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ElevenLabs·Software Engineer·Onsite - System Design / Architecture·Intermediate

Intermediate
Apr 2026

Summary

A product/design-flavored system design question at ElevenLabs for a SWE role. The prompt was about redesigning a voice-dubbing workflow tool, which felt more like a PM or UX exercise than a typical engineering interview.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

You're an editor managing a voice-dubbing project currently tracked in Excel. Design a new interface to review progress, manage feedback, and collaborate with voice actors. Focus on user flows and UI rather than backend systems.

Product Sense & IdeationSystem DesignAdaptability & Ambiguity
Author's notes

Wasn't expecting this at all for a SWE interview.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the user personas (editor, voice actor) and their primary jobs-to-be-done, then map out the core workflows for progress tracking, feedback exchange, and collaboration. Design a UI that centralizes these workflows with clear status indicators, threaded comments, and role-based views, while emphasizing how it improves upon the limitations of Excel.

Pro tip: Show empathy for both editors and voice actors by addressing their pain points with Excel (e.g., version control, real-time updates, communication silos) and propose features that leverage ElevenLabs' strengths in voice AI, such as automated quality checks or voice sample integration.

1. Define Users and Goals

Identify the key users (editors, voice actors, project managers) and their goals: editors need to track progress and manage feedback; voice actors need clear direction and easy submission of recordings.

2. Map Core Workflows

Outline the end-to-end flows: project setup, task assignment, recording submission, feedback provision, revision cycles, and final approval. Highlight where Excel falls short and how the new interface addresses these gaps.

3. Design UI Components

Propose key UI elements: a dashboard with progress bars and status tags, a feedback panel with threaded comments and timestamped annotations, and a collaboration hub with notifications and file sharing.

4. Incorporate Collaboration Features

Detail how voice actors and editors interact: real-time commenting, version history, @mentions, and role-based permissions to ensure smooth communication and reduce back-and-forth.

5. Prioritize and Iterate

Suggest an MVP with essential features (progress tracking, feedback, basic collaboration) and discuss potential future enhancements like AI-powered quality checks or integration with ElevenLabs' voice synthesis tools.

Key Points to Mention

  • User personas and their specific needs (editors vs. voice actors)
  • Pain points of Excel (version control, real-time updates, communication)
  • Centralized dashboard with progress tracking and status indicators
  • Threaded feedback with timestamped comments and annotations
  • Role-based views and permissions for collaboration
  • Integration with ElevenLabs' voice AI for quality checks or sample generation

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