Does Google have a system design interview?

Yes, Google includes a system design interview as part of its hiring process, especially for mid-level to senior technical roles, such as software engineers, site reliability engineers (SREs), and architects. The system design interview is designed to evaluate how well a candidate can design scalable, reliable, and maintainable systems.

Key Aspects of Google's System Design Interview:

1. Real-World Problem Solving:

   • You’ll be asked to design large-scale systems similar to the ones Google operates, such as distributed databases, messaging systems, or scalable web services.
   • Example prompts could be to design a URL shortening service, a global chat system, or a system similar to Google Drive.

2. Components of System Design:

   • The interview focuses on evaluating your understanding of scalability, performance, and trade-offs.
   • You’ll need to discuss data storage options, APIs, load balancing, caching, and strategies for fault tolerance.

3. Evaluation Criteria:

   • Scalability: How will your system handle millions or even billions of users?
   • Reliability: How do you ensure the system stays operational with minimal downtime?
   • Performance: How do you optimize for fast response times and data throughput?
   • Security: How will you protect user data and ensure secure transactions?

4. Communication:

   • Google values clear communication during system design interviews. You are expected to walk the interviewer through your thought process, explain trade-offs, and justify design choices.

Example of Common System Design Questions:

• Design a scalable file storage system like Google Drive.
• Design a real-time messaging system similar to WhatsApp.
• Design a global load balancer for a large-scale service.

Sources:

• Google Careers
• Glassdoor Google Interview Reviews

By preparing thoroughly for system design interviews, candidates can showcase their ability to architect complex systems that scale effectively, which is critical for working at Google.