Zoom Video Communications Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Zoom Video Communications is a leading platform for video communication, providing innovative solutions that enable people to connect and collaborate seamlessly across the globe.

As a Software Engineer at Zoom, you will play a vital role in designing and implementing robust web-based and AI-embedded applications, focusing primarily on backend development while also having the opportunity to interact with frontend technologies. Your responsibilities will include collaborating with cross-functional teams to define, design, and deliver new features that enhance Zoom's products, ensuring software reliability through code reviews and testing, and integrating AI solutions to solve complex problems. A successful candidate will possess a strong understanding of algorithms and data structures, proficiency in programming languages such as Java and Python, and experience with cloud services, databases, and web technologies. Your ability to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, and adapt to new technologies will be key traits that will make you a great fit for the team.

This guide will help you prepare for your interview by providing insights into the role's expectations, the company's culture, and the types of questions you may encounter, ultimately allowing you to present yourself as a strong candidate.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Zoom is structured and typically consists of several key stages designed to assess both technical and interpersonal skills.

1. Initial Recruiter Call

The process begins with a phone call from a recruiter, which usually lasts about 30 minutes. During this call, the recruiter will discuss the role, the company culture, and your resume. They will also gauge your interest in the position and assess your overall fit for the company.

2. Technical Screening

Following the initial call, candidates typically undergo a technical screening, which may be conducted via video call. This stage often includes coding assessments focused on algorithms and data structures, with questions primarily sourced from platforms like LeetCode. Expect to solve one or two medium-level coding problems, which may involve languages such as Java or Python.

3. Technical Interviews

Candidates who pass the technical screening will move on to one or more technical interviews. These interviews can vary in format but generally include: - Coding Assessment: You may be asked to solve coding problems in real-time, demonstrating your problem-solving skills and coding proficiency. - System Design Questions: You will likely face questions that assess your ability to design scalable systems and APIs, as well as your understanding of microservices architecture. - Technical Knowledge: Interviewers may ask questions related to computer science fundamentals, such as multithreading, database management, and specific technologies relevant to the role (e.g., Spring Boot, cloud services).

4. Behavioral Interview

After the technical rounds, candidates typically participate in a behavioral interview. This session focuses on your past experiences, teamwork, and how you handle challenges. Interviewers will be interested in understanding your approach to collaboration and problem-solving within a team environment.

5. Final Interview

The final stage often involves a discussion with a hiring manager or team lead. This interview may cover your technical skills in more depth, as well as your alignment with the company's values and culture. You may also discuss your career aspirations and how they align with the team's goals.

Throughout the process, candidates are encouraged to ask questions about the team dynamics, company culture, and specific projects they may work on.

As you prepare for your interviews, be ready to tackle a variety of questions that reflect the skills and experiences relevant to the Software Engineer role at Zoom.

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Software Engineer interview at Zoom Video Communications. The interview process will likely focus on a combination of coding skills, system design, and understanding of software engineering principles, particularly in backend development and AI applications. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their technical knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and experience with relevant technologies.

Coding and Algorithms

1. Can you implement an LRU Cache in Java?

This question tests your understanding of data structures and algorithms, particularly caching mechanisms.

How to Answer

Explain the concept of an LRU (Least Recently Used) cache and discuss the data structures you would use to implement it, such as a hash map and a doubly linked list.

Example

“I would use a hash map to store the key-value pairs for quick access and a doubly linked list to keep track of the order of usage. When a new item is added, I would check if it exceeds the capacity and remove the least recently used item from both the hash map and the linked list.”

2. Describe how you would approach solving a sliding window problem.

This question assesses your ability to apply algorithms to solve common coding challenges.

How to Answer

Discuss the sliding window technique and how it can be used to optimize solutions for problems involving arrays or strings.

Example

“I would maintain two pointers to represent the current window and adjust them based on the conditions of the problem. For example, if I need to find the maximum sum of a subarray of size k, I would expand the right pointer to include new elements and contract the left pointer to maintain the size.”

3. How would you find the longest substring without repeating characters?

This question evaluates your string manipulation skills and understanding of hash maps.

How to Answer

Explain how you would use a hash map to track the last index of each character and adjust the start of the substring accordingly.

Example

“I would iterate through the string while maintaining a hash map of characters and their indices. If I encounter a repeating character, I would move the start pointer to the right of the last occurrence of that character to ensure the substring remains unique.”

4. Can you explain the difference between depth-first search (DFS) and breadth-first search (BFS)?

This question tests your knowledge of graph traversal algorithms.

How to Answer

Discuss the key differences in approach, use cases, and performance of both algorithms.

Example

“DFS explores as far as possible along each branch before backtracking, making it suitable for problems like pathfinding in mazes. BFS, on the other hand, explores all neighbors at the present depth prior to moving on to nodes at the next depth level, which is useful for finding the shortest path in unweighted graphs.”

5. Write a function to merge two sorted linked lists.

This question assesses your understanding of linked lists and algorithmic efficiency.

How to Answer

Describe the process of iterating through both lists and merging them in sorted order.

Example

“I would create a dummy node to simplify the merging process. Then, I would iterate through both lists, comparing the current nodes and appending the smaller one to the merged list until one of the lists is exhausted, at which point I would append the remaining nodes from the other list.”

System Design

1. How would you design a URL shortening service?

This question evaluates your system design skills and understanding of web services.

How to Answer

Discuss the components involved, such as the database schema, API endpoints, and how to handle collisions.

Example

“I would create a database table to store the original URL and its shortened version. The API would have endpoints for creating a short URL and redirecting to the original URL. To handle collisions, I would use a hash function to generate unique keys and store them in a set for quick lookup.”

2. Describe how you would build a real-time chat application.

This question tests your ability to design scalable and responsive applications.

How to Answer

Outline the architecture, including client-server communication, data storage, and real-time updates.

Example

“I would use WebSockets for real-time communication between clients and the server. The server would handle message routing and storage in a database. For scalability, I would consider using a microservices architecture to separate concerns like user management and message storage.”

3. What considerations would you take into account when designing a microservices architecture?

This question assesses your understanding of microservices principles and best practices.

How to Answer

Discuss aspects like service independence, data management, and inter-service communication.

Example

“I would ensure that each service is independently deployable and has its own database to avoid tight coupling. For inter-service communication, I would use REST APIs or message queues to facilitate asynchronous communication and improve resilience.”

4. How would you ensure the reliability of a distributed system?

This question evaluates your knowledge of distributed systems and fault tolerance.

How to Answer

Discuss strategies like redundancy, data replication, and consensus algorithms.

Example

“I would implement data replication across multiple nodes to ensure availability. Additionally, I would use consensus algorithms like Raft or Paxos to maintain consistency across distributed components, and implement health checks to monitor system status.”

5. Can you explain the CAP theorem?

This question tests your understanding of distributed systems and trade-offs.

How to Answer

Discuss the three properties of consistency, availability, and partition tolerance, and how they relate to system design.

Example

“The CAP theorem states that in a distributed system, you can only guarantee two of the three properties: consistency, availability, and partition tolerance. For example, in a network partition, I would have to choose between maintaining consistency or availability, which can significantly impact system behavior.”

Behavioral Questions

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

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and resilience.

How to Answer

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response.

Example

“In my last project, we faced performance issues with our API. I analyzed the bottlenecks and discovered that database queries were inefficient. I optimized the queries and implemented caching, which improved response times by 50%.”

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

This question evaluates your time management and organizational skills.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to prioritization, such as using frameworks or tools.

Example

“I use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance. This helps me focus on high-impact tasks first while ensuring that I meet deadlines across all projects.”

3. How do you handle conflicts within a team?

This question assesses your interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to communication and conflict resolution.

Example

“I believe in addressing conflicts directly and respectfully. I would facilitate a discussion to understand each party's perspective and work towards a compromise that aligns with our project goals.”

4. Can you give an example of how you have contributed to a team’s success?

This question evaluates your teamwork and collaboration skills.

How to Answer

Use the STAR method to highlight your contributions.

Example

“I led a team project where we developed a new feature. I organized regular check-ins to ensure everyone was aligned and provided support where needed. As a result, we delivered the feature ahead of schedule, which received positive feedback from users.”

5. What motivates you to work in software engineering?

This question assesses your passion and commitment to the field.

How to Answer

Discuss your interests and what drives you in your work.

Example

“I am motivated by the challenge of solving complex problems and the opportunity to create impactful software that improves people's lives. I enjoy learning new technologies and applying them to real-world applications.”