Software Development Engineer II Interview Experience - Bellevue, Washington
October 1, 2010
Neutral ExperienceGot Offer
Process
Internal transfer within Microsoft.
Phone screen was over an internal screen sharing program, so I could code in my favorite IDE.
I flew to Bellevue, WA, to interview in person.
All core CS and design questions.
Questions
Sort in linear time but without extra space, as in Counting Sort.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 11 interview experiences for the Microsoft Software Development Engineer II role in Bellevue, Washington.
Success Rate
45%
Pass Rate
Microsoft's interview process for their Software Development Engineer II roles in Bellevue, Washington is fairly selective, failing a large portion of engineers who go through it.
Experience Rating
Positive64%
Neutral18%
Negative18%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Microsoft's Software Development Engineer II interview process in Bellevue, Washington.
Microsoft Work Experiences
4.0
Great company with plenty of opportunities
Software Development Engineer II • Current Employee
Bellevue, Washington, United States
September 6, 2014
Pros: Vast number of projects to work on in multiple countries.
Pay is consistently in the top 75% percentile.
Flexible work hours.
For engineers, there's a vast number of levels to grow, which is far different than competitors like Amazon.
IC's can potentially earn as much as a VP with the number of levels for growth.
Overall, this is a great company for career growth.
Pay is 100% performance-based now, and favors collaboration over politics.
Stack ranking is dead!
Cons: Aren't going to get the free perks like you see in competitors in Silicon Valley, but who really cares.
You will most likely make more money at Microsoft, and that's more important.
Still, growth favors Type A people.
If you aren't one that guides and leads the design and has major influence, your growth and performance awards will be much slower.
5.0
Good company culture, if you get the right boss
Software Development Engineer II • Current Employee
Bellevue, Washington, United States
July 22, 2021
Pros: Lots of benefits and pay, job security.
Cons: Not a lot of choice in how your project decisions are made, because there are several layers of VPs, CVPs, engineering managers, and product managers above you.
2.0
Way below my initial expectations
Software Development Engineer II • Current Employee
Bellevue, Washington, United States
March 16, 2011
Pros: Pretty competitive compensation, benefits are ok.
Cons: The decision-making process is mismanaged and absolutely broken. There's enormous internal bureaucracy, making everything take ten times the amount of effort. Overtime is the norm.
- 4.0Great company with plenty of opportunitiesSoftware Development Engineer II • Current EmployeeBellevue, Washington, United StatesSeptember 6, 2014Pros: Vast number of projects to work on in multiple countries. Pay is consistently in the top 75% percentile. Flexible work hours. For engineers, there's a vast number of levels to grow, which is far different than competitors like Amazon. IC's can potentially earn as much as a VP with the number of levels for growth. Overall, this is a great company for career growth. Pay is 100% performance-based now, and favors collaboration over politics. Stack ranking is dead!Cons: Aren't going to get the free perks like you see in competitors in Silicon Valley, but who really cares. You will most likely make more money at Microsoft, and that's more important. Still, growth favors Type A people. If you aren't one that guides and leads the design and has major influence, your growth and performance awards will be much slower.
- 5.0Good company culture, if you get the right bossSoftware Development Engineer II • Current EmployeeBellevue, Washington, United StatesJuly 22, 2021Pros: Lots of benefits and pay, job security.Cons: Not a lot of choice in how your project decisions are made, because there are several layers of VPs, CVPs, engineering managers, and product managers above you.
- 2.0Way below my initial expectationsSoftware Development Engineer II • Current EmployeeBellevue, Washington, United StatesMarch 16, 2011Pros: Pretty competitive compensation, benefits are ok.Cons: The decision-making process is mismanaged and absolutely broken. There's enormous internal bureaucracy, making everything take ten times the amount of effort. Overtime is the norm.
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