Verily Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Verily is a subsidiary of Alphabet that leverages a data-driven approach to transform how individuals manage their health and improve healthcare delivery.

As a Software Engineer at Verily, you will play a crucial role in developing and enhancing innovative products aimed at realizing the promise of precision health. This position involves designing, developing, and delivering full-stack software solutions that bridge the gap between clinical research and patient care. Key responsibilities include collaborating with cross-functional teams to create user-centric applications, mentoring junior engineers to foster growth and learning, and ensuring that the technical architecture meets scalability and performance requirements. The ideal candidate should possess a strong foundation in software engineering principles, experience with cloud technologies, and proficiency in modern programming languages such as Go and Java. Your passion for improving developer experiences, along with excellent communication skills, will be instrumental in driving impactful solutions within a collaborative environment.

This guide will equip you with insights into the role and expectations at Verily, helping you to effectively prepare for your interview and stand out as a candidate.

The interview process for a Software Engineer role at Verily is structured to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the organization. Candidates can expect a multi-step process that includes various types of interviews designed to evaluate their expertise and alignment with Verily's mission.

1. Initial Screening

The first step in the interview process is an initial screening, typically conducted by a recruiter. This 30-45 minute conversation focuses on understanding the candidate's background, skills, and motivations for applying to Verily. The recruiter will also provide insights into the company culture and the specifics of the Software Engineer role, ensuring that candidates have a clear understanding of what to expect.

2. Technical Assessment

Following the initial screening, candidates will undergo a technical assessment. This may take the form of a coding challenge or a technical interview conducted via video call. During this stage, candidates are expected to demonstrate their proficiency in relevant programming languages and frameworks, as well as their problem-solving abilities. The assessment may include algorithmic challenges, system design questions, and discussions about past projects to gauge the candidate's technical depth and experience.

3. Behavioral Interview

After successfully completing the technical assessment, candidates will participate in a behavioral interview. This round typically involves one or more team members and focuses on assessing the candidate's soft skills, teamwork, and alignment with Verily's values. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experiences working in collaborative environments, how they handle challenges, and their approach to mentoring or coaching others.

4. Onsite Interview (or Virtual Onsite)

The final stage of the interview process is the onsite interview, which may also be conducted virtually. This comprehensive round consists of multiple interviews with various team members, including engineers, product managers, and UX designers. Each interview will cover different aspects of the role, including technical skills, project management, and cross-functional collaboration. Candidates may also be asked to participate in a group exercise or case study to evaluate their ability to work effectively in a team setting.

Throughout the interview process, candidates should be prepared to showcase their technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and passion for improving healthcare through technology.

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

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

Embrace the Mission of Precision Health

Verily is deeply committed to advancing precision health, so it’s crucial to align your passion for technology with their mission. Familiarize yourself with how data-driven approaches can transform healthcare delivery. Be prepared to discuss how your skills and experiences can contribute to this vision, and share any relevant projects or insights that demonstrate your commitment to improving health outcomes.

Showcase Your Technical Expertise

As a Software Engineer, you will be expected to have a strong foundation in various programming languages and frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of Go, React, and cloud technologies like Google Cloud Platform. Be ready to discuss your experience with full-stack development, including any specific projects where you implemented scalable solutions. Highlight your familiarity with modern development practices, such as CI/CD, and be prepared to discuss how you ensure code quality through testing and reviews.

Highlight Collaboration and Communication Skills

Verily values teamwork and cross-functional collaboration. Prepare examples that showcase your ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including product managers, UX designers, and other engineers. Discuss how you’ve navigated challenges in team settings and contributed to a positive team culture. Strong communication skills are essential, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially when discussing technical concepts.

Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios

Expect to encounter technical challenges during the interview. Be ready to walk through your thought process when solving complex problems. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, focusing on how you approached the problem, the steps you took, and the outcomes. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and ability to think critically under pressure.

Understand the Company Culture

Verily emphasizes a culture of inclusion, belonging, and equitability. Familiarize yourself with their values and be prepared to discuss how you embody these principles in your work. Reflect on your experiences that demonstrate your commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and how you can contribute to maintaining a positive workplace culture.

Be Ready to Discuss Your Impact

Verily is looking for engineers who can make a significant impact on their products and the healthcare ecosystem. Prepare to discuss specific examples of how your work has led to measurable outcomes in previous roles. Whether it’s improving user experience, enhancing system performance, or driving innovation, be ready to articulate the value you bring to the team.

Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about the team dynamics, the technologies they are currently exploring, or how they measure success in their projects. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if Verily is the right fit for you.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you will position yourself as a strong candidate who is not only technically proficient but also aligned with Verily's mission and culture. Good luck!

Verily Software Engineer Interview Questions

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Verily software engineer interview. The interview will assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and your capacity to work collaboratively within cross-functional teams. Be prepared to discuss your experience with mobile and web development, cloud technologies, and your approach to software architecture and design.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the differences between REST and GraphQL?

Understanding API design is crucial for a software engineer, especially in a company that relies on data-driven solutions.

How to Answer

Discuss the fundamental differences in how data is requested and returned in REST versus GraphQL, including the flexibility of GraphQL in fetching only the required data.

Example

"REST APIs typically return a fixed structure of data, which can lead to over-fetching or under-fetching. In contrast, GraphQL allows clients to specify exactly what data they need, which can optimize performance and reduce bandwidth usage."

2. Describe your experience with cloud platforms like GCP or AWS.

Given Verily's focus on cloud-native solutions, familiarity with these platforms is essential.

How to Answer

Highlight specific projects where you utilized cloud services, focusing on the tools and technologies you used.

Example

"I have worked extensively with Google Cloud Platform, particularly with BigQuery for data analysis and Cloud Functions for serverless computing. In my last project, I designed a data pipeline that processed clinical data using GCP services, which improved our data retrieval times by 30%."

3. How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in your projects?

Code quality is vital in healthcare technology, where reliability is paramount.

How to Answer

Discuss your practices around code reviews, testing, and documentation.

Example

"I prioritize code quality by implementing thorough code reviews and using automated testing frameworks. I also ensure that my code is well-documented, which helps maintain clarity for future developers."

4. Can you walk us through a challenging technical problem you solved?

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and technical depth.

How to Answer

Choose a specific example that demonstrates your analytical skills and technical expertise.

Example

"In a previous role, I encountered a performance bottleneck in our application. After profiling the code, I discovered that a specific database query was inefficient. I optimized it by adding indexes and restructuring the query, which reduced load times by 50%."

5. What design patterns do you commonly use in your software development?

Understanding design patterns is crucial for building scalable and maintainable applications.

How to Answer

Mention specific design patterns you have used and the scenarios in which they were applicable.

Example

"I frequently use the Singleton pattern for managing shared resources and the Observer pattern for implementing event-driven architectures. For instance, I used the Observer pattern in a notification system to decouple the event generation from the event handling."

Collaboration and Communication

1. How do you handle disagreements in a team setting?

Collaboration is key at Verily, and they want to know how you navigate conflicts.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to conflict resolution and maintaining a positive team dynamic.

Example

"When disagreements arise, I focus on understanding the other person's perspective and finding common ground. I believe in open communication and often suggest a brainstorming session to explore all ideas before making a decision."

2. Describe a time you mentored a junior engineer.

Mentoring is an important aspect of the role, and they want to see your leadership skills.

How to Answer

Share a specific instance where you provided guidance and support to a less experienced colleague.

Example

"I mentored a junior developer who was struggling with understanding our codebase. I organized regular check-ins to review their progress and provided resources to help them learn. Over time, they became a valuable contributor to our team."

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

Time management and prioritization are essential in a fast-paced environment.

How to Answer

Explain your method for assessing project urgency and importance.

Example

"I use a combination of Agile methodologies and task management tools to prioritize my workload. I assess deadlines, project impact, and team dependencies to ensure that I focus on the most critical tasks first."

4. Can you give an example of how you collaborated with cross-functional teams?

Verily emphasizes collaboration across various disciplines, so be prepared to discuss this.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example that illustrates your ability to work with different teams.

Example

"In my last project, I collaborated with UX designers and product managers to develop a new feature. We held regular meetings to align on user needs and technical feasibility, which resulted in a product that met both user expectations and technical requirements."

5. How do you communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders?

Effective communication is crucial, especially in a healthcare setting.

How to Answer

Discuss your strategies for simplifying technical jargon and ensuring understanding.

Example

"I focus on using analogies and visual aids to explain complex concepts. For instance, when discussing our data architecture with non-technical stakeholders, I used a flowchart to illustrate how data moves through our system, making it easier for them to grasp the overall process."