Grafana Labs

Senior Software Engineer Interview Experience

September 30, 2020

Neutral ExperienceGot Offer

Process

I applied online. The process took 4 weeks.

I applied online, passed the interviews, and got an offer. The interviews were not so hard, and the interviewers were great people, so it was a nice experience. Unfortunately, I had to decline the offer because it was quite a low-ball one, and I got no feedback from Grafana after that. From my point of view, they are making COLA offers, and their offer wasn't competitive at all (I'm not living in the US or EU), even at local rates given my experience, not to mention my current gig and other prospective ones.

Questions

It was an HR screen, a talk with managers, a pair coding exercise, and an architecture interview. There was 1 answer.

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Interview Statistics

The following metrics were computed from 16 interview experiences for the Grafana Labs Senior Software Engineer role.

Success Rate

19%

Pass Rate

Grafana Labs's interview process for their Senior Software Engineer roles is very selective, failing most engineers who go through it.

Experience Rating

Positive25%

Neutral6%

Negative69%

Candidates reported having very negative feelings for Grafana Labs's Senior Software Engineer interview process.

Grafana Labs Work Experiences

I'm looking forward to the next several years for the first time in awhile

Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee

Los Angeles, CA

Pros: Opportunities for career and personal growth abound. There was early adoption of employee resource groups. A flat leadership structure means you have the ability to communicate up the chain easily. Management seems to care about employees as people in addition to what they contribute to the company.

Cons: Some growing pains associated with entering a phase of rapid growth in personnel. Onboarding is rapidly evolving, which is good, but the rapidity is because it is still quite lacking. It's hard to know what the company is going to look like as we emerge from this growth period.

I'm looking forward to the next several years for the first time in awhile

Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee

Los Angeles, CA

Pros: Opportunities for career and personal growth abound. There was early adoption of employee resource groups. A flat leadership structure means you have the ability to communicate up the chain easily. Management seems to care about employees as people in addition to what they contribute to the company.

Cons: Some growing pains associated with entering a phase of rapid growth in personnel. Onboarding is rapidly evolving, which is good, but the rapidity is because it is still quite lacking. It's hard to know what the company is going to look like as we emerge from this growth period.

A dream that became a nightmare

Senior Software Engineer • Former Employee

October 28, 2026

Pros: - Talented, hardworking, and motivated colleagues. - Positive relationships and support among peers. - A strong product with meaningful potential.

Cons: In my experience, there was a gap in trust between leadership and individual contributors. Decision-making often felt hierarchical, and management politics sometimes overshadowed input from the people doing the work. While I valued my colleagues, these aspects made my overall experience disappointing.

A dream that became a nightmare

Senior Software Engineer • Former Employee

October 28, 2026

Pros: - Talented, hardworking, and motivated colleagues. - Positive relationships and support among peers. - A strong product with meaningful potential.

Cons: In my experience, there was a gap in trust between leadership and individual contributors. Decision-making often felt hierarchical, and management politics sometimes overshadowed input from the people doing the work. While I valued my colleagues, these aspects made my overall experience disappointing.

My best experience in tech

Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee

December 4, 2025

Pros: I feel very supported at Grafana. By my peers, my manager, the People Team — everybody works together to foster the best working environment I've experienced as a software engineer. The work is challenging, and it helps to be building alongside absurdly talented, well-rounded, caring colleagues. I believe in the company and feel that the business is on an excellent trajectory. Outstanding leadership from the very top and at every level. Grafana's take on Remote First culture works really well for me.

Cons: With respect to goals at the quarterly, semiannual, or annual level, prioritization and alignment can be challenging, but this has improved over the past year or so.

My best experience in tech

Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee

December 4, 2025

Pros: I feel very supported at Grafana. By my peers, my manager, the People Team — everybody works together to foster the best working environment I've experienced as a software engineer. The work is challenging, and it helps to be building alongside absurdly talented, well-rounded, caring colleagues. I believe in the company and feel that the business is on an excellent trajectory. Outstanding leadership from the very top and at every level. Grafana's take on Remote First culture works really well for me.

Cons: With respect to goals at the quarterly, semiannual, or annual level, prioritization and alignment can be challenging, but this has improved over the past year or so.

I'm looking forward to the next several years for the first time in awhile

Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee

Los Angeles, CA

Pros: Opportunities for career and personal growth abound. There was early adoption of employee resource groups. A flat leadership structure means you have the ability to communicate up the chain easily. Management seems to care about employees as people in addition to what they contribute to the company.

Cons: Some growing pains associated with entering a phase of rapid growth in personnel. Onboarding is rapidly evolving, which is good, but the rapidity is because it is still quite lacking. It's hard to know what the company is going to look like as we emerge from this growth period.

5.0
I'm looking forward to the next several years for the first time in awhile
Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee
Los Angeles, CA
March 30, 2021
Pros: Opportunities for career and personal growth abound. There was early adoption of employee resource groups. A flat leadership structure means you have the ability to communicate up the chain easily. Management seems to care about employees as people in addition to what they contribute to the company.
Cons: Some growing pains associated with entering a phase of rapid growth in personnel. Onboarding is rapidly evolving, which is good, but the rapidity is because it is still quite lacking. It's hard to know what the company is going to look like as we emerge from this growth period.

A dream that became a nightmare

Senior Software Engineer • Former Employee

October 28, 2026

Pros: - Talented, hardworking, and motivated colleagues. - Positive relationships and support among peers. - A strong product with meaningful potential.

Cons: In my experience, there was a gap in trust between leadership and individual contributors. Decision-making often felt hierarchical, and management politics sometimes overshadowed input from the people doing the work. While I valued my colleagues, these aspects made my overall experience disappointing.

1.0
A dream that became a nightmare
Senior Software Engineer • Former Employee
October 28, 2026
Pros: - Talented, hardworking, and motivated colleagues. - Positive relationships and support among peers. - A strong product with meaningful potential.
Cons: In my experience, there was a gap in trust between leadership and individual contributors. Decision-making often felt hierarchical, and management politics sometimes overshadowed input from the people doing the work. While I valued my colleagues, these aspects made my overall experience disappointing.

My best experience in tech

Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee

December 4, 2025

Pros: I feel very supported at Grafana. By my peers, my manager, the People Team — everybody works together to foster the best working environment I've experienced as a software engineer. The work is challenging, and it helps to be building alongside absurdly talented, well-rounded, caring colleagues. I believe in the company and feel that the business is on an excellent trajectory. Outstanding leadership from the very top and at every level. Grafana's take on Remote First culture works really well for me.

Cons: With respect to goals at the quarterly, semiannual, or annual level, prioritization and alignment can be challenging, but this has improved over the past year or so.

5.0
My best experience in tech
Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee
December 4, 2025
Pros: I feel very supported at Grafana. By my peers, my manager, the People Team — everybody works together to foster the best working environment I've experienced as a software engineer. The work is challenging, and it helps to be building alongside absurdly talented, well-rounded, caring colleagues. I believe in the company and feel that the business is on an excellent trajectory. Outstanding leadership from the very top and at every level. Grafana's take on Remote First culture works really well for me.
Cons: With respect to goals at the quarterly, semiannual, or annual level, prioritization and alignment can be challenging, but this has improved over the past year or so.

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