Senior Software Engineer Interview Experience - San Francisco, California
September 1, 2017
Negative ExperienceNo Offer
Process
After the initial recruiter call, a telephonic coding interview was scheduled.
They boast about pair programming, but I totally disagree when the interviewer remains muted and silent for about 80% of the time.
This was definitely a new grad who was getting used to the code and did not offer much help. I was very disappointed in their concept of pair programming; either help or don't, but don't call it a "pair exercise."
It was a good implementation, and I was only a few minutes away from running it successfully had I received some hint and help.
I mentioned this to the recruiter, but I received no feedback.
Questions
Given a list of Class Items, find the commonality among them and sort them to get the top k elements using a Comparator.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 10 interview experiences for the Block Senior Software Engineer role in San Francisco, California.
Success Rate
0%
Pass Rate
Block's interview process for their Senior Software Engineer roles in San Francisco, California is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Positive50%
Neutral10%
Negative40%
Candidates reported having good feelings for Block's Senior Software Engineer interview process in San Francisco, California.
Block Work Experiences
1.0
Not what it used to be
Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee
San Francisco, California, United States
June 21, 2024
Pros: It used to be a fantastic place to work for several years.
Cons: 2024 has been a year of mass layoffs, mass restructuring, and a mass exodus of talent, with far too many critical elements changing for anyone to have any semblance of confidence in the future of the company.
4.0
Great people to work with
Senior Software Engineer • Former Employee
San Francisco, California, United States
June 16, 2025
Pros: Get to work with some really smart people.
Products are great to see in the wild.
Cons: It is hard to get your voice heard. There were some questionable decisions by management.
3.0
An OK employer marred by poor upper and direct management
Senior Software Engineer • Former Employee
San Francisco, California, United States
March 10, 2020
Pros: You do get to work on a relatively modern tech stack with competent peers. You may also learn several marketable skills.
Other things to point out:
* Few people work late, though you are implicitly expected to be in early.
* Food is good.
Cons: Bad managers seem to be a relatively common complaint among IC employees I talked to. I reported to a micromanager and didn't get the impression I could do much about it without burning bridges.
Jack (CEO) seems to be phoning-in anything not related to BTC. Several of the VPs are very risk-averse, and there is no real vision for the future other than a very vague "grow" directive. The company is complacent about its market position, and I don't expect it to keep growing.
Other things to point out:
* Complacent business strategy leads to boring work.
* The SF office is very loud due to poor acoustics and tight desk layouts.
* WFH is generally discouraged.
* Stock appreciation is considered during comp review. Refreshers/raises are poor in general, and there will almost certainly be a big 4-year cliff now that the stock is stagnant.
* Useless cost-saving measures (like reduced food service) are creeping in.
- 1.0Not what it used to beSenior Software Engineer • Current EmployeeSan Francisco, California, United StatesJune 21, 2024Pros: It used to be a fantastic place to work for several years.Cons: 2024 has been a year of mass layoffs, mass restructuring, and a mass exodus of talent, with far too many critical elements changing for anyone to have any semblance of confidence in the future of the company.
- 4.0Great people to work withSenior Software Engineer • Former EmployeeSan Francisco, California, United StatesJune 16, 2025Pros: Get to work with some really smart people. Products are great to see in the wild.Cons: It is hard to get your voice heard. There were some questionable decisions by management.
- 3.0An OK employer marred by poor upper and direct managementSenior Software Engineer • Former EmployeeSan Francisco, California, United StatesMarch 10, 2020Pros: You do get to work on a relatively modern tech stack with competent peers. You may also learn several marketable skills. Other things to point out: * Few people work late, though you are implicitly expected to be in early. * Food is good.Cons: Bad managers seem to be a relatively common complaint among IC employees I talked to. I reported to a micromanager and didn't get the impression I could do much about it without burning bridges. Jack (CEO) seems to be phoning-in anything not related to BTC. Several of the VPs are very risk-averse, and there is no real vision for the future other than a very vague "grow" directive. The company is complacent about its market position, and I don't expect it to keep growing. Other things to point out: * Complacent business strategy leads to boring work. * The SF office is very loud due to poor acoustics and tight desk layouts. * WFH is generally discouraged. * Stock appreciation is considered during comp review. Refreshers/raises are poor in general, and there will almost certainly be a big 4-year cliff now that the stock is stagnant. * Useless cost-saving measures (like reduced food service) are creeping in.
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