Tubi Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Tubi is a leading global entertainment platform, renowned as the most-watched free TV and movie streaming service in the U.S. and Canada, dedicated to providing everyone access to a vast array of stories through its extensive on-demand content library.

As a Software Engineer at Tubi, you will play a significant role in building and maintaining the systems that support the streaming service's infrastructure. This position involves designing and developing real-time systems, managing data pipelines, and implementing low-latency solutions that ensure a seamless viewing experience for millions of users. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including data scientists and machine learning engineers, to deliver innovative solutions that enhance the platform's performance and scalability. A strong focus on programming languages such as Java, Scala, or Python, along with expertise in cloud technologies like AWS, is essential for success in this role. Moreover, effective problem-solving skills, technical leadership, and a passion for continuous improvement will be crucial traits that align with Tubi's commitment to delivering exceptional user experiences.

This guide aims to equip you with the insights and knowledge necessary to prepare effectively for your interview, ensuring you present your skills and experiences in a way that resonates with Tubi's values and expectations.

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

1. Initial Recruiter Screen

The process begins with a phone call from a recruiter, which usually lasts about 30 minutes. During this initial screen, the recruiter will discuss your background, relevant experiences, and motivations for applying to Tubi. Expect questions that gauge your understanding of the role and the company, as well as your general fit within Tubi's culture.

2. Hiring Manager Interview

Following the recruiter screen, candidates typically have a one-on-one interview with the hiring manager. This conversation often delves deeper into your work history and specific projects you've led or contributed to. You may also be asked to explain your technical skills and how they align with the needs of the team. This stage may include a whiteboarding exercise or a discussion of technical challenges relevant to the role.

3. Technical Assessment

Candidates who progress past the hiring manager interview may be required to complete a technical assessment. This could be a take-home assignment or a live coding session, focusing on relevant programming languages and technologies such as SQL, Java, Scala, or Spark. The assessment is designed to evaluate your problem-solving abilities and technical proficiency in real-world scenarios.

4. Onsite or Virtual Interview

The final stage usually involves a series of interviews with multiple team members, often referred to as a panel interview. This can include technical interviews, behavioral interviews, and discussions about system design and architecture. Each interview typically lasts around 30-45 minutes, and you may encounter questions that assess your ability to work collaboratively, mentor others, and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Throughout the process, candidates should be prepared for a mix of technical and behavioral questions, as well as hypothetical scenarios that test their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Now, let's explore some of the specific interview questions that candidates have encountered during their interviews at Tubi.

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

Understand the Interview Process

Tubi's interview process can vary, but it often includes a recruiter screen, a technical interview, and an onsite or panel interview. Be prepared for a mix of behavioral and technical questions. Familiarize yourself with the typical structure and types of questions you might encounter, as this will help you feel more at ease during the interview.

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As a Software Engineer, you will likely face technical assessments that may include coding challenges, system design questions, and discussions around distributed systems. Brush up on your knowledge of relevant programming languages such as Java, Scala, and Python, as well as frameworks like Spark and Kubernetes. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills through practical examples and coding exercises.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect to discuss your past experiences and how they relate to the role. Tubi values candidates who can articulate their contributions to previous projects, particularly in terms of teamwork and leadership. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, ensuring you highlight your impact and the skills you utilized.

Emphasize Collaboration and Communication

Tubi's culture emphasizes collaboration across teams, especially between engineering, product, and data science. Be prepared to discuss how you have successfully worked in cross-functional teams in the past. Highlight your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, as this will be crucial in your role.

Research Tubi's Products and Culture

Familiarize yourself with Tubi's offerings, including their content catalog and how they leverage data and machine learning to enhance user experience. Understanding the company's mission and values will help you align your responses with what Tubi is looking for in a candidate. Show genuine enthusiasm for their products and how you can contribute to their success.

Be Ready for Hypothetical Scenarios

During interviews, you may encounter hypothetical questions that assess your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically. When faced with a scenario, outline your approach to tackling the problem, considering both technical and user experience aspects.

Follow Up Professionally

After your interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. This is not only courteous but also reinforces your interest in the position. If you don't hear back within the expected timeframe, consider following up to inquire about your application status. This demonstrates your proactive nature and continued interest in the role.

By preparing thoroughly and showcasing your technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and enthusiasm for Tubi's mission, you'll position yourself as a strong candidate for the Software Engineer role. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Software Engineer interview at Tubi. The interview process will likely focus on your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience with large-scale systems, particularly in the context of data and machine learning. Be prepared to discuss your past projects, technical challenges you've faced, and how you approach system design and optimization.

Technical Experience

1. Can you describe a project where you built a scalable data pipeline? What technologies did you use?

This question aims to assess your hands-on experience with data pipelines and your familiarity with relevant technologies.

How to Answer

Discuss the specific project, the challenges you faced, the technologies you used (like Spark or Flink), and the impact of your work on the overall system.

Example

“I worked on a project where we needed to process streaming data from various sources in real-time. I implemented a data pipeline using Apache Spark and Kafka, which allowed us to handle large volumes of data efficiently. This system reduced our data processing time by 40%, enabling quicker insights for our analytics team.”

2. How do you ensure data quality in your projects?

This question evaluates your understanding of data integrity and the measures you take to maintain it.

How to Answer

Explain the tools and processes you use to monitor and enforce data quality, such as validation checks, automated testing, and data cleaning techniques.

Example

“I implement a series of validation checks at various stages of the data pipeline to ensure data quality. For instance, I use Apache Airflow to schedule regular data quality checks and alert the team if any anomalies are detected. Additionally, I build data cleaning processes to handle missing or inconsistent data before it enters our analytics systems.”

System Design

3. Describe your approach to designing a distributed system. What factors do you consider?

This question assesses your system design skills and understanding of distributed systems.

How to Answer

Discuss the key factors you consider, such as scalability, reliability, fault tolerance, and performance. Mention any specific design patterns or architectures you prefer.

Example

“When designing a distributed system, I prioritize scalability and fault tolerance. I often use microservices architecture to ensure that each component can scale independently. I also implement load balancing and redundancy to handle failures gracefully, ensuring high availability for users.”

4. How would you optimize a slow-running SQL query?

This question tests your SQL skills and your ability to troubleshoot performance issues.

How to Answer

Explain the steps you would take to analyze and optimize the query, such as examining execution plans, indexing, and rewriting the query for efficiency.

Example

“I would start by analyzing the execution plan to identify bottlenecks. If I notice that certain tables are not indexed, I would create appropriate indexes to speed up lookups. Additionally, I would consider rewriting the query to reduce complexity, such as breaking it into smaller, more manageable parts or using common table expressions.”

Collaboration and Communication

5. How do you handle disagreements with team members regarding technical decisions?

This question evaluates your interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to conflict resolution, emphasizing open communication, collaboration, and finding common ground.

Example

“When disagreements arise, I believe in fostering open communication. I encourage team members to share their perspectives and rationale behind their choices. We often hold a discussion to weigh the pros and cons of each approach, and I aim to find a solution that aligns with our project goals while respecting everyone’s input.”

6. Can you give an example of how you mentored a junior engineer?

This question assesses your leadership and mentoring abilities.

How to Answer

Share a specific instance where you provided guidance or support to a junior engineer, highlighting the skills you helped them develop.

Example

“I mentored a junior engineer who was struggling with understanding our data pipeline architecture. I organized a series of one-on-one sessions where I walked them through the design and implementation details. I also encouraged them to take on small tasks within the project, which helped build their confidence and skills over time.”

Problem Solving

7. Describe a complex technical challenge you faced and how you resolved it.

This question aims to understand your problem-solving skills and resilience in the face of difficulties.

How to Answer

Detail the challenge, your thought process in addressing it, and the outcome of your efforts.

Example

“I encountered a significant performance issue in our data processing pipeline that was causing delays. After thorough investigation, I discovered that a specific transformation step was the bottleneck. I optimized the code and parallelized the processing, which improved the overall throughput by 50% and resolved the delays.”

8. How do you stay updated with the latest technologies and trends in software engineering?

This question assesses your commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

How to Answer

Discuss the resources you use, such as online courses, tech blogs, conferences, or community involvement.

Example

“I regularly follow industry blogs and participate in online forums like Stack Overflow and GitHub. I also attend tech meetups and conferences to network with other professionals and learn about emerging technologies. Additionally, I take online courses to deepen my knowledge in specific areas, such as cloud computing and machine learning.”