Forge Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Forge is a leading technology innovator specializing in private market liquidity solutions, empowering individuals and institutions to engage with private company stocks through a world-class technology platform.

As a Software Engineer at Forge, you will be integral to the development of innovative, scalable software solutions that drive growth in the private market. Your key responsibilities will include designing, implementing, and maintaining data-driven web applications while collaborating with cross-functional teams including product, design, and security. You will also be expected to mentor junior engineers, participate in technical planning, and ensure the delivery of high-quality solutions with a focus on user experience.

To excel in this role, you should possess strong expertise in frontend and backend development, particularly with technologies such as JavaScript, TypeScript, and React. Experience in building multi-tier applications and familiarity with server-side rendering techniques will be highly valuable. Additionally, a collaborative spirit and a proactive approach to problem-solving will align well with Forge’s values of being bold, humble, and accountable.

This guide aims to equip you with the insights and knowledge necessary to effectively prepare for your interview, ensuring you can confidently articulate your experiences and technical capabilities in a way that resonates with Forge’s mission and culture.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Forge is designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the company. It typically consists of multiple rounds, each focusing on different aspects of the candidate's abilities and experiences.

1. Initial Screening

The process begins with an initial screening, which is usually a phone interview with a recruiter. This conversation lasts about 30 minutes and serves to gauge your interest in the role, discuss your background, and evaluate your alignment with Forge's values. The recruiter will also provide insights into the company culture and the expectations for the position.

2. Coding Challenge

Following the initial screening, candidates are often required to complete a coding challenge. This challenge is designed to test your problem-solving skills and proficiency in data structures and algorithms (DSA). It may involve writing code to solve specific problems, and you may be asked to explain your thought process and approach to the solution.

3. Technical Interview

The next step is a technical interview, which typically takes place via video conferencing. In this round, you will meet with a senior engineer or technical lead who will assess your technical knowledge and skills. Expect questions that cover both frontend and backend technologies, as well as discussions about your previous projects and experiences. This interview may also include live coding exercises where you will be asked to solve problems in real-time.

4. Onsite Interview

The final stage of the interview process is an onsite interview, which consists of multiple rounds—usually around five. During these sessions, you will engage in one-on-one interviews with various team members, including engineers and possibly product managers. Each interview will focus on different areas, such as system design, coding, and behavioral questions. The goal is to evaluate your technical expertise, teamwork, and how well you align with Forge's mission and values. The onsite interviews are designed to be welcoming and collaborative, allowing candidates to showcase their skills in a supportive environment.

As you prepare for your interviews, it's essential to be ready for a range of questions that will test your technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities.

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

Embrace the Collaborative Culture

Forge values a collaborative and innovative work environment. During your interview, emphasize your ability to work well in teams and your experience in fostering collaboration among team members. Share specific examples of how you have contributed to a positive team dynamic or how you have mentored others. This will resonate well with the interviewers, who appreciate candidates that align with their culture of teamwork and support.

Prepare for a Multi-Faceted Interview Process

Expect a comprehensive interview process that includes coding challenges, technical interviews, and possibly multiple rounds of onsite interviews. Familiarize yourself with data structures and algorithms (DSA), as well as both frontend and backend technologies. Practice coding problems that reflect the types of challenges you might face at Forge. Being well-prepared will not only boost your confidence but also demonstrate your commitment to the role.

Showcase Your Technical Expertise

Given the emphasis on technical skills in the role, be ready to discuss your experience with relevant technologies, particularly in developing scalable web applications. Highlight your proficiency in React, JavaScript, and any backend technologies you have worked with. Be prepared to explain your thought process during coding challenges and technical discussions, as interviewers will be looking for your problem-solving approach and technical depth.

Communicate Your Passion for Innovation

Forge is at the forefront of technology innovation in the private market. Convey your enthusiasm for building innovative solutions and your understanding of the latest industry trends. Discuss any personal projects or experiences that showcase your ability to think outside the box and deliver creative solutions. This will help you stand out as a candidate who is not only technically skilled but also genuinely passionate about the work Forge is doing.

Be Ready to Discuss Client-Centric Solutions

As Forge focuses on delivering value to clients, be prepared to discuss how you have previously engaged with clients or stakeholders to understand their needs and deliver tailored solutions. Share examples of how you have gathered requirements, collaborated with cross-functional teams, and ensured client satisfaction. This will demonstrate your alignment with Forge's mission of client-centricity.

Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your interest in the company and the role. Inquire about the team dynamics, the types of projects you would be working on, and how success is measured within the engineering team. This not only shows your genuine interest but also helps you assess if Forge is the right fit for you.

By following these tips, you will be well-equipped to navigate the interview process at Forge and make a lasting impression. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a software engineering interview at Forge. The interview process will likely assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and your capacity to work collaboratively within a team. Be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge in software development, data structures, algorithms, and your experience with relevant technologies.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the difference between a stack and a queue?

Understanding data structures is fundamental for any software engineer, and this question tests your grasp of basic concepts.

How to Answer

Discuss the definitions of both data structures, their characteristics, and typical use cases. Highlight the differences in how they handle data.

Example

“A stack is a Last In First Out (LIFO) structure, where the last element added is the first to be removed, like a stack of plates. A queue, on the other hand, is a First In First Out (FIFO) structure, where the first element added is the first to be removed, similar to a line at a ticket counter.”

2. Describe a challenging bug you encountered and how you resolved it.

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and your approach to debugging.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example, detailing the context, the steps you took to identify the bug, and how you ultimately resolved it.

Example

“I once faced a memory leak issue in a web application. After using profiling tools to monitor memory usage, I discovered that event listeners were not being properly removed. I refactored the code to ensure that listeners were cleaned up, which resolved the issue and improved performance.”

3. How do you ensure the quality of your code?

Quality assurance is crucial in software development, and this question evaluates your coding practices.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to writing clean, maintainable code, including testing strategies and code reviews.

Example

“I follow best practices such as writing unit tests for my functions and using code linters to maintain code quality. Additionally, I participate in peer code reviews to catch potential issues early and share knowledge with my team.”

4. What is your experience with version control systems?

Version control is essential for collaborative software development, and this question gauges your familiarity with these tools.

How to Answer

Mention the version control systems you’ve used, your experience with branching and merging, and how you handle conflicts.

Example

“I have extensive experience using Git for version control. I regularly create branches for new features and use pull requests for code reviews. I’m comfortable resolving merge conflicts and ensuring that the main branch remains stable.”

5. Can you explain RESTful services and their principles?

Understanding web services is vital for modern software development, and this question tests your knowledge of APIs.

How to Answer

Define RESTful services and discuss the principles that guide their design, such as statelessness and resource-based architecture.

Example

“RESTful services are web services that adhere to REST principles, which include stateless communication, using standard HTTP methods, and representing resources with URIs. This architecture allows for scalability and simplicity in web applications.”

Frontend Development

1. What are the key differences between React and other frontend frameworks?

This question assesses your knowledge of frontend technologies and your experience with React.

How to Answer

Discuss the unique features of React, such as its component-based architecture and virtual DOM, and compare them to other frameworks.

Example

“React’s component-based architecture allows for reusable UI components, which enhances maintainability. Unlike Angular, which uses two-way data binding, React employs a one-way data flow, making it easier to understand how data changes affect the UI.”

2. How do you optimize the performance of a React application?

Performance optimization is crucial for user experience, and this question evaluates your strategies.

How to Answer

Mention techniques such as code splitting, lazy loading, and memoization to improve performance.

Example

“I optimize React applications by implementing code splitting with React.lazy and Suspense to load components only when needed. Additionally, I use memoization with React.memo to prevent unnecessary re-renders of components.”

3. Describe your experience with state management in React.

State management is a key aspect of React applications, and this question tests your understanding of various approaches.

How to Answer

Discuss the state management libraries you’ve used, such as Redux or Context API, and when you would choose one over the other.

Example

“I have used Redux for complex state management in larger applications, as it provides a centralized store and predictable state updates. For simpler applications, I prefer the Context API for its ease of use and integration with React’s built-in features.”

4. What are some common accessibility practices you follow in web development?

Accessibility is essential for inclusive design, and this question evaluates your commitment to it.

How to Answer

Discuss specific practices you implement to ensure your applications are accessible to all users.

Example

“I ensure accessibility by using semantic HTML elements, providing alt text for images, and ensuring keyboard navigation is possible. I also use ARIA roles to enhance the accessibility of dynamic content.”

5. How do you handle form validation in React?

Form validation is a common requirement in web applications, and this question assesses your approach to it.

How to Answer

Mention libraries you’ve used for form validation and your strategies for handling user input.

Example

“I typically use Formik for managing form state and validation in React applications. It simplifies handling form submissions and integrates well with Yup for schema-based validation, allowing for clear and maintainable code.”