Empowering Engineers to Build the Future
At Sift, we're on a mission to empower engineers with a unified observability platform that transforms raw sensor data into actionable insights. Our technology enables engineers to build, test, and operate the machines that will define our future, from rockets destined for Mars to autonomous vehicles reshaping our cities.
As a fast-growing startup, we're looking for talented engineers to join our team. We understand how stressful interviewing can be, so we've created a guide we wish every company provided. This guide outlines what to expect and the criteria we use for grading. We encourage you to read this page in full, and as bonus points you'll see that we even share the Systems Design prompt before the on-site interview. This allows you to focus on preparation rather than nerves :).
What to Expect
Initial Interview
You’ll meet with our recruiting partner, to learn how your past experiences can contribute to Sift’s future success. We want to learn about you, your career highlights, what you’re looking for in your next role, and also provide you with more details about Sift. This is your opportunity to see if we’re a good fit for you too, so come prepared with a few questions.
Demo Interview
Sift’s CTO and Co-Founder, Austin Spiegel will provide a brief product demo, discuss our architecture, and share a high-level vision of our roadmap. Here we’ll learn more about your technical experience and how it maps to what we’re building at Sift. You’ll have time to ask questions about the company and any technical questions you may have.
Technical Interview
During this interview, you'll connect with members of Sift’s engineering team to delve deeper into your technical experience. We will assess your coding skills and technical expertise through a discussion of a coding challenge or problem. This will help us understand your thought process, problem-solving abilities, and how you draw from past experiences.
Onsite Interviews
At this point in our process, we’ll bring you on site to meet additional team members and see our headquarters in El Segundo.
Presentation
You’ll present a technical project of your choice to several engineering team members, discussing customer requirements and project plans before delving into technical implementation. You’re encouraged to present a project you are most proud of and excited about. We allow for almost a full hour which roughly breaks down into a 30 minute presentation with ample time for discussion.
System Design/Frontend Software Design
You'll be given a prompt ahead of the onsite and we'll work through the prompt collaboratively in real-time. It will be an open dialog just as if we were working side-by-side on a project. After you've designed the overall system, we’ll dive deeper into a specific section, showcasing your depth of knowledge and expertise.
Lunch/Break
We’ll schedule a casual lunch with you and several team members or a break with drinks and snacks depending on timing.
Coding in our repo
During this interview, we’re learning more about your ability to understand a new codebase, write code, and solve problems through a pair programming session. It’s also a great opportunity to work within our codebase and ask additional questions. This interview is recommended to do in Go or Python, but should you prefer another language, please ask your recruiter ahead of time, so that we can set up the proper environment for you to feel most comfortable.
Final Engineering Team Interview
An interview where you'll discuss your past experiences and values with Sift’s CTO and Co-Founder Austin Spiegel. This is also a great opportunity to learn more about how we're thinking about growth for the product and company. See our cultural values below.
Sift’s Cultural Values
Customer Experience First
We don't just serve our customers; we stand in their shoes. Every decision, every innovation springs from a deep understanding of their challenges and aspirations.
Bias for Action
In the world of hardware innovation, yesterday's bold move is today's cautious step. We act swiftly, learn quickly, and never let perfect be the enemy of progress.
Embrace Learning
Failure isn't our enemy; complacency is. We wear our mistakes like badges of honor, each one a hard-earned lesson on the path to breakthroughs.
Maintain a Long-Term Mindset
We're not building for the next quarter; we're building for the next quarter-century. Our eyes are on the horizon, even as our hands work tirelessly in the present.
Thrive Together
None of us is as smart as all of us. We believe in the alchemy of diverse minds coming together, turning the base metal of individual ideas into the gold of collective innovation.
To understand the full story behind our mission, read "Why We Left SpaceX" and discover how we're transforming the landscape of hardware engineering.
Preparing for Sift Interviews
There are plenty of guides and tips on interview preparation available online. To help you make the most of your interview experience at Sift, we've compiled a few additional areas to focus on as you prepare.
