I recently finished an intense 3-round engineering interview that tested everything from data structures to practical AI workflows. The entire process was hands-on and focused heavily on real-world problem solving rather than just textbook theory. Here is a quick breakdown of how each round went:

Round 1: Coding & Database

DSA: Solved a medium-to-hard algorithm problem and explained how to make it as fast and efficient as possible.

LLD & SQL: Designed a simple REST API and fixed a slow database query.

Round 2: Coding with AI (40 mins)

The task: Built a search bar and its backend using a large codebase on HackerRank.

The Twist: Used a built-in AI tool (like Cursor) while constantly talking to the interviewer. I had to explain my plan and show how I use AI to write code fast under time pressure.

Round 3: Teamwork & engineering culture

Leadership: Answered questions about breaking down big tasks and assigning them to team members.

Tech Debt: Explained how to handle tight deadlines and keep code quality high without breaking things later.

Design a DSA based file system.