Senior Software Engineer, Architect Interview Experience - Los Gatos, California
November 1, 2011
Positive ExperienceNo Offer
Process
After speaking with a recruiter who conducted an informal HR interview, I was set up for a phone screen. I went through three rounds of phone interviews before being rejected.
Questions
How does a garbage collection system work?
How will you prevent an object from being garbage collected?
Write N-ary tree traversal code to search a node given a String key.
How many JVM instances does a Tomcat server have?
How would it handle multiple applications with different versions of the same API (for instance, Log4j)?
Explain wait and notify.
Explain Generics.
What is the difference between a static class and a singleton class?
Why do you want to work for Netflix?
What is a deadlock? Explain.
What is the Spring framework?
HTTP is a stateless protocol. How is HttpSession implemented then?
What is String.intern()?
My Hashtable returns in constant time for most keys, but for certain ones, it takes a while. What is wrong?
Explain the volatile keyword. Is the volatile keyword thread-safe?
Explain a few design patterns.
Name a few methods from the Object class and tell what they do.
There is an integer array which only contains 1s, 2s, and 3s. How will you sort it?
What value has UML added in your projects?
Java API says if you override the equals method, you should override hashCode too. Why?
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 1 interview experience for the Netflix Senior Software Engineer, Architect role in Los Gatos, California.
Success Rate
0%
Pass Rate
Netflix's interview process for their Senior Software Engineer, Architect roles in Los Gatos, California is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Positive100%
Neutral0%
Negative0%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Netflix's Senior Software Engineer, Architect interview process in Los Gatos, California.
Netflix Work Experiences
4.0
Not perfect, but definitely two thumbs up!!
Senior Software Engineer • Current Employee
Los Gatos, California, United States
January 6, 2009
Pros: Netflix is a strong, well-run company.
Netflix pays well.
Netflix is in a high-value service industry, not affected by the rapid commoditization of tech. Netflix's business is immune to low-quality, low-cost offshore knock-offs.
Netflix hires seasoned developers and pays for the experience, unlike certain other companies (that might be in the search business) that only hire cheap junior engineers.
Netflix understands that employees have a life, unlike certain other companies (that might be in the search business).
Cons: The "average performance gets you a generous severance package" policy is a little ambiguous, and tends to leave one a bit paranoid (this can be a good thing).
Reluctance to hire promising junior engineers.
5.0
Reed is a strong leader with a vision, and has gathered great people to help him make the vision real
Engineering Director • Current Employee
Los Gatos, California, United States
November 16, 2008
Pros: You should consider working at Netflix if you like to work with passionate and smart people in an environment almost devoid of politics.
At Netflix, many decisions are data-driven. Collecting data to be able to be smart about the business is so ingrained into the culture and so obviously right that, after a while, one is amazed when friends or business partners in other companies tell you that it's not how it works in their world.
There is a great sense of mutual respect among the people who work there.
Things do change fast, and that can be a bit disconcerting if you don't like the thrill :-). On the other hand, hard, but necessary decisions are made promptly.
If you're at a stage of your life where you want or must take it easy for a while, Netflix is not for you. The pace here does not allow for slacking, and you'll either stand out like a sore thumb, or you're pulled into the race.
Cons: You will be spoiled by all the common sense that wafts through the hallways.
Netflix is probably not right for you if you're looking for a big title (e.g., "architect"). The organization is very flat, and there are not a lot of traditional career growth opportunities. However, you will grow personally and professionally even if your title stays the same for years.
5.0
If Netflix was a TV show: Action Series with a Hint of Survivor
Engineering Manager • Current Employee
Los Gatos, California, United States
January 22, 2011
Pros: "Freedom and Responsibility Culture"
Lots of individual control. (Read Reed's slide deck)
If you're part of a well-run team, you'll love it:
* Excellent compensation
* Unique stock option program with personal choice for $$ allocated
* Fast-paced environment with lots of challenges
* It's the largest streaming movie service in the world and it's just getting better
* Extremely open with corporate information sharing (no internal culture of secrecy like Apple)
* Incredible execution over the last couple years - the methods can be controversial, but you can't argue with the quarterly/annual results
Cons: "High Performance Culture" means you can hang yourself easily and get canned (Read Reed's slide deck).
If you join a mis-managed group, you'll be posting a negative review on here soon. :-)
* Average benefits programs
* Inexperienced managers can mis-apply the "high performance culture" philosophy and lead to the "culture of fear" some people have complained about in certain organizations.
* Double standard for performance: VP/C-level staff appear immune from "high performance culture". Reed rocks, but some of the others are average/good, not exceptional.
- 4.0Not perfect, but definitely two thumbs up!!Senior Software Engineer • Current EmployeeLos Gatos, California, United StatesJanuary 6, 2009Pros: Netflix is a strong, well-run company. Netflix pays well. Netflix is in a high-value service industry, not affected by the rapid commoditization of tech. Netflix's business is immune to low-quality, low-cost offshore knock-offs. Netflix hires seasoned developers and pays for the experience, unlike certain other companies (that might be in the search business) that only hire cheap junior engineers. Netflix understands that employees have a life, unlike certain other companies (that might be in the search business).Cons: The "average performance gets you a generous severance package" policy is a little ambiguous, and tends to leave one a bit paranoid (this can be a good thing). Reluctance to hire promising junior engineers.
- 5.0Reed is a strong leader with a vision, and has gathered great people to help him make the vision realEngineering Director • Current EmployeeLos Gatos, California, United StatesNovember 16, 2008Pros: You should consider working at Netflix if you like to work with passionate and smart people in an environment almost devoid of politics. At Netflix, many decisions are data-driven. Collecting data to be able to be smart about the business is so ingrained into the culture and so obviously right that, after a while, one is amazed when friends or business partners in other companies tell you that it's not how it works in their world. There is a great sense of mutual respect among the people who work there. Things do change fast, and that can be a bit disconcerting if you don't like the thrill :-). On the other hand, hard, but necessary decisions are made promptly. If you're at a stage of your life where you want or must take it easy for a while, Netflix is not for you. The pace here does not allow for slacking, and you'll either stand out like a sore thumb, or you're pulled into the race.Cons: You will be spoiled by all the common sense that wafts through the hallways. Netflix is probably not right for you if you're looking for a big title (e.g., "architect"). The organization is very flat, and there are not a lot of traditional career growth opportunities. However, you will grow personally and professionally even if your title stays the same for years.
- 5.0If Netflix was a TV show: Action Series with a Hint of SurvivorEngineering Manager • Current EmployeeLos Gatos, California, United StatesJanuary 22, 2011Pros: "Freedom and Responsibility Culture" Lots of individual control. (Read Reed's slide deck) If you're part of a well-run team, you'll love it: * Excellent compensation * Unique stock option program with personal choice for $$ allocated * Fast-paced environment with lots of challenges * It's the largest streaming movie service in the world and it's just getting better * Extremely open with corporate information sharing (no internal culture of secrecy like Apple) * Incredible execution over the last couple years - the methods can be controversial, but you can't argue with the quarterly/annual resultsCons: "High Performance Culture" means you can hang yourself easily and get canned (Read Reed's slide deck). If you join a mis-managed group, you'll be posting a negative review on here soon. :-) * Average benefits programs * Inexperienced managers can mis-apply the "high performance culture" philosophy and lead to the "culture of fear" some people have complained about in certain organizations. * Double standard for performance: VP/C-level staff appear immune from "high performance culture". Reed rocks, but some of the others are average/good, not exceptional.
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