Snap Inc Interview Guide

Company Overview: Snap (Snapchat) is a camera company focused on augmented reality, ephemeral messaging, and visual communication. Known for innovation in AR filters, Stories, and Spotlight.

Interview Process

Timeline: 3-4 weeks

1. Recruiter Screen (30 min)
2. Technical Phone Screen (45 min) – One coding problem
3. Onsite (4 rounds, 3 hours)
   • 2 coding rounds (45 min each)
   • 1 system design OR domain-specific (45 min)
   • 1 behavioral/general tech discussion (45 min)

Question Difficulty

• Coding: Medium (70%), Medium-Hard (25%), Easy (5%)
• Style: Practical, product-focused problems
• Topics: Data structures, algorithms, mobile/media if relevant

Common Questions

Coding:

• Design image filter system
• Implement story ranking algorithm
• Calculate engagement metrics
• Design friend suggestion algorithm
• Implement message encryption/decryption
• Process video stream metadata

System Design:

• Design Snapchat Stories feature
• Design real-time messaging system
• Design content recommendation engine
• Design AR filter distribution system

Preparation

• Technical: 6-8 weeks
• LeetCode: 60-80 Medium problems
• Focus: Arrays, strings, trees, graphs
• System Design: Social networks, media systems, real-time features
• Product: Use Snapchat daily, understand features deeply

Salary (Los Angeles & Santa Monica)

• SWE: $130-170K base, $170-240K total
• Senior SWE: $170-220K base, $250-380K total
• Staff: $220-290K base, $400-600K total

Culture

• Creative: Innovation and creativity valued
• Location: Strong LA presence (Venice Beach office)
• Young: Targets Gen Z demographic
• Fast-paced: Rapid feature development
• Perks: Great office spaces, meals, benefits

Interview Tips

• ✓ Show creativity and product thinking
• ✓ Understand AR/camera technology
• ✓ Be familiar with Snap’s products and features
• ✓ Discuss mobile and media challenges
• ✓ Emphasize user experience

Difficulty: 3.5/5 | Best for: Engineers interested in AR, social media, mobile, and creative technology.