**Interview Experience: Software Development Engineer (SDE) II at Sumitomo Pharma** I recently went through the interview process for an SDE II role at Sumitomo Pharma, and overall, it was a structured and moderately challenging experience. **Application & Initial Screening:** I applied through their careers portal and heard back within about two weeks. The first step was a recruiter call that lasted around 30 minutes. It covered my background, previous projects, and general expectations regarding the role. The recruiter was professional and gave a clear overview of the process ahead. **Technical Assessment (Online Round):** The next round was an online coding test conducted on a standard coding platform. It included: * 2 medium-level DSA problems (arrays and graphs) * 1 SQL query question * A few MCQs on system design basics and OOP concepts The questions were fair but time-constrained. Strong fundamentals in data structures were definitely required. **Technical Interviews (2 Rounds):** **Round 1 (Coding + Problem Solving):** This round focused heavily on problem-solving skills. I was asked to: * Solve a dynamic programming problem * Optimize a brute-force solution * Discuss time and space complexity The interviewer was helpful and gave hints when I got stuck, which made the discussion collaborative rather than intimidating. **Round 2 (System Design + Backend Concepts):** This round was more senior-level and focused on: * Designing a scalable service (e.g., a notification system) * API design principles * Database schema design and trade-offs (SQL vs NoSQL) * Basic knowledge of distributed systems They also asked follow-up questions to evaluate depth of understanding. **Managerial Round:** This round was more conversational. Topics included: * Past project experiences * Handling deadlines and team conflicts * Ownership and decision-making examples The hiring manager seemed particularly interested in how I approach ambiguity and work in cross-functional teams. **HR Round:** The final discussion covered compensation, relocation, and company culture. It was straightforward and transparent. **Overall Experience:** The process took about 3–4 weeks end-to-end. The difficulty level was moderate to high, especially for system design. Communication from the company was consistent throughout, which made the experience smoother. **Pros:** * Well-structured interview process * Friendly and professional interviewers * Good mix of coding and real-world problem-solving **Cons:** * Slightly tight timelines during the coding round * System design expectations might be challenging for borderline SDE II candidates **Verdict:** A solid and fair interview process that tests both technical depth and practical thinking. Candidates preparing for mid-level backend roles should be comfortable with DSA, system design fundamentals, and real-world engineering trade-offs.