Luminar Software Engineer Interview Questions
& Process

I got a call from a recruiter , position sounds fitting , First interview was planned with architect in Munich went good i believe , He was friendly talkative . Then directly after first interview i was interviewed by another engineer in US . I cant really describe how unprofessional this was , first of all The interviewer didn't even introduce herself . She was wasn't in the par to held a technical interview. I explicitly asked when i should hear back she mentioned int he following days. I never heard back from Luminar , as a rule of thumb you should mail back the candidates with either a positive or a negative response . But never reaching back to them , inspire not professional and does say a lot about the company culture.

I applied online and after a few days, I got an email stating they wanted to have an on-site interview with the team. I agreed, and the on-site interview was scheduled for two days after I got the email. When I arrived on time, everyone seemed really friendly. It felt more like a casual chat than an interview, which was great. They mostly asked about my background and past experiences. I was asked one technical question, but I didn't answer it very well. Afterwards, they gave me a tour of the office, which was really cool! I was very eager to work there. Unfortunately, two days later, I received a rejection email. However, it wasn't a standard rejection; I felt they genuinely valued their applicants. I plan to reapply in the future.

The hiring process involved numerous phone calls and over 40 email exchanges. Each time I had a question, they insisted on scheduling a call instead of replying via email, which became quite frustrating. After the last call, I waited about two weeks for a response, and was even told twice that an answer would be provided by a specific time, leading me to clear my schedule, but no answer came. The recruiting staff's approach was consistently asking if there was any reason I wouldn't accept a good offer. I made sure to be available throughout the process, which was difficult towards the end. Despite all the frustration, the initial offer was below my minimum acceptable salary. I was quite upset, having waited months and put other interviews on hold. They were aware of my salary range and never mentioned it might be an issue. I countered with my maximum salary, expecting them not to meet it, feeling it was a breach of trust and disrespectful of my time. Trust in the company and its leadership is crucial to me. Although my conversations with the development team were excellent and I was eager to join, the company's representation significantly impacts career decisions. They did increase the offer to my minimum, but the damage was done. While this might not bother others, it's a major red flag based on my interview experience. If you agree to interview me and I invest my time, you should be prepared to offer at least the bottom of my range, perhaps a bit more to secure the candidate. I've been on the hiring side and know this approach works. If you can't meet the range, state it upfront to avoid wasting time. The individuals I interviewed with were very pleasant, and I was excited about the prospect of joining the team, especially my potential manager. However, company support is essential, and HR is always involved. The process reflects the company's overall approach and what to expect as an employee. If they play games with the initial offer, what can be expected as an employee? Perhaps I didn't understand the negotiation game and should have countered with a figure above my maximum, aiming for a middle ground. But I'm a programmer, not a talent agent. The process is a representation of the company.