I began with a 30-minute recruiter screen focused on my background and salary expectations. A week later, I completed a HackerRank coding challenge with two algorithm problems.

Next came a 60-minute technical call where I live-coded in Python while discussing trade-offs.

Finally, I attended a virtual onsite with four consecutive rounds covering system design, code review, behavioral questions, and a culture-fit chat with the hiring manager. The entire process spanned about three weeks, and communication was prompt throughout.

Design a URL-shortening service (e.g., Bitly).

Outline the API, data model, and scalability considerations.