PagerDuty Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

PagerDuty is a global leader in digital operations management, helping teams tackle critical work through its Operations Cloud.

As a Software Engineer at PagerDuty, you will play a crucial role in designing, coding, testing, and shipping secure and scalable software solutions. Your responsibilities will extend across the entire software development lifecycle, where you will collaborate with product managers, designers, and other engineers to deliver innovative features that enhance the incident management capabilities of the PagerDuty platform. The ideal candidate for this role will possess over 12 years of full-stack experience with modern programming languages, a strong background in SaaS (B2B preferred), and exceptional skills in data structures, algorithms, and performance optimization.

In this role, you will not only contribute to the technical development but also serve as a mentor to colleagues, fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and continuous improvement. Your empathy and communication skills will be essential as you facilitate technical discussions and problem-solving sessions. Familiarity with modern UI frameworks, cloud services (especially AWS), and relational databases will be critical to your success.

This guide is designed to equip you with the insights and knowledge necessary to excel in your interview with PagerDuty, helping you to demonstrate your technical prowess and alignment with the company's values.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at PagerDuty is structured to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the team. It typically consists of several stages, each designed to evaluate different aspects of a candidate's qualifications and compatibility with the company's values.

1. Initial Recruiter Call

The process begins with a phone call from a recruiter, lasting about 30 minutes. During this conversation, the recruiter will discuss the role, the company culture, and your background. Expect to answer behavioral questions that explore your motivations for applying to PagerDuty and how your previous experiences align with the responsibilities of the position.

2. Technical Assessment

Following the initial call, candidates usually complete a technical assessment. This may involve a take-home coding assignment or a live coding session where you will be asked to build a simple application or solve coding problems in real-time. The focus is on practical skills, so be prepared to demonstrate your coding abilities and thought process.

3. Technical Interviews

Candidates who pass the technical assessment will move on to one or more technical interviews. These interviews often include live coding exercises and system design discussions. You may be asked to design a system or discuss your approach to solving specific technical challenges. Interviewers will assess your understanding of data structures, algorithms, and your ability to communicate technical concepts clearly.

4. Behavioral Interviews

In addition to technical skills, PagerDuty places a strong emphasis on cultural fit. Expect to participate in behavioral interviews with team members and managers. These interviews will focus on your past experiences, teamwork, and how you handle challenges. Questions may explore your approach to collaboration, mentorship, and how you align with PagerDuty's core values.

5. Final Interview with Leadership

The final stage typically involves a conversation with higher-level management or team leads. This interview may cover your long-term career goals, your vision for contributing to the team, and how you can help drive the company's mission forward. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the team dynamics and company culture.

Throughout the process, candidates are encouraged to engage with interviewers and ask questions, as this demonstrates interest and initiative.

Next, let's delve into the specific interview questions that candidates have encountered during their interviews at PagerDuty.

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

Understand the Interview Structure

The interview process at PagerDuty typically involves multiple stages, including a recruiter phone screen, technical assessments, and interviews with team members and managers. Familiarize yourself with this structure so you can prepare accordingly. Expect a mix of behavioral and technical questions, including live coding and systems design challenges. Knowing what to expect will help you manage your time and energy effectively during the interview.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

PagerDuty places a strong emphasis on cultural fit and collaboration. Be ready to discuss your previous experiences and how they relate to the role. Reflect on your past teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership experiences. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, ensuring you highlight your contributions and the impact of your work.

Brush Up on Technical Skills

Given the technical nature of the role, ensure you are well-versed in full-stack development, including modern programming languages, UI frameworks like React, and relational databases. Practice coding challenges and system design problems, as these are common in the interview process. Be prepared to demonstrate your thought process and problem-solving skills during live coding sessions.

Showcase Your Empathy and Communication Skills

PagerDuty values empathy and clear communication. Be prepared to discuss how you have effectively communicated with team members and stakeholders in the past. Highlight instances where you facilitated discussions or resolved conflicts. This will demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.

Engage with Your Interviewers

During the interview, ask thoughtful questions about the team, projects, and company culture. This not only shows your interest in the role but also helps you assess if PagerDuty is the right fit for you. Consider asking about the team’s current challenges, how they measure success, and opportunities for professional development.

Embrace the Company Culture

PagerDuty promotes a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity. Familiarize yourself with their core values, such as "Champion the Customer" and "Run Together." Reflect on how your personal values align with theirs and be prepared to discuss this during the interview. Showing that you resonate with their culture can set you apart from other candidates.

Follow Up After the Interview

After your interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. Reiterate your interest in the role and briefly mention a key point from your conversation that resonated with you. This not only demonstrates professionalism but also keeps you top of mind for the interviewers.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you can approach your PagerDuty interview with confidence and clarity. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a software engineering interview at PagerDuty. The interview process will likely assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences, technical knowledge, and how you approach challenges in a collaborative environment.

Technical Skills

1. Can you describe your experience with distributed systems and how you have implemented them in your previous projects?

Understanding distributed systems is crucial for this role, as PagerDuty's products rely on them for scalability and reliability.

How to Answer

Discuss specific projects where you designed or worked with distributed systems, highlighting the challenges faced and how you overcame them.

Example

“In my previous role, I worked on a microservices architecture for a SaaS application. I implemented a service discovery mechanism using Consul, which allowed our services to communicate efficiently. This setup improved our system's scalability and reduced downtime during updates.”

2. How do you ensure the security and reliability of the applications you develop?

Security and reliability are paramount in PagerDuty's operations.

How to Answer

Mention best practices you follow, such as code reviews, automated testing, and security audits.

Example

“I prioritize security by integrating automated security testing into our CI/CD pipeline. Additionally, I conduct regular code reviews focusing on security vulnerabilities and ensure that all dependencies are up-to-date to mitigate risks.”

3. Describe a challenging technical problem you faced and how you solved it.

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and resilience.

How to Answer

Choose a specific example that demonstrates your analytical skills and ability to work under pressure.

Example

“While working on a performance issue in our application, I discovered that a specific database query was causing significant latency. I analyzed the query execution plan, identified missing indexes, and optimized the query, which reduced response times by 40%.”

4. What is your experience with modern UI frameworks, particularly React?

As a full-stack engineer, familiarity with UI frameworks is essential.

How to Answer

Discuss your experience with React, including specific projects and features you implemented.

Example

“I have developed several applications using React, focusing on component reusability and state management with Redux. In one project, I implemented lazy loading for components, which significantly improved the initial load time.”

5. How do you approach debugging and troubleshooting in your applications?

Debugging is a critical skill for any software engineer.

How to Answer

Explain your systematic approach to identifying and resolving issues.

Example

“I start by reproducing the issue in a controlled environment, then use logging and monitoring tools to gather data. I analyze the logs to pinpoint the root cause and apply fixes, followed by thorough testing to ensure the issue is resolved.”

Behavioral Questions

1. Why do you want to work at PagerDuty?

This question gauges your motivation and alignment with the company’s values.

How to Answer

Express your enthusiasm for the company’s mission and how your values align with theirs.

Example

“I admire PagerDuty’s commitment to empowering teams and enhancing incident management. I believe my experience in building reliable systems aligns well with your mission to help organizations respond effectively to critical incidents.”

2. Describe a time when you had to collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Collaboration is key in a team-oriented environment like PagerDuty.

How to Answer

Share a specific example that highlights your communication and teamwork skills.

Example

“In a recent project, I collaborated with product managers and designers to gather requirements for a new feature. I facilitated regular meetings to ensure alignment and incorporated feedback from all stakeholders, which led to a successful launch.”

3. How do you handle feedback and criticism?

This question assesses your ability to grow and adapt.

How to Answer

Discuss your openness to feedback and how you use it for personal and professional development.

Example

“I view feedback as an opportunity for growth. When I receive constructive criticism, I take time to reflect on it and implement changes in my work. For instance, after receiving feedback on my code quality, I adopted stricter coding standards and improved my testing practices.”

4. Can you give an example of how you mentored a colleague?

Mentorship is an important aspect of the role.

How to Answer

Share a specific instance where you provided guidance and support to a team member.

Example

“I mentored a junior developer who was struggling with understanding our codebase. I organized pair programming sessions and provided resources to help them grasp the concepts. Over time, they became more confident and even contributed to a major feature.”

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

Time management is crucial in a fast-paced environment.

How to Answer

Explain your approach to prioritization and how you manage competing deadlines.

Example

“I use a combination of Agile methodologies and prioritization frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix. I assess the urgency and importance of tasks, communicate with stakeholders, and adjust my focus based on project needs and deadlines.”