System Design & Application Scaling

This evaluation area focuses on your ability to design large-scale software systems. Interviewers want to see how you approach high-level architecture, select appropriate technologies, and address scalability bottlenecks.

Be ready to go over:

• Microservices and API Design – Designing clean, decoupled services and robust REST/GraphQL APIs.
• Database Scaling and Caching – Implementing indexing, sharding, and caching layers (like Redis) to reduce database load.
• Reliability and Redundancy – Ensuring high availability through load balancers, message queues, and failover strategies.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Event-driven architectures, CDN caching strategies, and rate-limiting algorithms.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Design a scalable real-time chat system that supports group messages and online/offline status indicators."
• "How would you refactor a monolithic application into microservices without causing downtime for active users?"

As a Software Engineer at Side, your day-to-day activities will revolve around shipping high-quality software and collaborating with your team to drive product innovation. You will be expected to:

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable web and mobile applications using modern frameworks and languages.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and QA engineers to define product specifications and deliver features on time.
• Write clean, well-documented, and testable code while maintaining high test coverage through unit and integration tests.
• Participate in code reviews, providing constructive feedback to peers and ensuring adherence to engineering standards.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and optimize application performance to ensure a seamless user experience across all devices.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and help guide technical decisions that shape the future of the Side platform.

To be competitive for the Software Engineer position at Side, you should possess a strong technical foundation and a collaborative mindset.

• Must-have skills:

  • Strong proficiency in at least one major programming language (such as JavaScript/TypeScript, Swift, Java, or Python).
  • Solid understanding of computer science fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly.
  • Experience working with modern web or mobile frameworks (such as React, Spring Boot, or iOS SDK).
  • Proven ability to write clean, maintainable, and thoroughly tested code.

• Nice-to-have skills:

  • Experience scaling high-traffic applications in cloud environments (such as AWS, GCP, or Azure).
  • Familiarity with test automation frameworks like Selenium, Appium, or Cypress.
  • Experience working in a fast-paced, agile startup environment.
  • Knowledge of real estate technology standards or transaction management workflows.

Q: How difficult is the Software Engineer interview process at Side? A: The process is moderately challenging and highly comprehensive. It balances fundamental computer science topics, such as data structures and algorithms, with practical, role-specific technical assessments and communication evaluations.

Q: What is the purpose of the English and grammar assessment? A: Because Side operates in a highly collaborative, cross-functional, and often distributed environment, clear communication is critical. The language assessment ensures that all engineers can document their code, write technical specifications, and collaborate effectively with team members.

Q: How long does the entire interview process typically take? A: The interview loop generally takes between two to three weeks from the initial HR screen to the final offer stage, depending on scheduling availability and the speed of candidate responses.

Q: Does Side support remote or hybrid work for engineering roles? A: Yes, Side offers flexible working arrangements, including remote and hybrid options, depending on the specific team, role requirements, and location.

To maximize your chances of success during the Side interview process, keep these practical tips in mind:

• Master the Fundamentals: Ensure you have a rock-solid grasp of core language mechanics (such as JavaScript closures, Swift memory management, or Java multithreading) rather than just memorizing framework APIs.

• Over-Communicate Your Thoughts: Treat the coding and system design rounds as a collaborative pairing session. Talk through your approach, state your assumptions, and explain why you are choosing one solution over another.
• Prepare for Behavioral Scenarios: Be ready to share specific examples of how you handled technical disagreements, navigated project ambiguity, or resolved production outages in your past roles.

Securing a Software Engineer role at Side is an exciting opportunity to work on a high-impact platform that is transforming the real estate industry. By focusing your preparation on core computer science fundamentals, platform-specific deep dives, and clear, structured communication, you can navigate the interview loop with confidence.

Take the time to practice coding problems, review your past architectural decisions, and refine your behavioral stories. Focused preparation is the key to demonstrating your full potential to the hiring team.

The salary data above provides an overview of the typical compensation structure for this role. Use this information to guide your expectations during the final HR and offer discussions. For more detailed interview insights, company reviews, and preparation resources, be sure to explore the extensive community data available on Dataford. Good luck with your preparation!