Top 24 Tesla Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

As one of the leading technology companies globally, securing a position as a Software Engineer or any other at Tesla is highly competitive. The interview process is rigorous and is designed in a way that makes sure that the interviewees recruit top talent in the end. Therefore, presenting your best version effectively during the interview is crucial.

In this article, you’ll discover a compilation of frequently asked Tesla software engineer interview questions, accompanied by example answers to help your interview preparation process. Additionally, we will share several tips at the end of the article to distinguish yourself from other candidates throughout the selection process. So, let’s dive into it!

The typical interview process at Tesla for a Software Engineer position consists of four rounds, each will be conducted with different departments and setups. These four rounds are application screening, online assessment, phone interview, and onsite technical interview. Let’s get into the details of each of these rounds.

1. Application Screening

The interview process at Tesla begins with application screening. In this stage, the recruiters will see whether or not your skills and experiences match their requirements. To increase your chance to get past this stage, make sure that you read the job description carefully and then cater your cover letter and resume according to their requirements. Make sure that you mention any relevant experiences that match the job descriptions.

2. Online Assessment

Once you get past the application screening process, they will invite you to complete an online assessment. In this stage, you will normally need to complete a series of coding questions that you need to complete within a specific time frame.

The questions for this online assessment typically cover the fundamentals of programming, such as data structures and algorithms. Therefore, you need to make sure that you’re comfortable with related topics, such as arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, stacks, and queues. We will see several examples of the questions typically found in online assessment in the next section of this article.

3. Phone Interview

After making it past the online assessment round, you’ll then proceed to a phone interview session with one of the recruiters. In this round, they will review your online assessment and  ask follow up questions on it.

Also, they will go through your resume and ask about specific points in your resume to better understand your qualifications. Additionally, relevant and detailed information about the job will also be discussed in order to familiarize you with your potential responsibilities in the future.

There might also be a second phone interview round with the hiring managers, in which you need to explain your motivations for wanting to work at Tesla. They will also ask you a few behavioral questions to assess your communication and interpersonal skills of working together in a team; and how you handled certain situations in the past.

4. Onsite Technical Interview

If you pass through the phone interview round, then you will be invited to the last round of the interview process, which is the onsite technical interview. This round consists of several sessions.

The first session involves a question about system architecture and design, where you will be given a question and you need to walk them through your thought process to come up with the solution. They aren’t necessarily looking for the best solution, but they want to assess your ability to think critically.

The second session involves a question about programming or data structures and algorithms. Same as the first session, you’ll need to walk them through your code, while also explaining your thought process.

To help your preparation to answer the questions in this round and the phone interview, in the next section we will go through typical software engineering questions at Tesla.

You will face different kinds of questions during your interview for a Software Engineer position at Tesla. The first one is behavioral questions, in which the people at Tesla want to assess your motivation, career goals, and whether or not you could fit into the company’s values and culture.

The second one is technical questions, in which they want to assess your technical skills and knowledge regarding concepts commonly applied in software engineering, such as system design and architecture, data structures and algorithms, object-oriented programming, etc.

In this section, you’ll find several examples of behavioral and technical questions commonly asked in a Software Engineer interview at Tesla.

1. What do you think is important while checking a team member’s code?

At Tesla, you will work with many talented Software Engineers who have their own approaches in terms of coding style, algorithms used, etc. Thus, code review is one of the important agendas to streamline all of the progress and work made by you and your coworkers when developing software. People at Tesla want to evaluate your thought process when conducting a code review to ensure code quality and consistency, whilst also providing constructive feedback to your coworkers when necessary.

How to Answer

First, it is important to mention the importance of code review as a collaborative process rather than a critique. It’s an opportunity for team members to learn from each other and ensure code quality. Next, mention that it’s also important to check that the code meets functional requirements, aligns with the project specifications, and does what it’s intended to do.

Finally, don’t forget to mention the importance of giving constructive feedback and rather than focusing solely on what’s wrong, encourage a positive and collaborative approach to improvements.

Example

“While reviewing a team member’s code, I believe it’s crucial to approach the process as a collaborative effort focused on improving code quality and knowledge sharing. During the meeting, it’s important that we align our goal: to ensure that the code meets functional requirements and aligns with project specifications. It’s also important during code reviews to check for potential drawbacks and scaling issues caused by implementing a specific approach.

Lastly, the way we provide constructive feedback to our coworkers is key. Instead of focusing solely on errors, I believe in creating a positive environment where team members can learn from each other. Encouraging discussions about coding choices, alternatives, and best practices helps create a culture of continuous improvement within the development team.”

2. Tell me a time when your colleagues did not agree with your approach. What did you do to bring them into the conversation and address their concerns?

As a Software Engineer who is expected to work on large-scale systems at Tesla, collaboration with other teams within the software department is guaranteed. This question assesses your interpersonal skills, adaptability, and ability to navigate and resolve conflicts within a team.

In a software development project, differences in opinions are common, and people at Tesla want to ensure that you can handle disagreements constructively, promoting a positive and collaborative atmosphere.

How to Answer

First, start by mentioning a specific example from your experience where colleagues disagreed with your approach. It could involve technical decisions, project planning, or any situation. Then, share how you approached the situation by highlighting your commitment to open communication, active listening, and a collaborative resolution.

Example

“In my previous role, there was a disagreement among team members regarding the architecture of a new feature. I had proposed a microservices approach for its scalability benefits, but some team members were concerned about the potential complexity and the learning curve associated with microservices.

To address this, I organized a team meeting to facilitate an open discussion. I actively listened to the concerns raised by my coworkers. Based on their concerns, we worked together to find a solution that worked for the entire team.

We collectively decided to conduct a design workshop where each team member could present their preferred architectural approach. This hands-on session allowed us to evaluate the pros and cons of each idea collaboratively.”

3. Tell us the time when you had to deal with scaling issues in your past projects and how you solved them.

Scaling issues are common problems in software engineering as the requirements of the project often evolve continuously, especially at Tesla, where you’re expected to contribute to a project involving a large-scale system. This question assesses your practical experience in dealing with scaling issues and your ability to handle increased demands on systems. Your proactive thinking and the ability to learn from past experiences will also be tested.

How to Answer

Begin by acknowledging if you have encountered scaling issues in past projects. Be honest about the challenges you’ve faced. Next, clearly identify the causes of the scaling issues, which can be an increase in user load, data volume, or other factors. Next, discuss the strategies that you can implement to avoid scaling issues from the beginning and the lessons you learned from those issues.

Example

“In my previous role, we encountered scaling issues as our user base grew rapidly. The primary cause was the increased volume of user data and because of that, the system struggled to handle the higher user load. To address the scaling challenges, we implemented several optimizations, including database indexing, query optimizations, and introducing caching mechanisms. Additionally, we migrated certain components to scalable cloud services, which significantly improved our system’s capacity to handle increased loads.

This experience taught me the importance of considering scalability factors during the project planning stage. Since then, I’ve been more proactive in implementing scalability considerations into the design and architecture phase.”

4. How do you prioritize multiple deadlines and stay organized when you have those?

Whenever you’re working as a Software Engineer at Tesla, it is expected that you’ll be working on different kinds of software projects with various deadlines that will come one after another.  This question assesses your ability to manage the workload effectively, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced development environment.

How to Answer

First, start by mentioning how you would normally prioritize tasks, whether it’s based on project requirements, deadlines, etc. Next, mention how using management and collaboration tools helps you to track the project’s progress. Also, don’t forget to emphasize your eagerness to break one complex task into more manageable units to make it easier for you to prioritize tasks and multiple deadlines.

Example

“As a Software Engineer, it’s particularly common for me to find myself in a situation where I need to manage multiple deadlines. Because of that, I typically prioritize tasks based on project requirements and dependencies. As an example, critical bug fixes will likely have my prioritization first, as this will ensure that the software remains stable.

In an Agile environment, I’ve successfully used methodologies like Scrum to set priorities during sprint planning. This involves collaboratively defining user stories, estimating efforts, and organizing tasks on a sprint board. This iterative approach allows for adaptive planning and effective task prioritization.

I rely on version control systems like Git and project management tools like Jira to organize and track tasks efficiently. These tools enable me to allocate time effectively, ensuring that I focus on high-priority software components. Breaking down software tasks into manageable units is also crucial to ensure that each task receives the necessary attention within the given timeframe.”

5. Can you tell us about the project management tools you have used before?

As a Software Engineer, it’s important to always keep track of the project requirements and deadlines in an organized way. This is especially true at Tesla, where you’ll be dealing with projects with different requirements and deadlines simultaneously. People at Tesla want to ensure that you have experience using tools that facilitate communication, task tracking, and overall project organization.

How to Answer

Start by mentioning the importance of collaboration in delivering high quality software and that project management tools help to facilitate that. Then, mention specific management tools that you have used in the past and how those tools help you to deliver the project successfully.

Example

“In my previous role, I’ve utilized various project management tools to collaborate with my coworkers. One tool I am particularly familiar with is Jira, which me us to create and manage user stories, track sprints, and maintain a transparent backlog. It is easily integrated with other development tools like Bitbucket and Confluence. Also, I’ve worked with Trello for smaller projects mainly for task management. Its boards and cards system made it easy to organize and prioritize tasks within the team.

These tools played a crucial role in enhancing our project organization, ensuring timely deliveries, and providing visibility into the development process.”

6. How would you write a function that returns the sum of the elements in the matrix of integers?

During a Software Engineer interview at Tesla, you’ll encounter hard-skill-related questions that will test your understanding of basic programming and problem-solving skills. This question, in particular, will test your knowledge of basic operations like loops, iteration, and working with data structures.

How to Answer

First, make sure to clarify if the matrix can have different dimensions and whether it can include non-integer values. Next, explain your proposed approach, such as by implementing nested loops to iterate through the rows and columns of the matrix. Finally, create a variable to accumulate the sum of elements while iterating through the matrix.

Example

“To solve this problem, let’s create a function called matrix_sum, which takes a matrix as the input. In the function, we iterate through each row, calculate the sum of elements in each row using sum(row), and add it to the total sum. The result is the sum of all elements in the matrix. Below is an example of the code implementation:

def matrix_sum(matrix):

total_sum = 0

for row in matrix:

total_sum += sum(row)

return total_sum

# Example usage:

matrix_example = [

[1, 2, 3],

[4, 5, 6],

[7, 8, 9]

]

result = matrix_sum(matrix_example)

print("Sum of matrix elements:", result)

7. How do you approach error handling?

If you want to work as a Software Engineer at Tesla, which has a huge amount of codebase, the way in which you handle errors or bugs in your code is very important. In a software development lifecycle, error handling is crucial for maintaining system stability and this question will assess your ability to anticipate and identify errors effectively.

How to Answer

First, start by mentioning the importance of error handling in the software development lifecycle.  Then, explain your approaches to implementing error handling. This can be done by applying thorough testing and logging or by using monitoring tools. Also, mention your eagerness to keep learning error-handling strategies in the future.

Example

“Error handling is an important part of my software development approach. When it comes to error handling, I prioritize preventive measures through meticulous testing, input validation, and thoughtful design to minimize the occurrence of errors. However, when I find errors in my code, I rely on comprehensive testing, logging, and monitoring tools to identify the root cause and understand issues. Also, I believe in providing users with clear and informative error messages.”

8. Given a list of integers, assuming that the list can contain both positive and negative numbers and the order of the list does not matter. How would you write a function that returns the duplicate values in that list?

This question assesses your ability to write an algorithm that is easy to follow and comprehend, as this can be considered basic programming knowledge that you should possess as a Software Engineer. Also, your knowledge regarding different data structures, such as lists, sets, or dictionaries, will be looked at.

How to Answer

To answer this question, start by mentioning that we can solve this problem by utilizing a particular attribute of data structures, such as a set. Next, explain how you would iterate through the list to identify and record duplicate values, and don’t forget to highlight any specific considerations for handling positive and negative numbers.

Example

“To solve this problem, I would use a set or dictionary to efficiently keep track of unique values encountered while iterating through the list.

I would iterate through the list of integers, checking whether each number is already present in the set or dictionary. If it is, I would consider it a duplicate and record it. This approach allows for constant-time lookups, making it efficient even for large datasets.

For handling both positive and negative numbers, I would consider the absolute values when checking for duplicates, ensuring that -5 and 5 are treated as duplicates. Below is an example of the code implementation:”

def find_duplicates(input_list):

seen = set()

duplicates = set()

for num in input_list:

absolute_value = abs(num)

if absolute_value in seen:

duplicates.add(absolute_value)

else:

seen.add(absolute_value)

return list(duplicates)

# Example usage:

input_numbers = [1, -2, 3, 4, -2, 5, 6, -7, 8, 8, -9, 10, 1, 3]

result = find_duplicates(input_numbers)

print("Duplicate values:", result)

9. What is the time complexity of a quicksort algorithm?

As a Software Engineer, your ability to design an efficient algorithm with the simplest time and space complexion is very crucial, especially at Tesla, where the runtime of software is an important factor.

This question is asked in interviews to assess your understanding of analyzing the efficiency of algorithms using Big O notation.

How to Answer

First, start by explaining the general concept of how quicksort works by highlighting its key steps, such as partitioning and recursive sorting. Then, use the Big O notation concept to describe the time and space complexity of quicksort by considering the average, best, and worst-case scenarios. Emphasize the efficiency of Quicksort, especially in average cases, compared to other sorting algorithms.

Example

“Quicksort is a sorting algorithm that works by selecting a ‘pivot’ element, partitioning the array into two subarrays such that elements smaller than the pivot are on the left, and those greater are on the right. The process is then applied recursively to the subarrays.

In the concept of Big O notation, quicksort has an average-case time complexity of O(n log n). This makes it highly efficient for large datasets and outperforms other sorting algorithms like Bubble Sort or Insertion Sort. However, it’s also important to consider that in the worst-case scenario, quicksort can have a time complexity of O(n^2), which occurs when poorly chosen pivots lead to unbalanced partitions.

In terms of memory complexity, quicksort has an O(log n) complexity, which means that it can be one of memory-efficient algorithms compared to other algorithms.”

10. Given an integer N, how can you write a function that returns a list of all of the prime numbers up to N?

When applying for a Software Engineer position at Tesla, you’re expected to know how to implement solutions based on basic algorithmic and programming concepts. This question is often asked in Software Engineer interviews as generating prime numbers efficiently is a good indicator to judge your knowledge of the basic theory of mathematics and your ability to write optimized code.

How to Answer

Start by mentioning and explaining a well-known algorithm for identifying prime numbers, such as the Sieve of Eratosthenes or a simple iteration with primality checks. Then, discuss any optimizations you would apply to make the algorithm more efficient, such as checking divisibility only up to the square root of a number.

Example

“To solve this problem, I would use a well-known algorithm such as the Sieve of Eratosthenes. This algorithm involves marking multiples of each prime, effectively eliminating non-prime numbers. As an alternative approach, I would use a simple iteration through numbers from 2 to N with primality checks.

For optimization, I would check divisibility only up to the square root of a number. This is because any non-prime divisor must be smaller than or equal to the square root of a number. This optimization significantly improves the algorithm’s efficiency, especially for larger values of N. Below is the example of the code implementation to solve this problem”

def prime_numbers(N):

primes = []

is_prime = [True] * (N + 1)

for num in range(2, int(N**0.5) + 1):

if is_prime[num]:

primes.append(num)

for multiple in range(num * num, N + 1, num):

is_prime[multiple] = False

for num in range(max(2, int(N**0.5) + 1), N + 1):

if is_prime[num]:

primes.append(num)

return primes

# Example usage:

N = 20

result = prime_numbers(N)

print("Prime numbers up to", N, ":", result)

11. What is the difference between an array and a stack?

Data structure plays a pivotal role when it comes to designing large-scale software, especially at Tesla, where the scalability factor of software is very important as the requirements are changing and growing continuously. Therefore, data structure is also a concept that you need to master as a Software Engineer. This question is asked to assess your fundamental understanding of data structures since both arrays and stacks are basic data structures commonly used in practice.

How to Answer

First, start by mentioning the general overview of arrays and stacks. Then, proceed by mentioning the difference between the two in terms of how they store elements, allocate memories, etc.

Example

“In programming, understanding the differences between arrays and stacks is fundamental. An array is a linear data structure that stores elements of the same type at contiguous memory locations. It supports random access to elements using indices, allowing for operations like insertion, deletion, and traversal. Arrays have a fixed size, and their memory is allocated all at once.

On the other hand, a stack is a last-in, first-out (LIFO) data structure. Elements are added and removed from the same end, known as the top. To add an element, the stack uses a push operation, while to remove the top element, the stack uses a pop operation. Unlike arrays, stacks manage memory dynamically, and the memory is automatically allocated and deallocated as elements are pushed and popped.”

12. Consider an employee table with several columns: id, first name, last name, salary, department id, and manager id. How would you write an SQL query to get the total salary of all employees?

If you want to work as a Software Engineer at Tesla, knowledge of SQL and basic database operations is a must. This is because you will frequently interact with databases to retrieve and manipulate data, and sometimes also design a database schema and architecture to build a database that is highly scalable and adaptive.

How to Answer

This question is very simple to solve as you only need the basic SQL operations like SELECT, FROM, and SUM. You need to make sure that your query is clear and readable by implementing an appropriate use of aliases and formatting to make the code easily understandable. Also, if there are specific requirements or constraints not provided in the question, make reasonable assumptions based on typical database querying scenarios.

Example

“Since we want to fetch the sum of the salary from the employee table, then we can solve this problem with SELECT SUM(salary) as total_salary FROM employees. Below is the SQL query implementation to solve the problem.”

SELECT SUM(salary) AS total_salary

FROM employees;

13. Which one would you choose between a microservice approach and a monolithic approach when designing an app?

This question assesses your understanding of architectural design considerations and your ability to make informed decisions based on project requirements. Microservices and monolithic architectures represent two different approaches, each with its advantages and challenges. As you will design different kinds of software for various applications at Tesla, your ability as a Software Engineer to analyze and choose the most suitable architecture for a given application is important.

How to Answer

Start by mentioning that before we implement either of the architecture designs, we need to understand the specific needs of the project in terms of scalability, maintainability, and deployment. Then, mention the pros and cons of both microservices and monolithic architectures, considering different factors. Finally, mention a specific example in which we can use either one of the architectural designs.

Example

“Before I decide to choose which one I would implement between a microservice approach and a monolithic approach when designing an app, I would first try to understand the project’s requirements. Microservices offer benefits like scalability, independent deployment, and technology flexibility. However, they introduce complexity in terms of communication between services and require a well-defined DevOps pipeline.

On the other hand, a monolithic approach is simpler to develop, test, and deploy but might face challenges as the application grows in scale. If the project demands rapid development and a straightforward architecture, and the team is more comfortable with it, a monolithic approach could be suitable.

For example, if I were working on a small to medium-sized project with straightforward requirements and a focus on rapid development, I might prefer a monolithic approach. On the other hand, for a large-scale project with diverse functionalities and a need for independent scaling, I would consider a microservices architecture to ensure better maintainability and scalability over time.”

14. How would you swap the value of key a and the value of key b in a dictionary?

This question is also asked in a Software Engineer interview to assess your understanding of data structures and basic programming concepts, such as variable assignment and variable manipulation concepts, without introducing extra variables.

How to Answer

First, start by mentioning that we can use the concept of tuple unpacking in Python to swap the values of the key ‘a’ and ‘b’ within the dictionary. Next, make sure that the solution that you implement involves in-place swapping without the need for declaring extra variables.

Example

“To solve this problem, we can leverage the concept of tuple unpacking. With syntax (my_dict[‘b’], my_dict[‘a’]), we can access the value of key  ‘b’ and key ‘a’. Next, we can assign the value of key ‘a’ with the value of key ‘b’ and vice versa, effectively swapping their values in-place. Below is the example of code implementation to solve the problem:

def swap_values(numbers):

# Swap values of keys 'a' and 'b' in the given dictionary

numbers['a'], numbers['b'] = numbers['b'], numbers['a']

return numbers

# Example usage:

numbers = {'a': 3, 'b': 4}

# Call the function to swap values

swap_values(numbers)

15. Can you tell me what web workers in HTML5 and their importance are?

Effective and responsive web applications are a must thing to have at a company like Tesla that has a big pool of customers. Web workers are advanced features in HTML5  that offer advantages to enhance the web’s performance and knowing their basic concept is essential for a Software Engineer, especially for Front-End Engineer.

How to Answer

Start by mentioning that web workers are JavaScript scripts that run in the background, separate from the main thread of the web page. Then, highlight their importance by explaining the scenario where we can benefit from web workers.

Example

“Web workers in HTML5 are JavaScript scripts that operate independently in the background, running concurrently with the main thread of a web page. They are essential for optimizing web applications, particularly in scenarios where tasks may be computationally intensive or time-consuming.

For example, if a web application involves complex data processing or heavy calculations, utilizing web workers allows these tasks to run in the background without affecting the responsiveness of the user interface. This is crucial for providing a smoother user experience, as the main thread remains available for handling user interactions.”

16. How can you write a function to return whether or not string A can be shifted some number of places to get string B?

When you’re applying for a Software Engineer position at Tesla, your ability to think logically to implement effective solutions is crucial. This question, in particular, assesses your ability to think logically in order to solve algorithmic problems. Also, as a Software Engineer you need to be familiar with the concept of string operations, indexing, and data transformations.

How to Answer

The first thing that you need to do is to check that the lengths of strings A and B are the same. If they differ, A cannot be shifted to become B. Next, concatenate string A with itself to create a longer string containing all possible shifted versions of A. Finally, check if string B is a substring of the concatenated string. If yes, A can be shifted to become B.

Example

“To solve this problem, we need to verify first that the lengths of strings A and B are equal. If not, it returns False since the lengths must match for a successful shift. Then, we can create a string that contains all possible shifted versions of A by concatenating A with itself. Finally, it checks if B is a substring of the concatenated string. If true, A can be shifted to become B. Below is an example of code implementation to solve this problem.”

def can_shift(A, B):

if len(A) != len(B):

return False

shifted_strings = A + A

return B in shifted_strings

# Example usage:

A = "abcde"

B = "deabc"

result = can_shift(A, B)

print(result)  # Output: True

17. Can you tell us the difference between functional and non-functional requirements?

Any software project will come with a lot of different requirements and they often will continue to grow in scale as the project progresses. This question is asked to assess your understanding of the diverse requirements in software development. Functional and non-functional requirements play distinct roles in project development, and people at Tesla want to ensure that you’re able to grasp the significance of both types and prioritize your tasks accordingly.

How to Answer

Start by describing the general meaning of functional and non-functional requirements. Then, highlight the importance of prioritizing both functional and non-functional requirements to ensure a balanced and successful software development project.

Example

“In the software development lifecycle, functional and non-functional requirements have different purposes. Functional requirements focus on specific features, functionalities, and interactions with users. The main purpose of functional requirements is to ensure that the software works according to the specifications and capabilities we expect it to perform.

Meanwhile, non-functional requirements focus on things outside of specific functionalities. They cover aspects like performance, security, usability, and reliability. The main purpose of non-functional requirements is to ensure the overall quality and user experience of the system.”

18. Given a list of sorted integers in which more than 50% of the list is composed of the same repeating integer, how would you write a function to return the median value of the list in O(1) computational time and space complexity?

The ability to design and implement algorithms with the simplest time and space complexity is an important asset to have as a Software Engineer. This is especially true if you’re working at Tesla, where the runtime of software is a crucial factor. This interview question assesses your knowledge and understanding of the Big O notation and its implementation.

How to Answer

First, read the instructions carefully and recognize that in a sorted list with more than 50% of the elements being the same repeating integer, the median will always be that repeating integer. Next, explain that by calculating the middle index of the list, you can directly obtain the repeating integer as the median in O(1) time and space complexity.

Example

“We know that in a sorted list where more than 50% of the elements are the same repeating integer, the median will always be that repeating integer. By calculating the middle index of the list using len(sorted_list) // 2), we can directly obtain the repeating integer as the median in O(1) time and space complexity. Below is an example of the code implementation to solve this problem.”

def find_median(sorted_list):

repeating_index = len(sorted_list) // 2

median_value = sorted_list[repeating_index]

return median_value

# Example usage:

sorted_list = [1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

result = find_median(sorted_list)

print("Median value:", result)

19. What is the difference between black-box testing and white-box testing?

Software testing is one of the important steps in a complex software development project that you’ll encounter as a Software Engineer at Tesla to ensure that the system works according to requirements. Therefore, your understanding of testing methodologies in software development is also important, as black-box testing and white-box testing represent two different approaches to testing.

How to Answer

First, start by explaining the general description of black-box and white-box testing. Then, segue to mention the fundamental differences between the two types of testing by highlighting that black-box testing emphasizes external behavior and user perspectives, while white-box testing focuses on internal logic, control flow, and code structure.

Example

“Black-box testing and white-box testing are two distinct testing methodologies in software development. Black-box testing focuses more on evaluating the functionality of a system without knowledge of its internal code structure. This means that the software tester assesses the system based on inputs and expected outputs, focusing on external behavior and user perspectives. The main point of black-box testing is to ensure that the software meets specified requirements and functions correctly from the user’s perspective.

Meanwhile, white-box testing requires knowledge of the internal code structure. The software tester should have access to the source code, allowing them to create test cases based on the code’s logic, control flow, and structure. The main goal of white-box testing is to ensure that all code paths and branches are tested thoroughly.”

20. Given a list of integers, can you write a function to find the greatest common denominator between them?

This is one of the questions that will test your algorithmic understanding, as you need to master the control flow in the programming concept to implement efficient and scalable solutions. Also, this question will assess your critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills that would come in handy in your daily task to write clean and bug-free code.

How to Answer

To answer this question, first, you need to read and understand the question carefully. Then, propose an algorithm that you know to solve the problem, such as the Euclidean algorithm. This algorithm can be used to compute the greatest common denominator of two numbers. Next, explain that we need to extend this algorithm to accommodate multiple numbers in the list.

Example

“From my understanding, one common algorithm for computing the greatest common denominator is the Euclidean algorithm. It involves repeatedly taking the remainder of dividing two numbers until one of them becomes zero. To extend this to multiple numbers, I would iteratively apply the Euclidean algorithm to pairs of numbers in the list until I find the greatest common denominator of all integers. Below is an example of the code implementation to solve this problem.”

def gcd(a, b):

while b:

a, b = b, a % b

return a

def gcd_multiple(nums):

result = nums[0]

for num in nums[1:]:

result = gcd(result, num)

return result

# Example usage:

nums = [24, 36, 48]

print("GCD:", gcd_multiple(nums))

21. Given a table of cars with columns id and make, write a query that outputs a random manufacturer’s name with an equal probability of selecting any name.

This question is asked in a Tesla software engineer interview to evaluate a candidate’s understanding of SQL and their ability to write queries that ensure equal probability in random selection. It tests the candidate’s knowledge of database functions and their ability to handle common tasks involving randomness and data retrieval.

How to Answer

To answer this question, first explain the goal of selecting a random manufacturer’s name with equal probability. Then, outline the approach: retrieve unique manufacturer names, shuffle them randomly, and select one name. This ensures each manufacturer has an equal chance of being chosen, demonstrating your understanding of SQL functions and randomness.

Example

“To solve this problem, I start by ensuring that I’m selecting only unique manufacturer names to avoid any duplicates. Next, I use a method to shuffle these names randomly, which ensures that every manufacturer has an equal chance of being selected. Finally, I limit the result to just one name.”

22. Write a query to find out how much time, in minutes (rounded down), each plane spent in the air each day.

By asking this question, the interviewer aims to evaluate the candidate’s understanding of date and time functions, their ability to manipulate and transform data, and their problem-solving skills in deriving meaningful insights from raw data.

How to Answer

Break down the problem using Common Table Expressions (CTEs) to manage intermediate steps. Use SQL functions like TIME_TO_SEC and TIMEDIFF for accurate time calculations. Focus on calculating daily flight times and then aggregate these times by plane and date for the final result.

Example

“To tackle this problem, I would start by breaking it down into manageable steps using Common Table Expressions (CTEs). First, I would extract and convert flight times to a consistent format. Then, I could calculate the time each plane spent in the air for each day, using SQL functions like TIME_TO_SEC and TIMEDIFF for accurate time calculations. I should handle flights that span multiple days by splitting the duration accordingly. Finally, I would aggregate the daily flight times per plane and ensure the results are accurate.”

23. Imagine you have been given an array of integers, and a query number k. Your task is to write a function that finds all the triplets in the array that sum up to the query number k.

This question tests your understanding of array manipulation, algorithm efficiency, and your ability to implement logical solutions for search and matching problems. It also evaluates your grasp of sorting, searching, and working with complements.

How to Answer

Start by clearly explaining the problem and constraints, such as handling duplicate numbers and ensuring that triplets are unique. Highlight the approach you’ll take, such as sorting the array to simplify the search process and using binary search to optimize finding the complement. Emphasize how this balances clarity and efficiency.

Example

“To solve this problem, I would begin by sorting the array to streamline finding triplets. Then, for each pair of numbers in the array, I’d calculate the complement needed to reach the target sum. Using binary search, I can efficiently check if the complement exists in the remaining elements of the array. This ensures a more optimized solution compared to a brute-force approach. My code would also handle edge cases like arrays with fewer than three elements or where no triplets exist.”

24. Given two tables: accounts, and downloads, find the average number of downloads for free vs paying accounts, broken down by day.

This question evaluates your understanding of SQL joins, aggregate functions, and data grouping techniques. It also tests your ability to filter and structure data effectively for specific insights while ensuring accurate calculations.

How to Answer

Start by explaining how to join the two tables to ensure only relevant data—accounts with at least one download—is included in the calculation. Highlight the use of an INNER JOIN to filter out accounts with no downloads automatically. Emphasize the importance of grouping results by day and account type to differentiate free and paying accounts and the use of the ROUND function for cleaner output.

Example

“To solve this problem, I would first join the accounts and downloads tables using an INNER JOIN to ensure only accounts with downloads are included. Then, I’d group the data by download_date and paying_customer to calculate the average downloads separately for free and paying accounts each day. Using the AVG() function to find the mean downloads and ROUND() to format the result to two decimal places, I’d ensure accurate and clear results. This approach aligns with the requirements, avoids unnecessary complexity, and maintains focus on accounts with meaningful data.”

To help you make great impressions and increase your chances of getting hired after the interview process, we have gathered several tips for you in this section.

Understand Tesla’s Culture and Value

This is the first thing that you need to do even before you submit your application documents to Tesla. You need to know Tesla’s culture, values, and latest trends by visiting their website, reading articles, reading the job descriptions, etc., such that you can align your skills and experiences with the company’s mission when preparing your application documents.

Review Fundamental Theories

Being a Software Engineer means that you need to master several subjects, such as programming, software design and architecture, or data structures. Thus, before you jump into the more practical side of the preparation process, make sure that you revisit all of the fundamental theories mentioned above.

In particular, you need to make sure that you understand different kinds of data structures such as arrays, linked lists, dictionaries, sets, stacks, queues, and graphs; and data algorithms such as sorting, searching, recursion, and dynamic programming.

Also, you need to review concepts regarding object-oriented programming (OOP), design patterns, and how to write modular, clean, and maintainable code.

Here on Interview Query, you can start to learn or brush up on your data structures knowledge by following a Python course that we have. In addition to that, you can also practice your SQL skills with our SQL course.

Practice Coding Challenges

Now that you’ve brushed up on the fundamentals regarding the theory necessary in software engineering, you need to start practicing your problem-solving skills. You can do this by solving algorithmic and logical problems that you can find on many platforms, such as Interview Query.

If you would like to level up your coding skills and want to practice solving different kinds of algorithmic and logical questions, then you can do that on our site, as we have lots of coding interview questions and coding challenges that you can implement using Python or SQL.

Be Ready for Case Studies and Showcase Communication Skills

During the technical interview conducted at Tesla, you’ll be given a problem regarding programming, software design and architecture, or data structures in which you need to present the solution directly during the interview process. You’ll need to write the code or the concept of your solution whilst also explaining to the interviewers about your thought process. This can be a nerve-wracking moment if you don’t prepare well beforehand.

To make yourself more comfortable in dealing with a use-case study kind of interview, you can solve one of our take-home challenges, in which you will be presented with a problem and you need to prepare a thorough solution to answer the question.

These are some of the frequently asked questions by people interested in working as a Software Engineer at Tesla.

How much do Software Engineers at Tesla make in a year?

The base pay for a Software Engineer working at Tesla is in the range of $140,843, while the average total compensation is estimated to be $199,990.

If you want to compare the salary at Tesla with other companies, you can also check the average base salary and the average total compensation for a Software Engineer position on Interview Query’s Software Engineer Salary Page.

Where can I read more about people’s interview experiences for a Software Engineer position at Tesla on Interview Query?

You can read about other people’s interview experiences for Software Engineer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, and other data-related positions on our Interview Experiences page.

You can also interact with other professionals or people who are seeking Software Engineer positions in the IQ community on Slack.

Does Interview Query have job postings for Software Engineer positions at Tesla?

Check out Interview Query’s Jobs Board to see any available Tesla Software Engineer jobs or you can go directly to their career page.

If you would like to know the interview process of related tech positions at Tesla, then you also find them on Interview Query, as we have covered their Data Scientist, Data Engineer, Data Analyst, and Business Analyst interview guides.

We hope that this article helps with your interview preparation process for the Software Engineer position at Tesla. If you have questions or need help, don’t hesitate to contact us, and be sure to check out the services that we offer on our site to help with your interview preparation.