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Openai·Software Engineer·Onsite - System Design / Architecture·Senior

SeniorPrefer not to say
May 2026

Summary

Frontend system design round at OpenAI where they handed me a set of mockups and basically said 'build this in your head.' Covered a lot of ground fast, from component structure all the way to accessibility and build tooling. Felt like a senior-level bar even if the prompt sounded approachable at first.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

Given a set of visual mockups, walk through how you would turn them into a working web product. Cover component decomposition, state management, data flow, API contracts, CSS strategy, accessibility, build tooling, and how you'd iterate from static to interactive.

System DesignTechnical Trade-offsAPI & Integrations
Author's notes

This is a wide question and I underestimated how wide.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the scope and requirements from the mockups, then walk through a structured plan that covers component decomposition, state management, data flow, API contracts, CSS strategy, accessibility, build tooling, and iteration from static to interactive. Emphasize trade-offs and how you would validate each step with the team.

Pro tip: Show that you prioritize accessibility and performance from the start, not as an afterthought, and explain how you would use tools like Storybook to develop components in isolation and ensure consistency.

1. Analyze and Decompose

Review the mockups to identify reusable components, their hierarchy, and the overall layout. Break down the UI into atomic components (buttons, inputs) and composite components (forms, cards).

2. Define State and Data Flow

Determine what state is needed, where it should live (local vs global), and how data will flow between components. Choose a state management approach (e.g., React Context, Redux, Zustand) based on complexity.

3. Design API Contracts and CSS Strategy

Define the API endpoints, request/response shapes, and error handling. Decide on a CSS approach (CSS Modules, styled-components, Tailwind) that supports theming, responsiveness, and maintainability.

4. Implement Accessibility and Build Tooling

Ensure components meet WCAG standards (keyboard navigation, ARIA roles, color contrast). Set up build tools (Webpack, Vite) with linting, testing, and CI/CD pipelines.

5. Iterate from Static to Interactive

Start with static components, then add interactivity and connect to APIs. Use a component-driven approach (e.g., Storybook) to develop and test in isolation, then integrate and refine.

Key Points to Mention

  • Component decomposition: atomic design, reusability, and separation of concerns.
  • State management: choosing between local state, context, and external stores based on app complexity.
  • API contracts: REST vs GraphQL, error handling, and data fetching strategies (e.g., React Query).
  • CSS strategy: CSS-in-JS vs utility-first vs preprocessors, and how to handle theming and responsiveness.
  • Accessibility: semantic HTML, ARIA, keyboard support, and testing with screen readers.
  • Build tooling: bundlers, transpilers, linting, testing frameworks, and CI/CD integration.

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