Senior Software Engineer, iOS Interview Experience - San Francisco, California
Process
I had a phone screen with the recruiter, followed by a technical phone interview with the hiring manager. I wasn't informed the phone interview would be technical, so I wasn't very well-prepared. Fortunately, I still made it to the on-site interview. It took almost a month to schedule my on-site, so please be patient.
My on-site consisted of three technical and two behavioral interviews. The technical interviews covered architecture, code review, and pair programming. If you've thought a lot about how to improve the mobile app's architecture, you'll have a significant advantage. Take a look at GitHub's pull request review process if you're unfamiliar with it. During pair programming, try to describe your thought process as much as possible as you work. There were no brain teaser or data-structure/algorithm questions, but you do need to understand basic complexity like Big O notation.
The biggest part of Patreon's culture, I believe, is its empathy for creators. If you can demonstrate how your experience reflects this, it will be very helpful. Read about the company's mission and consider how it aligns with your personal mission.
I really liked the interviewers I met. They were all very nice, kind, and smart. I especially enjoyed lunchtime, where I could chat casually with employees from other teams. They were so funny and nice, which helped me relax.
Patreon's mobile team is still quite small, with many technical challenges and opportunities for experimentation. The team is very open to this, something you can't often do at a larger company. If that appeals to you, you'll love working here, as I do now.
Questions
How would you architect a simple photo sharing app on iOS?
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 1 interview experience for the Patreon Senior Software Engineer, iOS role in San Francisco, California.
Success Rate
Patreon's interview process for their Senior Software Engineer, iOS roles in San Francisco, California is incredibly easy as the vast majority of engineers get an offer after going through it.
Experience Rating
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Patreon's Senior Software Engineer, iOS interview process in San Francisco, California.
Patreon Work Experiences
- 5.0Super strong, mission-driven cultureSenior Software Engineer, iOS • Current EmployeeSan Francisco, California, United StatesJune 11, 2018Pros: Patreon has a very unique culture, and everyone is really proud of it. The strong empathy for creators is always the first. We care deeply about maintaining the culture, inclusion, and diversity as the company grows very quickly. Because of that strong mission, a lot of smart people who believe in it join actively, even though we are still a pretty unknown startup company.Cons: There are so many problems to solve because we are one of the pioneers of the industry. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by them and having a hard time deciding which is more important and which direction we should head towards.
- 3.0Great Mission, Incompetent ManagementSenior Software Engineer • Former EmployeeSan Francisco, California, United StatesFebruary 17, 2023Pros: It's great to work somewhere that actually helps the world, and everyone believes in the mission. Almost every employer is creative themselves—being an incredible musician, comic book author, or YouTuber, etc. It's impossible to find this anywhere else today.Cons: The execs seemed incapable of creating an engineering team they liked. Engineering Managers and CTOs had incredible turnover, with several Eng Manager layoffs during my tenure. One CTO they hired was like a parody of a CTO you would find in Dilbert or the Silicon Valley TV show. He had us make posters about how we felt about the company's values for half a day. The fact that they hired and kept him on for a full year shows how oblivious they are about creating a competent engineering environment.
- 4.0The company is growing, and the future looks brightEngineering • Current EmployeeSan Francisco, California, United StatesJuly 14, 2021Pros: The company has gone through a lot of change in the last 6-8 months, all for the good. The current executive team is the best we ever had. Good and smart teammates, generally very helpful. Engineering re-architecture is happening to tackle the next 10x growth. There are lots of opportunities to learn and grow as the transformation happens. Emphasis on product quality and engineering craft.Cons: Sometimes there is a lack of communication across teams, which has changed a lot since the new leadership. There is a lot of growth, and it can be overwhelming sometimes. If you are looking for a 9-to-5 job, this is not the place.
Patreon Interview Questions
