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UBER · SDE 1

Uber SDE 1 interview

The SDE 1 (entry-level software engineer) level at Uber is L3 Software Engineer I, for new grads and engineers with up to about 2 years of experience. The rounds at this level, how each one is scored, and the questions to practise first.

From public candidate reports and Uber's careers pages, checked November 2026. Processes vary by team. AlgoRung is not affiliated with Uber.

Track my Uber prep
Uber titleL3 Software Engineer I
ExperienceNew grads and engineers with up to about 2 years of experience
Interviews after screeningAbout 4
System design roundYes

The SDE 1 rounds, in order

  1. Phone / recruiter screen · 30 min

    A recruiter call on background, the target business line and why Uber.

    At SDE 1: Usually one medium problem. Explain your idea before coding and test by hand at the end.

  2. Online assessment · 90 min

    A timed online assessment scored on hidden tests; problems are hard and must pass every case.

    At SDE 1: The main filter for new grads and campus drives. Expect two medium problems, sometimes one hard. Passing all test cases on both usually gets you to the next round.

  3. Coding (DSA) · 60 min

    The business phone screen mixes coding with some design, and largely sets the level you interview for.

    At SDE 1: The largest part of the loop: often three coding rounds. Medium problems, sometimes one hard. Correct, clean code and clear reasoning matter more than speed.

  4. Coding (DSA) · 60 min

    Onsite Coding 1 covers algorithms and data structures at medium-hard level; graphs and DP are common.

    At SDE 1: The largest part of the loop: often three coding rounds. Medium problems, sometimes one hard. Correct, clean code and clear reasoning matter more than speed.

  5. Low-level design / machine coding · 60 min

    Coding 2, 'Depth in Specialization', is often machine coding or object-oriented design for backend roles, such as file-system commands with concurrency.

    At SDE 1: Object-oriented design with clear classes and responsibilities. Working code matters more than patterns.

  6. Hiring manager · 60 min

    Collaboration & Leadership: a behavioral round, usually with the hiring manager, on past projects and conflicts.

    At SDE 1: Motivation, learning, a project walk-through and sometimes CS fundamentals.

What Uber interviewers look for

Behavioral rounds are based on the Interview competencies (official interview guide): Collaboration & Leadership, Design & Architecture, Software Engineering, Adaptability, Bias Towards Action, Entrepreneurial, Grit, Interpersonal Influence…. Questions for each one.

Coding questions to practise for Uber SDE 1

The largest part of the loop: often three coding rounds. Medium problems, sometimes one hard. Correct, clean code and clear reasoning matter more than speed.

Difficulty
Topic
4 questions
  1. Evaluate Division Medium Graphs also Stripe
  2. Surrounded Regions Medium Graphs
  3. Course Schedule Medium Graphs also Google, Amazon, Netflix +1
  4. Longest Repeating Character Replacement Medium Arrays & Hashing also Adobe

How the coding round is scored · The online assessment

System design at SDE 1

L4 candidates get one standard HLD round. At L5A and above, design weighs more and is checked again by the Bar Raiser through a deep dive on your own past systems.

All Uber system design questions

Questions people ask

How many rounds are in the Uber SDE 1 interview?

About 4 interviews after the screening: phone / recruiter screen, online assessment, coding (dsa), low-level design / machine coding, hiring manager.

Is there a system design round for Uber SDE 1?

Yes. L4 candidates get one standard HLD round. At L5A and above, design weighs more and is checked again by the Bar Raiser through a deep dive on your own past systems.

What coding questions does Uber ask at SDE 1?

The same question pool is used across levels; the bar rises with level. Most reported: Evaluate Division, Surrounded Regions, Course Schedule, Longest Repeating Character Replacement.

What does Uber expect in coding rounds at SDE 1?

The largest part of the loop: often three coding rounds. Medium problems, sometimes one hard. Correct, clean code and clear reasoning matter more than speed.

SDE 1 interviews at other companies

SDE 1 interview questions across all companies · Behavioral questions