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

SeniorPrefer not to say
Apr 2026

Summary

Stripe API design round focused entirely on a single problem called 'bikemap'. It was one of those rounds where the scope sounds narrow but the surface area keeps expanding the more you dig into it.

Questions Asked (2)

Q1

Design a public API for a service that integrates with the Bikemap dataset. The dataset includes coordinates and a color or state value per location. Your API needs to support batch updates, a clear resource model, pagination, idempotency, and proper error handling.

API & IntegrationsSystem DesignTechnical Trade-offs
Author's notes

I started by trying to nail down the resource model before touching endpoints, which I think was the right call.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying requirements and constraints, then define a RESTful resource model with locations as the primary resource. Design endpoints for batch updates, pagination, and idempotency, and specify error handling with standard HTTP status codes and a consistent error format.

Pro tip: Emphasize idempotency for batch updates using client-generated request IDs and discuss how to handle partial failures gracefully, as this shows production-level thinking.

1. Clarify Requirements and Constraints

Ask about expected scale, update frequency, consistency needs, and authentication. This ensures your design addresses the right problems.

2. Define Resource Model and Endpoints

Model locations as resources with coordinates and color/state. Use RESTful endpoints like GET /locations and PATCH /locations for updates.

3. Design Batch Updates and Idempotency

Support batch updates via POST /locations/batch with a client-provided idempotency key. Ensure operations are idempotent to handle retries safely.

4. Implement Pagination and Filtering

Use cursor-based pagination for scalability. Allow filtering by color/state and bounding box for coordinates.

5. Specify Error Handling and Status Codes

Return standard HTTP status codes (400, 404, 409, 429, 500) with a consistent JSON error body including a message and error code.

Key Points to Mention

  • Idempotency keys for batch updates to prevent duplicate processing
  • Cursor-based pagination for large datasets
  • Partial success handling in batch operations with per-item status
  • Rate limiting and throttling to protect the service
  • Versioning strategy for API evolution
  • Authentication and authorization (e.g., API keys, OAuth)

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

Q2

What latitude and longitude conventions are you assuming, and how would you communicate those to API consumers in your documentation?

API & IntegrationsTechnical Trade-offs
Author's notes

Didn't see this one coming as a standalone question.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by explicitly stating the coordinate conventions you would assume (e.g., WGS84, decimal degrees, latitude before longitude) and justify them with industry standards. Then explain how you would document these conventions clearly for API consumers, including examples, edge cases, and validation rules.

Pro tip: Mention that you would include a 'conventions' section in the API docs and provide a sample request/response with coordinates, as this reduces support tickets and demonstrates attention to developer experience.

1. State the conventions

Clearly specify the coordinate system (e.g., WGS84), format (decimal degrees), order (latitude, longitude), and precision (e.g., 6 decimal places).

2. Justify the choices

Explain why these conventions are standard (e.g., WGS84 is used by GPS, GeoJSON uses longitude-latitude order but many APIs use latitude-longitude) and how they align with industry practices.

3. Document for consumers

Describe how you would communicate these in API documentation: dedicated section, inline parameter descriptions, examples, and error messages for invalid coordinates.

4. Handle edge cases

Discuss how to handle edge cases like null island, poles, antimeridian, and coordinate validation (range checks, format validation).

5. Provide tooling and support

Mention providing SDKs or helper functions that abstract coordinate handling, and a sandbox for testing coordinates.

Key Points to Mention

  • WGS84 as the standard coordinate system
  • Decimal degrees vs. degrees/minutes/seconds
  • Latitude-longitude order vs. longitude-latitude order (and potential confusion)
  • Precision and rounding (e.g., 6 decimal places ~ 0.11m accuracy)
  • Validation and error handling for out-of-range coordinates
  • Documentation best practices: examples, interactive console, and clear parameter descriptions

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