Senior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) Interview Experience - Redmond, Washington
February 1, 2007
Positive ExperienceGot Offer
Process
The process started with an email question that required a response.
Following that, I had a phone interview where I was asked questions about real-time operating systems and concurrency issues.
The on-site portion consisted of six interviews.
The first three interviews were planned in advance, while the remaining three were added later.
The final interview was with a director who asked non-technical questions.
Questions
Implement a counting semaphore using only binary mutexes.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 4 interview experiences for the Microsoft Senior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) role in Redmond, Washington.
Success Rate
50%
Pass Rate
Microsoft's interview process for their Senior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) roles in Redmond, Washington is fairly selective, failing a large portion of engineers who go through it.
Experience Rating
Positive75%
Neutral25%
Negative0%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Microsoft's Senior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) interview process in Redmond, Washington.
Microsoft Work Experiences
4.0
Great company for career growth
Senior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) • Former Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
October 13, 2015
Pros: The company is always reinventing itself, providing many varied growth opportunities to its employees.
Cons: In an effort to try to remain relevant, the company has become more of a follower than a leader. However, this provides opportunity to those who can bring the latest and greatest in leadership.
3.0
Great Engineers, Muddy System
Senior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) • Former Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
July 9, 2015
Pros: There are some really great engineers you can work with. Contrary to many beliefs, I still think Microsoft has above-average engineers. The question is how they can be utilized better in a system that did not have good management.
Cons: It was like walking in mud to get anything done. There were intense politics when projects crossed teams. When things failed, there was a lot of finger-pointing, and not enough people trying to solve the problems. The system has failed the good engineers I know.
3.0
A mixed bag
Senior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) • Former Employee
Redmond, Washington, United States
December 7, 2014
Pros: 1. You are working at a world-class company. Good on resume.
2. Lot of opportunities for career growth.
3. Comparatively stable job and good benefits.
4. You can be an individual contributor forever.
Cons: 1. Your focus becomes too narrow, and you get insulated from the world, thereby becoming obsolete in the real world.
2. Too much politics.
3. Microsoft gets the work of 10 people from 6 people. It is a coal mine and will suck your life out of you.
4. If you get a jerk as your lead, you are stuck with him/her, and that is the end of your career at Microsoft.
- 4.0Great company for career growthSenior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) • Former EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesOctober 13, 2015Pros: The company is always reinventing itself, providing many varied growth opportunities to its employees.Cons: In an effort to try to remain relevant, the company has become more of a follower than a leader. However, this provides opportunity to those who can bring the latest and greatest in leadership.
- 3.0Great Engineers, Muddy SystemSenior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) • Former EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesJuly 9, 2015Pros: There are some really great engineers you can work with. Contrary to many beliefs, I still think Microsoft has above-average engineers. The question is how they can be utilized better in a system that did not have good management.Cons: It was like walking in mud to get anything done. There were intense politics when projects crossed teams. When things failed, there was a lot of finger-pointing, and not enough people trying to solve the problems. The system has failed the good engineers I know.
- 3.0A mixed bagSenior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) • Former EmployeeRedmond, Washington, United StatesDecember 7, 2014Pros: 1. You are working at a world-class company. Good on resume. 2. Lot of opportunities for career growth. 3. Comparatively stable job and good benefits. 4. You can be an individual contributor forever.Cons: 1. Your focus becomes too narrow, and you get insulated from the world, thereby becoming obsolete in the real world. 2. Too much politics. 3. Microsoft gets the work of 10 people from 6 people. It is a coal mine and will suck your life out of you. 4. If you get a jerk as your lead, you are stuck with him/her, and that is the end of your career at Microsoft.
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