OpenTable Software Engineer Interview Questions
& Process

The first round was focused on LLD, where I had to design a coffee vending machine that could handle add-ons, keep track of inventory, and process payments. I managed to implement all the requirements within the 60 minutes, although the problem was complex and probably needed 90 minutes. They extended the interview to 90 minutes and threw in some HLD questions. Even though I met all the requirements and handled the extra stuff, they rejected me without any feedback, which was pretty disappointing given the interviewer's unprofessional and dismissive attitude. I definitely wouldn't apply here again.

First, there was an HR screening with a Talent Acquisition Specialist. They talked about the company, products, teams, the role, and my experience and interests. Then, a call with a Software Engineering Manager from the relevant team, who went deeper into the project and team details. They asked technical questions about the tech stack, which felt more like a discussion on engineering practices. My tip: have strong opinions on topics like design patterns, architecture, and threading. If the prior interviews went well, the next step was a series of 'onsite' interviews, consisting of 4 back-to-back calls with various team members. Most of these were heavy on coding, involving either a code challenge or a system design problem. If that went well, they'd call to offer the job and discuss the details.

So I had this funny experience. I got an email from HR to chat with the hiring manager (HM), but I totally forgot about it. Two weeks later, I got another email saying if I didn't respond, they'd close my application. I still didn't respond. Then one day, out of the blue, I got an email saying the role I applied for was closed, but the HM wanted to talk to me about a different role and that a phone call was scheduled with the HM for 4 pm. I still didn't respond. After 4 pm, I got another email saying the call was rescheduled for 5 pm. I'd had enough, so I finally replied saying I was available at 5:15 pm and gave them my cell number. At 5:15 pm, someone claiming to be the HM called me, talked like an HR person, and started asking HR-type questions and about my visa status. Turns out, he was actually looking for testers. After about 45 minutes of the call, it was clear I was way overqualified for what he needed. The next day, I got an email from HR saying they couldn't offer visa sponsorship for this role and wouldn't be moving forward with my application, even though I'd made it clear I didn't need sponsorship. That's a sign of the work environment, I guess.