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Google·Software Engineer·Onsite - Behavioral / Leadership·Senior

SeniorPrefer not to say
Apr 2026

Summary

Standard behavioral round at Google for a software engineering role. One question stood out from the rest and took up most of the conversation.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

You find out that two separate teams have been independently building the same thing. What do you do?

Cross-functional AlignmentStakeholder ManagementConflict Resolution
Author's notes

This one took me a minute to get into because there are so many directions you can go.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by acknowledging the duplication as a common challenge in large organizations, then focus on your proactive approach to resolve it. Emphasize collaboration, communication, and aligning with business goals to merge efforts efficiently. Highlight your ability to navigate cross-team dynamics and prevent future silos.

Pro tip: Frame the duplication as an opportunity to improve processes and foster collaboration, not as a failure. Show that you prioritize the company's goals over team ownership, and suggest a blameless post-mortem to learn from the situation.

1. Discover and Assess

Gather information about both projects: their goals, progress, and stakeholders. Understand why the duplication occurred and what each team has built.

2. Initiate Communication

Reach out to leads from both teams to discuss the overlap transparently. Set up a meeting to align on the shared problem and explore collaboration.

3. Evaluate and Decide

Compare the solutions based on technical merit, alignment with company goals, and resource efficiency. Decide whether to merge, choose one, or restart with a unified approach.

4. Align and Execute

Work with stakeholders to agree on a path forward, assign ownership, and create a unified plan. Communicate the decision to all involved and beyond.

5. Prevent Future Duplication

Propose process improvements such as better visibility tools, regular cross-team syncs, or a central roadmap to avoid similar issues.

Key Points to Mention

  • Assume positive intent: teams likely didn't know about each other's work.
  • Focus on the best outcome for the company, not team egos.
  • Involve stakeholders early to ensure buy-in and smooth transition.
  • Consider technical and non-technical factors (e.g., code quality, team morale).
  • Document lessons learned and share across the organization.
  • Propose systemic fixes to prevent future duplication (e.g., improved communication channels).

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.