Indeed Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Indeed is the world’s leading job site, dedicated to helping people secure employment by creating an inclusive and accessible workplace.

As a Software Engineer at Indeed, you will play a vital role in harnessing the power of data and advanced machine learning techniques to innovate and enhance the hiring process. Your responsibilities will include designing and building scalable software solutions for data preprocessing, model training, and deployment. You'll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including data scientists and product managers, to create systems that optimize hiring data collection and analysis. A successful candidate will have a strong foundation in data structures and algorithms, full-stack development experience, and familiarity with machine learning frameworks and tools.

Key skills for this position include proficiency in programming languages such as Python and Java, experience with data engineering and machine learning pipelines, and the ability to communicate effectively across teams. A solid understanding of system architecture and design principles is essential, along with a sense of ownership and accountability in technical and product domains.

This guide will provide you with specific insights into the interview process at Indeed, helping you prepare effectively and showcase your skills and experience in a way that aligns with the company's values and expectations.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Indeed is structured and thorough, designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit. It typically unfolds in several stages, each focusing on different aspects of the candidate's qualifications and experiences.

1. Initial HR Screening

The process begins with a 30-minute phone call with a recruiter. This initial screening is primarily conversational, allowing the recruiter to gauge your background, motivations for applying, and overall fit for the company culture. Expect to discuss your previous experiences, what you are looking for in a role, and any questions you may have about Indeed.

2. Technical Screening via Karat

If you pass the initial screening, you will be scheduled for a technical interview conducted through Karat, a third-party interviewing service. This session lasts about an hour and includes a mix of behavioral questions and coding challenges. You will typically be asked to solve 2-3 coding problems that test your understanding of data structures and algorithms. The interview is conducted via video, and you will have access to a coding environment to demonstrate your problem-solving skills.

3. Onsite Interview

Candidates who perform well in the technical screening will be invited to a virtual onsite interview, which can last several hours and consists of multiple back-to-back sessions. This stage usually includes a variety of interview formats, such as whiteboard coding exercises, system design discussions, and code review sessions. You may also be asked to complete a "progex," which is a longer programming task that simulates real-world coding scenarios. Expect to engage with multiple interviewers, including engineers and managers, who will assess your technical abilities, problem-solving approach, and communication skills.

4. Behavioral and Cultural Fit Assessment

Throughout the interview process, there will be a strong emphasis on behavioral questions aimed at understanding how you handle challenges, work in teams, and align with Indeed's values. Be prepared to discuss past projects, your role in them, and how you overcame obstacles. Interviewers will be looking for evidence of your collaboration skills and your ability to contribute positively to the team dynamic.

5. Final Review and Feedback

After the onsite interviews, the hiring team will review your performance across all stages. While feedback may not always be provided, candidates can expect a follow-up from the recruiter regarding the outcome of their application. If successful, this will lead to discussions about the offer and next steps.

As you prepare for your interview, consider the types of questions that may arise in each of these stages, particularly those that assess your technical knowledge and behavioral competencies.

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

Understand the Interview Structure

The interview process at Indeed typically consists of multiple stages, including an initial HR screening, a technical interview via Karat, and a final onsite interview. Familiarize yourself with this structure and prepare accordingly. Knowing what to expect at each stage will help you manage your time and energy effectively, especially since the onsite can be quite lengthy and demanding.

Prepare for Technical Challenges

Expect a mix of coding challenges, system design questions, and code reviews. Brush up on data structures and algorithms, as these are frequently tested. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on medium to hard difficulty levels. Additionally, be prepared to discuss your thought process and the time complexity of your solutions, as interviewers often seek to understand your approach to problem-solving.

Showcase Your Projects

During the behavioral interviews, be ready to discuss your past projects in detail. Highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your technical skills and your ability to work collaboratively in a team. Be specific about the technologies you used and the impact your work had on the project or the organization.

Emphasize Collaboration and Communication

Indeed values cross-functional collaboration, so be prepared to discuss how you have worked with product managers, data scientists, and other engineers in the past. Highlight instances where effective communication led to successful project outcomes. This will show that you not only possess technical skills but also the interpersonal skills necessary to thrive in a team-oriented environment.

Be Ready for Behavioral Questions

Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and how you handle challenges. Prepare for scenarios that explore your resilience, adaptability, and teamwork. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, ensuring you convey clear and concise stories that reflect your capabilities.

Stay Engaged and Ask Questions

Throughout the interview process, engage with your interviewers by asking insightful questions about the team, the projects you would be working on, and the company culture. This not only demonstrates your interest in the role but also helps you gauge if Indeed is the right fit for you. Remember, interviews are a two-way street.

Maintain a Positive Attitude

While the interview process can be rigorous, maintaining a positive and open demeanor can make a significant difference. Interviewers appreciate candidates who are not only technically proficient but also approachable and enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to the team.

Follow Up

After your interviews, consider sending a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. This is a chance to reiterate your interest in the position and reflect on any key points discussed during the interview that you found particularly engaging.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for the Software Engineer role at Indeed. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Software Engineer interview at Indeed. The interview process will assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. Be prepared to discuss your past projects, coding challenges, and system design experiences.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the difference between inheritance and composition in object-oriented programming?

Understanding these concepts is crucial for software design and architecture.

How to Answer

Discuss the definitions of both concepts and provide examples of when to use each. Highlight the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches.

Example

“Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and methods from another class, promoting code reuse. However, it can lead to tight coupling. Composition, on the other hand, involves building classes using other classes, which provides more flexibility and reduces dependencies. For instance, I prefer composition when designing a system that requires interchangeable components.”

2. Describe a challenging coding problem you faced and how you solved it.

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and resilience.

How to Answer

Choose a specific problem, explain the context, the steps you took to solve it, and the outcome.

Example

“I once faced a performance issue in a data processing pipeline. The initial implementation was too slow due to inefficient data structures. I analyzed the bottlenecks, switched to a more suitable data structure, and optimized the algorithms, which improved the processing time by 50%.”

3. How do you approach debugging a complex issue in your code?

Debugging is a critical skill for any software engineer.

How to Answer

Outline your systematic approach to debugging, including tools and techniques you use.

Example

“I start by reproducing the issue and gathering as much information as possible. I then use logging and debugging tools to trace the problem. Once I identify the root cause, I implement a fix and run tests to ensure the issue is resolved without introducing new bugs.”

4. Can you explain how you would design a system to handle a high volume of data?

This question tests your system design skills and understanding of scalability.

How to Answer

Discuss the principles of scalable system design, including data storage, processing, and load balancing.

Example

“I would design a microservices architecture to handle different components of the system independently. For data storage, I would use a distributed database like Cassandra to ensure high availability. Additionally, I would implement caching strategies and load balancers to manage traffic efficiently.”

5. What is your experience with data structures and algorithms? Can you provide an example of a problem you solved using them?

This question evaluates your foundational knowledge in computer science.

How to Answer

Discuss your familiarity with various data structures and algorithms, and provide a specific example.

Example

“I have a strong background in data structures like arrays, linked lists, trees, and graphs. For instance, I used a depth-first search algorithm to traverse a binary tree and find the maximum depth, which was crucial for optimizing a feature in a project I worked on.”

Behavioral Questions

1. Describe a project you worked on that you are particularly proud of.

This question assesses your ability to reflect on your work and communicate effectively.

How to Answer

Choose a project that showcases your skills and contributions, and explain why it was significant.

Example

“I’m particularly proud of a project where I led a team to develop a job matching algorithm. We utilized machine learning techniques to improve the accuracy of job recommendations, which resulted in a 30% increase in user engagement. My role involved coordinating with data scientists and engineers to ensure seamless integration.”

2. How do you handle tight deadlines and pressure?

This question evaluates your stress management and time management skills.

How to Answer

Provide an example of a time you successfully managed a tight deadline, emphasizing your strategies.

Example

“In a previous role, I was tasked with delivering a feature within a week. I prioritized tasks, communicated clearly with my team, and focused on delivering a minimum viable product first. This approach allowed us to meet the deadline while ensuring quality.”

3. Can you give an example of a time you received constructive criticism? How did you respond?

This question assesses your ability to accept feedback and grow from it.

How to Answer

Share a specific instance, how you reacted, and what you learned from the experience.

Example

“During a code review, I received feedback about my code’s readability. Initially, I felt defensive, but I took a step back and reviewed the comments. I implemented the suggestions and learned the importance of writing clean, maintainable code, which has improved my coding practices since.”

4. How do you ensure effective communication within a cross-functional team?

This question evaluates your collaboration skills.

How to Answer

Discuss your strategies for maintaining clear communication and fostering collaboration.

Example

“I believe in regular check-ins and using collaborative tools like Slack and Jira to keep everyone updated. I also encourage open discussions during meetings to ensure all voices are heard, which helps in aligning our goals and expectations.”

5. What motivates you to work in the software engineering field?

This question assesses your passion and commitment to the role.

How to Answer

Share your motivations and what excites you about software engineering.

Example

“I’m motivated by the challenge of solving complex problems and the opportunity to create impactful solutions. The fast-paced nature of technology keeps me engaged, and I love learning new skills and applying them to real-world scenarios.”