1. What is a Software Engineer?

At Glean, the role of a Software Engineer is central to the company's mission of creating the "Google for the workplace." Glean builds an AI-powered work assistant that connects across all of a company's applications to help employees find exactly what they need. In this role, you are not just building standard CRUD applications; you are solving complex challenges related to enterprise search, knowledge graphs, generative AI, and data ingestion at scale.

You will work on high-impact projects that directly affect the user experience, such as optimizing search relevance, building connectors for third-party apps (like Slack, Jira, or Salesforce), or architecting the infrastructure that powers real-time indexing. The engineering culture at Glean is fast-paced and technically rigorous. Engineers here are expected to own their features from conception to deployment, navigating the ambiguity typical of a high-growth startup environment while maintaining the code quality expected of a top-tier tech firm.

2. Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation for Glean requires a shift in mindset. While standard algorithmic fluency is required, the company places a heavy premium on practical engineering speed and startup adaptability. You need to demonstrate that you can build working software quickly without getting bogged down in bureaucracy.

Key Evaluation Criteria

Algorithmic Problem Solving – You must demonstrate the ability to solve complex data structure problems efficiently. Interviewers look for clean, bug-free code produced at a rapid pace, often testing your ability to handle edge cases in real-time.

Practical Coding Ability – Unlike many big tech firms that stick solely to LeetCode, Glean often tests your ability to build a mini-application or feature from scratch. You are evaluated on code organization, modularity, and how well your solution runs.

System Design & Architecture – For mid-level and senior roles, you will be assessed on your ability to design scalable systems. You need to show deep understanding of trade-offs, particularly regarding data consistency, API design, and high-availability infrastructure.

Startup Mindset & Culture Fit – Glean values engineers who are proactive and resilient. Interviewers assess whether you thrive in a high-ownership environment or if you rely heavily on existing "big company" infrastructure. You must show a willingness to move fast and tackle undefined problems.

3. Interview Process Overview

The interview process at Glean is known to be rigorous and can be lengthy compared to other startups. It generally begins with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical phone screens. These initial screens are usually algorithmic in nature but can sometimes involve practical discussions about your past projects.

If you pass the screening stage, you will move to the "onsite" loop (usually virtual). This is an intense series of rounds that typically includes advanced algorithmic coding, a system design session, a behavioral round with a Hiring Manager, and—most notably—a practical coding assignment. This assignment (often 2 hours long) is a distinguishing feature of Glean's process, designed to see if you can translate logic into a working application under time pressure. The bar is high; candidates are expected to produce a significant amount of working code during these sessions.

The timeline above illustrates the typical flow from application to final decision. Note the Practical/Project Round during the onsite phase; this is often the "make or break" step for many candidates. Plan your energy accordingly, as the onsite can feel like a marathon, often lasting 4 to 5 hours in total.

4. Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Glean’s technical bar is comparable to top-tier tech companies, but with a specific twist towards practical implementation. You should prepare for the following specific areas.

Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA)

This is the foundation of the early rounds. Expect questions that range from LeetCode Medium to Hard. You are expected to drive the conversation, explaining your space and time complexity clearly.

Be ready to go over:

• Graph Algorithms – DFS/BFS traversals are very common (e.g., finding paths, connected components).
• Arrays and Matrices – Manipulation of 2D grids and logic puzzles.
• Heaps and Priority Queues – merging data streams or managing sorted data.
• Advanced concepts – Dynamic programming and recursion appear occasionally, but core data structure manipulation is prioritized.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Solve a variation of the Connect 4 game, handling win conditions efficiently."
• "Implement a solution similar to 'Rotate Image' on LeetCode."
• "Merge multiple sorted arrays or lists using a heap."

The Practical Coding Assignment

This is often a 2-hour session where you are asked to build a small project or a complex feature. This is not a standard algorithm puzzle; it is a test of your software engineering craftsmanship.

Be ready to go over:

• Code Organization – How you structure classes, files, and functions.
• Speed and Accuracy – You need to produce a "grueling amount of code" (as described by past candidates) in a short time.
• Testing – Writing test cases for your own code as you go.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Build a working backend for a specific game or service."
• "Implement a simplified version of a search indexer."

System Design (LLD & HLD)

For experienced candidates, this round assesses how you architect solutions.

Be ready to go over:

• API Design – Defining clean, RESTful endpoints and request/response structures.
• Scalability – How to handle high throughput and data ingestion.
• Database Schema – Designing tables for specific use cases (e.g., a social feed or document storage).

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Design an API for a file storage system."
• "How would you architect a system to crawl and index data from Slack?"

The word cloud above highlights the frequency of topics such as Graph, DFS, System Design, and Project. Notice the emphasis on "Project" and "Assignment"—this reinforces the importance of the practical coding round. Ensure your preparation balances raw algorithmic practice with actual application building.

5. Key Responsibilities

As a Software Engineer at Glean, your daily work will revolve around solving hard technical problems that power the product. You will be responsible for designing and implementing high-performance systems that can crawl, index, and search across massive datasets from various enterprise SaaS applications.

You will collaborate closely with Product Managers and Designers to define feature specifications, but you will also have a high degree of autonomy in how those features are implemented. Responsibilities often include optimizing query latency, improving search relevance using NLP techniques, or building intuitive frontend interfaces for the dashboard. Because the team is lean, you may also find yourself debugging production issues or improving the developer productivity infrastructure.

6. Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be competitive for this role, you need a strong technical foundation and the ability to demonstrate it live.

• Must-have skills:

  • Proficiency in at least one major language (Python, Go, Java, or C++) with a strong preference for clean, idiomatic code.
  • Deep understanding of Data Structures and Algorithms (Graphs, Trees, Hash Maps).
  • Experience with distributed systems or backend API development.
  • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.

• Nice-to-have skills:

  • Experience with Search technologies (Elasticsearch, Lucene) or NLP.
  • Background in a high-growth startup environment.
  • Experience with frontend technologies (React, TypeScript) for full-stack roles.

7. Common Interview Questions

The following questions are representative of what candidates have faced at Glean. They are grouped by category to help you structure your practice.

Coding & Algorithms

These questions test your raw problem-solving speed.

• "Implement a Graph DFS to solve a connectivity problem."
• "Write a program to play Connect 4, including the logic to detect a winner."
• "Rotate a 2D image/matrix in place."
• "Merge $k$ sorted arrays efficiently."
• "Solve a problem involving Stack data structures (e.g., parenthesis matching or calculator)."

System Design & Practical

These questions test your engineering judgment.

• "Design the API and database schema for a specific feature (e.g., a commenting system)."
• "How would you test a public-facing API? Describe the test scenarios."
• "Build a small application that processes a stream of events."

Behavioral & Culture

These questions assess your fit for Glean's specific environment.

• "Tell me about a time you had to handle a difficult situation with a coworker."
• "Describe a project where you went above and beyond your defined responsibilities."
• "Why do you want to join a startup like Glean versus a big tech company?"
• "Walk me through a past project you are proud of."

These questions are based on real interview experiences from candidates who interviewed at this company. You can practice answering them interactively on Dataford to better prepare for your interview.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult is the Glean interview process? The process is generally considered Hard. The combination of LeetCode-style questions and a time-pressured practical assignment creates a high bar. Candidates often report that the interviewers expect optimal solutions and high-quality code from the start.

Q: What is the "2-hour assignment" I keep hearing about? This is a unique part of Glean's onsite loop. You are given a prompt to build a functional piece of software or a complex module within two hours. It tests your ability to turn requirements into working code quickly. Speed and code structure are critical here.

Q: Does Glean offer remote positions? Glean has specific hubs (e.g., Palo Alto, Bengaluru) and often prefers hybrid work to foster collaboration, though remote roles do exist depending on the team and seniority. Always clarify this with your recruiter early in the process.

Q: How long does the process take? It can vary, but generally, it takes 2 to 4 weeks from the initial screen to the final decision. However, some candidates have reported delays or gaps in communication, so it is acceptable to follow up politely if you haven't heard back.

9. Other General Tips

Code for Speed and Clarity: In the practical rounds, you do not have time to refactor endlessly. Practice writing clean, modular code on your first pass. If you get stuck, communicate your thought process immediately—silence is your enemy.

Be Prepared for "Stoic" Interviewers: Some candidates have noted that interviewers can be direct or less "chatty" than at other companies. Do not mistake this for hostility. Stay professional, focus on the problem, and advocate for your solution with technical proofs if challenged.

Highlight "Scrappy" Experience: If you have experience working in startups or building side projects, highlight it. Glean values engineers who can operate without a safety net. If you come from a large company, emphasize times you worked on 0-to-1 projects or navigated ambiguity.

10. Summary & Next Steps

Interviewing for a Software Engineer role at Glean is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. You are applying to join a team that is redefining enterprise search with cutting-edge AI. The process is designed to filter for engineers who are not only algorithmically sharp but also capable of building real, scalable software under pressure.

To succeed, focus your preparation on Graph and Array algorithms, practice building mini-apps from scratch within a time limit, and prepare stories that demonstrate your ownership and startup mentality. Approach the interviews with confidence—you have the skills, and now you have the roadmap.

The compensation data above reflects the competitive nature of Glean's offers. As a well-funded unicorn, they offer strong base salaries and significant equity upside. Use this data to benchmark your expectations, but remember that the specific offer will depend heavily on your performance in the technical rounds, particularly the onsite coding assignment. Good luck!