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Expedia·Software Engineer·Technical Phone Screen·Intermediate

Intermediate
May 2026

Summary

Expedia software engineer interview that was basically a deep project walkthrough. They pick something from your resume and just... go in. Be ready to talk specifics.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

Walk me through a project on your resume in detail: what was the problem, what did you design, what alternatives did you consider, what was your specific contribution versus the team's, what trade-offs did you make, what issues came up and how did you resolve them, and what was the final measurable impact?

Technical Trade-offsRoot Cause AnalysisSystem Design
Author's notes

This is the whole interview basically.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Select a project that aligns with Expedia's scale and technical challenges, such as a high-traffic booking system or a data-intensive search feature. Structure your answer as a narrative that covers problem, design, alternatives, personal contribution, trade-offs, issues, and measurable impact, while highlighting your specific role and the reasoning behind your decisions.

Pro tip: Quantify the impact with metrics that matter to Expedia, like conversion rate, latency reduction, or cost savings, and be ready to dive deeper into any trade-off or issue if asked. Show that you consider both technical and business aspects.

1. Set the Context and Problem

Briefly describe the project, its goals, and the specific problem it addressed, including any constraints like scale, latency, or budget.

2. Explain Your Design and Alternatives

Outline the solution you designed, the alternatives you considered, and why you chose your approach, focusing on technical trade-offs.

3. Clarify Your Contribution and Team Dynamics

Clearly state your individual contributions versus the team's, emphasizing your ownership and collaboration.

4. Discuss Trade-offs and Challenges

Detail the trade-offs you made and any issues that arose, explaining how you resolved them and what you learned.

5. Highlight Measurable Impact

Conclude with the final measurable impact, using metrics like performance improvements, cost savings, or user engagement increases.

Key Points to Mention

  • Specific technical trade-offs (e.g., consistency vs. availability, latency vs. cost)
  • Root cause analysis of a critical issue and your resolution
  • Your individual contribution and how it differed from the team's
  • Quantifiable impact (e.g., reduced latency by X%, increased conversion by Y%)
  • Alignment with Expedia's business goals (e.g., improving booking flow, scalability)
  • Lessons learned and how you applied them to future projects

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