a dataset that is perfectly linearly separable.

What is the average salary for a Software Engineer at Coursera?

How can I best prepare for the coding challenges and technical interviews?

To prepare effectively:

• Practice medium-level coding problems on platforms like Interview Query.
• Review fundamental algorithms and data structures.
• Brush up on system design principles and practice designing scalable systems.
• Get familiar with past experiences of Coursera interviews to know what specific areas might be tested.

What is the focus of the behavioral interview at Coursera?

The behavioral interview usually explores your motivations for joining Coursera, your past work experiences, and how you handle various work situations. Common questions include “Why Coursera?” and “What interesting projects have you worked on?” Be prepared to align your answers with Coursera’s mission and values.

Does Coursera provide feedback if I don’t move forward after an interview?

Many candidates have reported a lack of feedback post-interview. While this isn’t always the case, it’s a good idea to manage your expectations and focus on areas you can improve independently based on the interview experience.

Explore more about Coursera’s interview process and see how you can ace your interviews by checking our comprehensive Coursera Interview Guide. Dive into potential interview questions, gain key insights, and boost your preparation for roles such as software engineer.

With Interview Query, conquer each challenge with strategic guidance, boosting your knowledge and confidence throughout the process. Check out more company interview guides and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Good luck with your interview!