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Openai·Software Engineer·Take-home Assignment·Senior

Senior
Apr 2026

Summary

Take-home assignment for an iOS Engineer role at OpenAI. You get a sample Xcode project with a README and have to fill in the missing functionality, with an emphasis on UI work. SwiftUI is the preferred path but UIKit is fine too.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

Given a provided Xcode project and README, implement the missing UI functionality using either UIKit or SwiftUI, following clean architecture principles with proper view, view model, and state management separation.

Technical Trade-offsSystem Design
Author's notes

SwiftUI being 'preferred' is the kind of thing you notice after you've already committed to UIKit.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by thoroughly reading the README and exploring the Xcode project to understand the existing architecture and missing UI. Then, outline a plan that separates concerns into view, view model, and state management, choosing UIKit or SwiftUI based on project context and trade-offs. Implement incrementally, ensuring testability and adherence to clean architecture principles.

Pro tip: Before writing any code, clarify the expected behavior and edge cases with the interviewer, and explain how your design supports future changes and testing. This shows you value communication and maintainability over rushing to code.

1. Understand the project and requirements

Read the README and explore the Xcode project to identify the missing UI functionality, existing architecture, and any constraints. Ask clarifying questions if needed.

2. Choose the UI framework and justify

Decide between UIKit and SwiftUI based on project setup, team familiarity, and requirements. Briefly explain your choice and trade-offs.

3. Design the architecture

Outline the separation of concerns: view (UI), view model (presentation logic), and state management (data flow). Consider using protocols for abstraction and testability.

4. Implement incrementally with tests

Start with the view model and state management, writing unit tests for logic. Then build the UI, ensuring it reacts to state changes correctly.

5. Review and refine

Check for adherence to clean architecture, handle edge cases, and ensure the UI is responsive and accessible. Discuss potential improvements or trade-offs.

Key Points to Mention

  • Separation of concerns: view, view model, and state management
  • Testability: unit tests for view models and state logic
  • Choice of UIKit vs SwiftUI and its trade-offs
  • State management patterns (e.g., Combine, ObservableObject, Redux-like)
  • Dependency injection for decoupling and mocking
  • Scalability and maintainability of the architecture

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