Software Engineer Interview Experience - Mountain View, California
July 1, 2011
Positive ExperienceNo Offer
Process
I went through a phone interview and was invited to Mountain View for an on-site. I had four interviews in one day. They asked basic computer science fundamental questions. I answered okay, but not perfectly.
Questions
algorithm
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 748 interview experiences for the Google Software Engineer role in Mountain View, California.
Success Rate
20%
Pass Rate
Google's interview process for their Software Engineer roles in Mountain View, California is very selective, failing most engineers who go through it.
Experience Rating
Positive64%
Neutral23%
Negative14%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Google's Software Engineer interview process in Mountain View, California.
Google Work Experiences
5.0
Good Wlb, Slow Raises
Software Engineer • Current Employee
Mountain View, California, United States
April 27, 2024
Pros: Nice work-life balance and great perks.
Cons: Slow promotion pace and salary increase.
2.0
Bogged down by bureaucracy, reorgs, and empire building
Software Engineer • Former Employee
Mountain View, California, United States
September 24, 2025
Pros: Still quite a few good employees at Google trying to do the right thing and striving for engineering excellence.
Cons: Bogged down by bureaucracy, reorgs, and empire building.
Too much politics and backstabbing is getting in the way of actual meaningful progress and innovation.
Mediocrity is rewarded over excellence, since most days are wasted on political posturing in meetings.
4.0
Still a great company to work for, though it no longer feels the same
Software Engineer • Current Employee
Mountain View, California, United States
June 11, 2024
Pros: Work with very smart people and learn a lot from them.
Opportunity to work on products that zillions of people use.
Opportunity to work on problems at an impressive scale.
Great perks.
Good pay.
Good work/life balance.
Cons: Many things have already been invented, so it's harder to bring novel, groundbreaking things.
Huge company with a lot of talent, so you are always replaceable.
Culture and morale have deteriorated lately.
- 5.0Good Wlb, Slow RaisesSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeMountain View, California, United StatesApril 27, 2024Pros: Nice work-life balance and great perks.Cons: Slow promotion pace and salary increase.
- 2.0Bogged down by bureaucracy, reorgs, and empire buildingSoftware Engineer • Former EmployeeMountain View, California, United StatesSeptember 24, 2025Pros: Still quite a few good employees at Google trying to do the right thing and striving for engineering excellence.Cons: Bogged down by bureaucracy, reorgs, and empire building. Too much politics and backstabbing is getting in the way of actual meaningful progress and innovation. Mediocrity is rewarded over excellence, since most days are wasted on political posturing in meetings.
- 4.0Still a great company to work for, though it no longer feels the sameSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeMountain View, California, United StatesJune 11, 2024Pros: Work with very smart people and learn a lot from them. Opportunity to work on products that zillions of people use. Opportunity to work on problems at an impressive scale. Great perks. Good pay. Good work/life balance.Cons: Many things have already been invented, so it's harder to bring novel, groundbreaking things. Huge company with a lot of talent, so you are always replaceable. Culture and morale have deteriorated lately.
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