eBay Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

eBay is a global ecommerce leader, transforming the way the world shops and sells by empowering millions of buyers and sellers across more than 190 markets.

As a Software Engineer at eBay, you will play a crucial role in designing, developing, and implementing highly scalable and resilient software systems. Your responsibilities will include collaborating with cross-functional teams to create innovative solutions that improve the eBay platform's performance and usability. You will work through all phases of the software development lifecycle, from requirement analysis and design to implementation and testing. A strong foundation in programming languages such as Java, Python, or JavaScript, along with experience in web services, distributed systems, and database management, is essential. You will also be expected to mentor junior team members, participate in code reviews, and maintain high standards of code quality, ensuring that your software solutions align with eBay's commitment to customer satisfaction.

To thrive in this role, you should demonstrate excellent problem-solving skills, a collaborative mindset, and a passion for continuous learning and innovation. You will be expected to integrate new technologies and methodologies to enhance eBay’s offerings while ensuring that your designs are scalable, maintainable, and secure.

This guide aims to equip you with the insights and knowledge needed to excel in your interview, helping you better understand the expectations and culture at eBay.

The interview process for a Software Engineer position at eBay is structured and thorough, designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit. Here’s a breakdown of the typical steps involved:

1. Initial Phone Screen

The process usually begins with a 30-minute phone call with a recruiter. This initial conversation is focused on understanding your background, skills, and motivations for applying to eBay. The recruiter will also provide insights into the role and the company culture, ensuring that you have a clear understanding of what to expect.

2. Online Assessment

Following the initial screen, candidates are typically required to complete an online coding assessment, often hosted on platforms like CodeSignal. This assessment usually consists of four algorithmic questions, with a mix of easy and medium difficulty levels. Candidates are given a set time, usually around 70 minutes, to complete the assessment, which is proctored via webcam.

3. Technical Interviews

Candidates who perform well in the online assessment are invited to participate in multiple technical interviews, usually conducted virtually. These interviews can range from two to five rounds, each lasting approximately 45 minutes to an hour. The focus is primarily on coding challenges, data structures, algorithms, and system design. Interviewers may ask candidates to solve problems in real-time, often using a shared coding environment. Expect to encounter questions that require a solid understanding of object-oriented programming, design patterns, and performance optimization.

4. Behavioral Interview

In addition to technical assessments, candidates will also face a behavioral interview. This round assesses soft skills, teamwork, and cultural fit within eBay. Interviewers may ask about past experiences, challenges faced in previous roles, and how you align with eBay's values and mission. Questions may include scenarios that require you to demonstrate problem-solving abilities and collaboration skills.

5. Final Interview Rounds

For some candidates, there may be additional rounds that include discussions with team members or managers. These interviews can cover more in-depth technical topics, project discussions, and may also include a lunch interview to gauge interpersonal skills in a more relaxed setting.

The entire interview process can take several weeks, and candidates are encouraged to communicate openly with their interviewers and ask questions throughout the process to ensure a good fit.

As you prepare for your interviews, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the types of questions that may be asked. Here are some common themes and areas of focus that you should be ready to discuss.

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

Understand the Interview Structure

eBay's interview process typically consists of multiple rounds, including coding assessments and behavioral interviews. Familiarize yourself with the structure, as many candidates report a coding round followed by behavioral questions. Knowing what to expect will help you manage your time and energy effectively during the interview.

Prepare for Coding Challenges

Expect to solve coding problems that may include data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming concepts. Practice coding on platforms like LeetCode or CodeSignal, focusing on medium to hard-level questions. Many candidates have noted that the coding problems are similar to those found on these platforms, so honing your skills there will be beneficial.

Showcase Your Projects

During the behavioral interviews, be prepared to discuss your past projects in detail. Highlight your role, the technologies you used, and the impact of your work. eBay values candidates who can articulate their contributions and demonstrate how they align with the company's goals of innovation and customer-centric solutions.

Emphasize Collaboration and Communication

eBay's culture emphasizes teamwork and collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you've worked with cross-functional teams in the past. Share examples of how you’ve navigated challenges, communicated effectively, and contributed to a positive team dynamic. This will demonstrate your fit within eBay's collaborative environment.

Be Ready for Technical Depth

Candidates have reported that interviewers often dive deep into technical topics, including system design and architecture. Brush up on your knowledge of distributed systems, RESTful services, and design patterns. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing scalable and resilient systems, as this is crucial for the role.

Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers. This not only shows your interest in the role but also helps you gauge if eBay is the right fit for you. Inquire about the team dynamics, the technologies they are currently using, and how they approach innovation and problem-solving.

Stay Calm and Engaged

Interviews can be stressful, but maintaining a calm demeanor will help you think clearly and communicate effectively. Engage with your interviewers, listen actively, and don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question. This shows your willingness to collaborate and learn.

Reflect eBay's Values

eBay values authenticity, bold ideas, and a commitment to customer satisfaction. During your interview, reflect these values in your responses. Share experiences that demonstrate your innovative thinking and how you prioritize user experience in your work.

By following these tips, you can present yourself as a strong candidate who not only possesses the technical skills required for the role but also aligns with eBay's culture and values. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Software Engineer interview at eBay. The interview process typically includes a mix of technical coding challenges, system design questions, and behavioral assessments. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their problem-solving skills, coding proficiency, and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Coding and Algorithms

1. Can you explain the difference between a stack and a queue?

Understanding data structures is crucial for software engineering roles. Be prepared to discuss their properties and use cases.

How to Answer

Explain the fundamental differences, such as how stacks are LIFO (Last In, First Out) and queues are FIFO (First In, First Out). Provide examples of when you would use each.

Example

“A stack is a data structure that follows the LIFO principle, meaning the last element added is the first to be removed. This is useful in scenarios like function call management in programming. In contrast, a queue follows the FIFO principle, where the first element added is the first to be removed, which is ideal for scenarios like task scheduling.”

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

This question tests your understanding of string manipulation and algorithm design.

How to Answer

Outline your approach to solving the problem, including any edge cases you would consider.

Example

“I would iterate through the string from both ends towards the center, comparing characters. If any characters don’t match, the string is not a palindrome. I would also handle cases for empty strings and single-character strings as palindromes.”

3. Describe how you would find the shortest path in a graph.

Graph algorithms are a common topic in software engineering interviews.

How to Answer

Discuss algorithms like Dijkstra’s or A* and explain their use cases.

Example

“To find the shortest path in a graph, I would use Dijkstra’s algorithm, which efficiently finds the shortest path from a source node to all other nodes. It works by maintaining a priority queue of nodes to explore, updating the shortest known distance to each node as we traverse the graph.”

4. Can you explain the concept of recursion and provide an example?

Recursion is a fundamental programming concept that often appears in coding interviews.

How to Answer

Define recursion and provide a simple example, such as calculating the factorial of a number.

Example

“Recursion is a method where a function calls itself to solve smaller instances of the same problem. For example, the factorial of a number n can be defined as n! = n * (n-1)! with the base case being 0! = 1.”

5. How would you optimize a function that has a time complexity of O(n^2)?

This question assesses your ability to analyze and improve code efficiency.

How to Answer

Discuss strategies for optimization, such as using more efficient algorithms or data structures.

Example

“I would first analyze the algorithm to identify bottlenecks. If it’s a nested loop, I might consider using a hash table to store previously computed results, reducing the time complexity to O(n) if applicable.”

System Design

1. How would you design a URL shortening service?

System design questions evaluate your ability to architect scalable systems.

How to Answer

Outline the components of the system, including database design, API endpoints, and scalability considerations.

Example

“I would create a service that generates a unique identifier for each URL, stores it in a database, and maps it to the original URL. The API would have endpoints for creating and retrieving shortened URLs. For scalability, I would consider using a distributed database and caching frequently accessed URLs.”

2. Describe how you would design a real-time chat application.

This question tests your understanding of real-time data processing and user experience.

How to Answer

Discuss the architecture, including client-server communication, data storage, and message delivery.

Example

“I would use WebSockets for real-time communication between clients and the server. Messages would be stored in a NoSQL database for quick retrieval. I would also implement features like message delivery status and user presence indicators.”

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

Data consistency is a critical aspect of system design.

How to Answer

Explain concepts like CAP theorem, eventual consistency, and strategies for maintaining consistency.

Example

“I would consider the CAP theorem, which states that a distributed system can only guarantee two of the three: consistency, availability, and partition tolerance. I would implement eventual consistency for non-critical data and use distributed transactions for critical operations.”

4. What considerations would you take into account when designing an API?

APIs are essential for software integration and communication.

How to Answer

Discuss RESTful principles, versioning, and security measures.

Example

“I would ensure the API follows RESTful principles, including statelessness and resource-based URLs. I would also implement versioning to manage changes and use OAuth for secure access control.”

5. How would you design a system to handle millions of transactions per second?

This question assesses your ability to design for high scalability and performance.

How to Answer

Discuss load balancing, microservices architecture, and database sharding.

Example

“I would use a microservices architecture to break down the system into smaller, manageable services. Load balancers would distribute incoming requests across multiple instances, and I would implement database sharding to handle large volumes of transactions efficiently.”

Behavioral Questions

1. Describe a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.

Behavioral questions assess your problem-solving and teamwork skills.

How to Answer

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response.

Example

“In a recent project, we faced a tight deadline due to unexpected changes in requirements (Situation). My task was to ensure we delivered a high-quality product on time (Task). I organized daily stand-ups to address issues quickly and reallocated resources to critical tasks (Action). As a result, we delivered the project on time, and it received positive feedback from stakeholders (Result).”

2. How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects?

This question evaluates your time management and organizational skills.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to prioritization, such as using frameworks or tools.

Example

“I prioritize tasks based on urgency and impact. I use tools like Trello to visualize my workload and apply the Eisenhower Matrix to distinguish between what’s urgent and important. This helps me focus on high-impact tasks first.”

3. How do you handle conflicts within a team?

Conflict resolution is essential for effective teamwork.

How to Answer

Describe your approach to communication and collaboration.

Example

“When conflicts arise, I believe in addressing them directly and respectfully. I encourage open dialogue to understand different perspectives and work towards a consensus. If necessary, I involve a neutral third party to mediate the discussion.”

4. Where do you see yourself in five years?

This question assesses your career goals and alignment with the company.

How to Answer

Discuss your aspirations and how they relate to the company’s mission.

Example

“In five years, I see myself in a leadership role, mentoring junior engineers and driving innovative projects. I’m excited about eBay’s commitment to technology and would love to contribute to its growth while advancing my skills in software engineering.”

5. What motivates you to work in software engineering?

Understanding your motivation helps interviewers gauge your passion for the field.

How to Answer

Share your enthusiasm for technology and problem-solving.

Example

“I’m motivated by the challenge of solving complex problems and the opportunity to create impactful software that improves users’ lives. The ever-evolving nature of technology excites me, and I enjoy learning new skills to stay ahead in the field.”