Databricks·Software Engineer·Technical Phone Screen·Intermediate

IntermediatePrefer not to say

May 2026Remote

Summary

Databricks coding round with a simulation problem that looked straightforward until the follow-up hit. The core question was fine but the extension tripped me up a bit.

Questions Asked (1)

Given a falling Tetris-style block, an array representing the environment with column heights and obstacles, and a horizontal offset for where the block enters, compute how many steps the block falls before it lands. Follow-up: update and print the environment state after the block settles.

Algorithms & Data StructuresSystem Design

Author's notes

The falling simulation part I handled okay.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Clarify the block's shape and the environment representation, then model the falling process by computing the maximum drop height for each column the block occupies, considering obstacles. Simulate the fall step-by-step or compute the final position directly, and for the follow-up, update the environment by adding the block's cells to the grid and printing it.

Pro tip: Discuss trade-offs between step-by-step simulation and direct computation, and mention how you would handle edge cases like obstacles blocking the path or the block landing on uneven surfaces. This shows you think about efficiency and robustness.

1. Clarify the problem

Ask about the block's shape (e.g., single cell, L-shape, etc.), the environment representation (array of column heights vs. 2D grid), and how obstacles are specified. Confirm the output format for the follow-up.

2. Model the block and environment

Represent the block as a set of relative coordinates and the environment as a height map or grid. Determine the block's initial horizontal position based on the offset.

3. Compute the landing position

For each column the block occupies, find the highest obstacle or ground below the block's starting height. The block's drop distance is the minimum over these columns of (starting height - obstacle height - block height in that column).

4. Update the environment

After the block lands, update the environment by adding the block's cells to the grid or increasing the column heights accordingly. Print the updated environment as specified.

5. Analyze complexity and edge cases

Discuss time and space complexity, and consider edge cases such as obstacles directly under the block, uneven terrain, or the block partially overlapping obstacles.

Key Points to Mention

Clarify the block's shape and the environment representation (e.g., array of column heights vs. 2D grid).
Compute the maximum drop height for each column the block occupies, considering obstacles.
Use the minimum drop height across all columns to determine the final landing position.
Update the environment by adding the block's cells to the grid or increasing column heights.
Handle edge cases: obstacles blocking the path, uneven surfaces, and block rotation if applicable.
Discuss time and space complexity, and potential optimizations for large environments.

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