Process
They gave a take-home assignment that included a Docker container with a database and some query questions. I actually had to pick up a MacBook to get it to work, as I only had a Windows PC. So, I did the assignment.
They had an interview team of two, led by an interviewer with only two years of career experience. This was supposed to be for a pretty senior role.
The purpose of the exercise was to "see how I think". One of my answers used a window function. They asked whether it would be performant, and I replied it depended on the database system, stating that some MPP databases push window functions to a single node, and hence there might be skewing.
It felt as if I might as well have been speaking Martian – this went straight over their heads.
The interviewer then suggested a "better" way to do it. The problem is, the way they suggested was plain wrong and would not produce the desired answer (I confirmed this in detail after the interview).
I politely explained that it would not fully cover the question and elaborated why, but they did not seem to understand. It was really frustrating.
Why couldn't they send out interviewers with some experience if they really want to judge how well a candidate knows the material?
The interview was a waste of my time and their time.
I have to ask, does Plaid really want to hire knowledgeable candidates?
Questions
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 1 interview experience for the Plaid Senior Data Engineer role in United States.
Success Rate
Plaid's interview process for their Senior Data Engineer roles in the United States is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Candidates reported having very negative feelings for Plaid's Senior Data Engineer interview process in United States.
Plaid Work Experiences
- 1.0Probably best avoid; business is hurtingSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeOctober 17, 2024Pros: - The FinTech space is interesting. - Colleagues are smart.Cons: - The business has never really recovered to previous COVID heights, and valuation has been cut severely. - Fast approaching need to raise more funding. And in the absence of revenue growth, leadership is cutting teams down to skeleton crews to boost short-term financials. - Constant silent layoffs and no backfills that create a toxic environment around staffing. - The new president operates as a very sr. program manager with no real product vision, and the CTO was never replaced. - New 1033 legislation means the core business has a very uncertain future.
- 5.0Good ExperienceSoftware Engineer • Former EmployeeSeattle, WAOctober 7, 2025Pros: Work culture is the best.Cons: Compensation could have been better.
- 5.0Driven, thoughtful, personableSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeSan Francisco, CAAugust 19, 2021Pros: + Highly engaged and accessible senior leadership. C-suite makes themselves available for questions from anyone and answers them thoughtfully and honestly. + Strong transparency. People answer hard questions honestly, and strategic company details are not just accessible but actively broadcasted. + Well-thought-out culture. Company emphasizes openness, empowerment, social support, growth, and learning. + Strategic, focused organization. Lots of prioritization going on, and the company feels really in it to build far-and-away the best Open Banking technology out there, and teams think hard about how their work fits into the organization's goals and strategy. I don't mean just nice paper stuff; I mean the company really thinks about and gets ahead of its hurdles instead of handwaving them again. There's a strong sense of purpose and direction. + Strong future: Open Banking/fintech is expected to boom even further, and Plaid is at the forefront, and if you look at publicly available information and analyses of Plaid's future, paired with the company's culture, priorities, and hiring bar, you might find yourself quite optimistic about Plaid's future. Knock on wood, but stonks only go up! + Individualized career growth attention and performance reviews. + Company rewards being thoughtful.Cons: - Lots of things to do. The transparency means a lot of information. The impactful work means a lot of prioritization and skimming. You have to get really good at staying focused on priorities and cutting out secondary needs, even when they're enjoyable or pressing. - Growing pains. Both technically and organizationally, Plaid is growing fast right now. This means some things are in flux. - Empowerment means responsibility. You're expected to really take ownership and find opportunities to contribute impactfully. I've never worked anywhere where "you own your career" has rang truer than at Plaid. - Lots of keep-the-lights-on work; and some teams and Engineering Managers have a lot on their plate. - Company is super-social. You need to get used to talking to people, asking questions, etc., as a primary learning strategy. Formal processes and tools get a lot of love, but they don't keep up with the growth nearly as well as people do. So you gotta really embrace 1:1's and coffee chats.
Plaid Interview Questions
