How many interview rounds does LinkedIn have for Software Engineer and what are they?

LinkedIn’s Software Engineer process includes a Recruiter Call, an Online Coding Assessment, a Technical Phone Screen, then a Virtual Onsite Loop with four to five rounds. The loop also includes an AI-Assisted Coding Round where you implement features with an AI assistant and show debugging and verification skills.

How hard is it to get an offer for LinkedIn Software Engineer interviews?

Candidates who reported results most commonly rated the interviews as average difficulty. Out of reported interviews, the offer rate was 40%.

What topics does LinkedIn test for Software Engineer interviews?

You should expect coverage across System Design, SQL, Coding Fundamentals, and scalable reliability engineering topics. The tested focus also includes data structures like trees, graphs, and linked structures, plus distributed systems concepts such as at-least-once semantics, and recommendation systems.

What does the AI-assisted coding round at LinkedIn Software Engineer involve?

In the AI-Assisted Coding Round, you work with an AI assistant to implement features. This format is meant to assess debugging and verification skills while you complete the task.

How much do LinkedIn Software Engineers get paid, and how does it vary?

Compensation reported for LinkedIn Software Engineer roles ranges up to $370k total, with base pay starting from $131,808. Pay varies by level and location, and totals can be higher depending on those factors.

What coding practice topics show up in public sample questions for LinkedIn Software Engineer?

Two public sample question prompts include DOM Child in Parent and Parse Query Params in JS. Practicing JavaScript fundamentals alongside broader coding fundamentals can help you cover these types of scenarios.

LinkedInSoftware Engineer

Updated Sep 7, 2026

LinkedIn Software Engineer Interview Experiences 2026

Real, anonymous reports from people who interviewed for Software Engineer at LinkedIn, newest first and distilled into what to expect across the loop.

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Hot & recentNewest first

1 month ago

My first step for a Software Engineer role at LinkedIn was a phone screening that felt deliberately structured. The interviewer said there would be two questions: a quick “smoke test” first, mainly to help me get comfortable with the format, and they wouldn’t judge me on that one. The second question was the real challenge.

For the actual coding part, I was asked to find the second minimum node in a binary tree. The smoke test and the primary question were both short enough to fit in a single phone screen, but the second problem was the one that really mattered for how the round went. By the end, I had a clearer sense of what they expected from me on that call, even though I didn’t feel like the first question was weighted heavily.

2 months ago

I started my interview for a Senior Software Engineer role at LinkedIn with a phone screen where we went through my resume and past projects. The call wasn’t just a formality—there was still a coding component, and the way it was run involved AI-assisted coding support.

From there, the process moved into additional coding rounds. Overall, the experience felt learnable once I was in it, and being able to compare what I was seeing live to what I’d studied beforehand made a big difference. I ended up getting an offer and accepted it, so the pace and structure eventually clicked for me.

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What to expect

Distilled from the reports

Phone Screen Structure

The initial phone screen typically includes a discussion of the candidate's projects followed by two coding problems, often designed to assess problem-solving under time pressure. Candidates should be prepared to switch between different types of problems quickly and articulate their thought processes clearly.

Phone screenCoding problemsProject discussion

Technical Rounds Focus

Subsequent technical rounds emphasize data structures and algorithms (DSA), with a mix of LeetCode-style problems and SQL challenges. Candidates should expect to demonstrate both correctness and the ability to explain their reasoning and approach throughout the problem-solving process.

DSALeetCodeSQL challenges

System Design Interview

For some roles, a system design interview is included, focusing on scalability and architectural decisions. Candidates should be ready to discuss design choices in detail and consider trade-offs related to performance and user experience.

System designScalabilityArchitecture

Behavioral and Managerial Rounds

Behavioral interviews assess cultural fit and past experiences, often conducted by hiring managers. Candidates should prepare to reflect on their previous work and how it aligns with the company's values and team dynamics.

BehavioralCultural fitHiring manager

Interview Difficulty and Expectations

Candidates report that the overall difficulty of the interviews can be higher than anticipated, with a strong emphasis on depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills. Preparation should include a thorough understanding of algorithms, data structures, and system design principles.

Interview difficultyDepth of knowledgeProblem-solving

Communication and Explanation

Throughout the interview process, clear communication and the ability to explain thought processes are crucial. Candidates should focus not only on arriving at the correct solution but also on articulating their reasoning and approach effectively.

CommunicationArticulationThought process