Cohesity Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Cohesity is a leader in AI-powered data security and management, recognized for its innovative solutions in protecting and managing data across various platforms.

As a Software Engineer at Cohesity, you'll play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and maintaining cutting-edge products that enhance data security and management capabilities. This role requires strong coding skills, particularly in languages such as Golang and Java, and a solid understanding of distributed systems and software architecture. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including product management, customer support, and system engineers, to develop features that are not only impactful but also scalable and resilient. A key part of your responsibilities will involve diagnosing complex issues in large codebases, demonstrating a problem-solving mindset and a commitment to quality through test-driven development practices. You should also be comfortable participating in Agile development processes and contributing to a culture of team ownership and accountability.

This guide aims to arm you with the knowledge and insights needed to excel in a Cohesity interview, helping you showcase your technical expertise and alignment with the company's mission and values.

The interview process for a Software Engineer position at Cohesity is structured to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the organization. Typically, candidates can expect a series of interviews that delve into their experience, problem-solving abilities, and collaborative skills.

1. Initial Screening

The first step in the interview process is an initial screening, usually conducted by a recruiter. This conversation lasts about 30 minutes and focuses on understanding the candidate's background, motivations, and fit for the role. The recruiter will discuss the company culture, the specifics of the Software Engineer position, and gauge the candidate's interest in Cohesity's mission and products.

2. Technical Interview

Following the initial screening, candidates will participate in a technical interview. This round is typically conducted via video call and lasts approximately 45 minutes to an hour. During this interview, candidates are expected to demonstrate their coding skills and problem-solving abilities. They may be asked to solve coding challenges in real-time, discuss their previous projects, and explain their approach to software design and architecture. Familiarity with languages such as Golang and C++ is often assessed, along with knowledge of distributed systems and cloud technologies.

3. Behavioral Interview

The next step is a behavioral interview, which focuses on the candidate's past experiences and how they align with Cohesity's values. This interview is designed to evaluate soft skills, teamwork, and the ability to handle challenges in a collaborative environment. Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific situations where they demonstrated leadership, overcame obstacles, or contributed to team success.

4. Final Interview

The final interview typically involves a panel of interviewers, including team leads and potential colleagues. This round may include a mix of technical and behavioral questions, as well as discussions about the candidate's vision for their role within the team. Candidates may also be asked to present a project or a case study that showcases their technical expertise and problem-solving skills. This interview is crucial for assessing how well the candidate would integrate into the existing team dynamics.

5. Offer Discussion

If successful in the previous rounds, candidates will enter the offer discussion phase. This includes a conversation about compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details regarding the position. Cohesity values transparency and aims to ensure that candidates have a clear understanding of what to expect.

As you prepare for your interview, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the types of questions that may arise during the process.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Company’s Mission and Values

Cohesity is on a mission to simplify data management and security while unlocking value for organizations. Familiarize yourself with their core values and recent innovations in AI-powered data security. This knowledge will not only help you align your answers with the company’s goals but also demonstrate your genuine interest in their mission.

Prepare for a Multi-Round Interview Process

Expect a structured interview process that may include multiple rounds focusing on different aspects of your skills. The first round may be more about getting to know you, while subsequent rounds will likely delve into behavioral questions and technical skills. Be ready to discuss your past experiences and how they relate to the role, particularly in areas like software development and problem-solving.

Showcase Your Technical Proficiency

Given the emphasis on coding languages such as Golang and Java, ensure you are well-versed in these technologies. Be prepared to discuss your experience with large-scale distributed systems, microservices, and cloud-native architectures. Highlight specific projects where you’ve successfully implemented these technologies, focusing on your role and the impact of your contributions.

Emphasize Problem-Solving Skills

Cohesity values candidates who can diagnose and troubleshoot complex issues. Prepare to discuss specific challenges you’ve faced in previous roles, how you approached them, and the outcomes. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, ensuring you clearly articulate your thought process and the results of your actions.

Familiarize Yourself with Agile Methodologies

Cohesity operates within an Agile framework, so understanding Agile principles and practices will be beneficial. Be ready to discuss your experience working in Agile teams, how you’ve contributed to sprint planning, and your approach to iterative development. This will demonstrate your ability to adapt to their work environment.

Highlight Collaboration and Communication Skills

As a Software Engineer at Cohesity, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers and Customer Support. Prepare examples that showcase your ability to work effectively in teams, communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, and incorporate feedback into your work.

Be Ready for Behavioral Questions

Expect behavioral questions that assess your fit within the company culture. Cohesity values diversity and encourages candidates to bring their authentic selves to work. Reflect on your past experiences and be prepared to discuss how you’ve contributed to a positive team environment, handled conflicts, or adapted to change.

Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers. Inquire about the team dynamics, the challenges they face, and how success is measured in the role. This not only shows your interest in the position but also helps you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values.

Follow Up with Gratitude

After the interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. Reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and briefly mention a key point from the interview that resonated with you. This leaves a positive impression and reinforces your interest in joining the team.

By following these tips, you will be well-prepared to showcase your skills and fit for the Software Engineer role at Cohesity. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a software engineering interview at Cohesity. The interview process will likely assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and your experience with software development methodologies, particularly in the context of distributed systems and cloud technologies. Be prepared to discuss your past projects, your approach to coding challenges, and how you collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the differences between microservices and monolithic architecture?

Understanding the architectural styles is crucial for a software engineer, especially in a cloud-based environment.

How to Answer

Discuss the scalability, deployment, and maintenance differences between the two architectures, emphasizing the advantages of microservices in a cloud context.

Example

“Microservices allow for independent deployment and scaling of services, which is essential for cloud applications. In contrast, a monolithic architecture can lead to challenges in scaling and deploying updates, as changes to one part of the application can affect the entire system.”

2. Describe your experience with Golang and how it compares to other programming languages you’ve used.

Cohesity prefers candidates with strong Golang skills, so be ready to discuss your proficiency.

How to Answer

Highlight specific projects where you used Golang, focusing on its concurrency model and performance benefits.

Example

“I have used Golang extensively in developing microservices due to its lightweight nature and built-in concurrency support. For instance, in a recent project, I implemented a service that handled thousands of requests per second, leveraging Goroutines for efficient resource management.”

3. How do you approach debugging a complex distributed system?

Debugging in distributed systems can be challenging, and Cohesity will want to know your strategies.

How to Answer

Discuss your systematic approach to isolating issues, using logging, monitoring tools, and collaboration with team members.

Example

“I start by analyzing logs and metrics to identify anomalies. I then isolate the components involved and use tools like distributed tracing to follow the request flow. Collaboration with team members is also key, as they may have insights into the system’s behavior.”

4. What testing methodologies do you employ to ensure high-quality software?

Quality assurance is critical in software development, especially for enterprise solutions.

How to Answer

Explain your experience with unit testing, integration testing, and any automated testing frameworks you’ve used.

Example

“I prioritize test-driven development (TDD) and use frameworks like JUnit for Java and Go’s testing package. I also implement integration tests to ensure that different components work together seamlessly, which is crucial for maintaining high-quality software.”

5. Can you discuss a time when you had to optimize a piece of code for performance?

Performance optimization is a key skill for a software engineer, especially in a data-intensive environment.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example, detailing the problem, your approach to optimization, and the results.

Example

“In a previous project, I noticed that a data processing function was taking too long to execute. I profiled the code and identified a bottleneck in a nested loop. By refactoring the algorithm to use a more efficient data structure, I reduced the execution time by over 50%.”

Collaboration and Problem-Solving

1. Describe a situation where you had to work closely with product managers and other teams.

Collaboration is essential at Cohesity, and they will want to see how you handle cross-functional teamwork.

How to Answer

Share an example that highlights your communication skills and ability to align technical work with business goals.

Example

“I worked on a project where I collaborated with product managers to define feature requirements. Regular check-ins ensured that the development aligned with user needs, and I provided technical insights that helped shape the product roadmap.”

2. How do you handle conflicts within a team?

Conflict resolution is important for maintaining a productive work environment.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to addressing conflicts directly and constructively.

Example

“When conflicts arise, I believe in addressing them openly. I encourage team members to express their viewpoints and facilitate a discussion to find common ground. This approach has often led to better solutions and improved team dynamics.”

3. Can you give an example of a challenging technical problem you solved?

Cohesity values problem-solving skills, so be prepared to discuss a specific challenge.

How to Answer

Describe the problem, your thought process, and the solution you implemented.

Example

“I faced a challenge with a service that was experiencing intermittent failures. After thorough investigation, I discovered a race condition in the code. I implemented a locking mechanism to ensure thread safety, which resolved the issue and improved system stability.”

4. How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects?

Time management and prioritization are key skills for a software engineer.

How to Answer

Explain your method for assessing project urgency and importance, and how you communicate with stakeholders.

Example

“I use a combination of project management tools and regular team meetings to prioritize tasks. I assess deadlines, dependencies, and the impact of each task on overall project goals, ensuring that I communicate my priorities with the team.”

5. What role do you think a software engineer plays in the product development lifecycle?

Understanding the broader context of your role is important for collaboration.

How to Answer

Discuss how software engineers contribute to each phase of product development, from ideation to deployment.

Example

“A software engineer plays a crucial role in translating product requirements into technical solutions. We are involved in the design phase, provide input on feasibility, and ensure that the final product meets quality standards through rigorous testing and feedback loops.”