BlueCat Software Engineer Interview Questions
& Process

This was a technical screen where we discussed a problem, focusing on the logic and complexity (aiming for O(n)) rather than just coding. We talked about REST principles, different request types, HTTP vs. HTTPS, and database indexing, including how to implement it and why inserts might be slow while searches are fast.

It was an easy process. The team really wants to understand your thought process, so make sure to explain your code as you write it. The interview was nice and they look for candidates who also think about edge cases or exceptions.

I applied in late November 2022, and a recruiter from a staffing agency contacted me in late January 2023 for a 30-minute video call. I initially thought it would be a standard chat about the role and company, but the recruiter immediately started asking algorithm questions, even though the job description was for a junior role requiring only Python or Java knowledge. I managed to answer 2 out of 3 questions correctly, according to the recruiter. He then mentioned he'd try to downplay my incorrect answer to the hiring manager and that I'd need to improve if I advanced. Following this, he asked a couple of "What would you do if..." behavioral questions. I had to prompt him to actually discuss the position, company, benefits, salary, or projects, to which he vaguely mentioned BlueCat has "great benefits." When asked about my salary expectations, I turned the question back, and he stated juniors typically expect $60,000-$90,000 annually. I shared my expectations, and he said someone would follow up in a few days about the next stage. However, I was ghosted. It felt like a waste of my time.