Next Insurance Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Next Insurance is a technology-led, full-stack provider of small business insurance, dedicated to transforming the customer experience for entrepreneurs across the United States.

The Software Engineer role at Next Insurance is pivotal in building and enhancing the backend infrastructure that supports its rapidly growing customer base. Key responsibilities include designing and developing enterprise REST APIs to facilitate various insurance operations, collaborating with product teams for requirement analysis, and providing technical support to ensure product reliability. The ideal candidate should have 3-5 years of server-side development experience, particularly in Java/Kotlin or similar languages, and be adept in microservices architecture and ORM frameworks. A strong emphasis on producing clean, maintainable code and effectively communicating with business users to identify and solve problems is crucial. Candidates who thrive in high-performing teams and have a passion for quality and simplicity will align well with Next Insurance's values.

This guide will help you prepare for a job interview by providing insights into the key skills and responsibilities associated with the role, as well as the company culture that you should embody.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Next Insurance is structured to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the company. The process typically unfolds as follows:

1. Coding Assignment

The first step in the interview process is a timed coding assignment. This task is designed to evaluate your problem-solving abilities and coding proficiency. You will be required to implement a data structure or solve a coding challenge that reflects the type of work you would be doing in the role. This assignment is usually completed online and submitted for review.

2. Technical Interviews

Following the coding assignment, candidates will participate in two technical interviews conducted via video conferencing. These interviews focus on assessing your technical knowledge and skills relevant to the role. Expect to discuss your approach to software design, coding practices, and problem-solving strategies. You may also be asked to walk through your coding assignment and explain your thought process, as well as tackle additional coding challenges or system design questions.

3. HR Interview

The final step in the interview process is an HR interview. This session is typically more conversational and aims to gauge your fit within the company culture. You will discuss your career aspirations, work style, and how you align with Next Insurance's values. The HR representative will also provide insights into the company culture and answer any questions you may have about working at Next.

Overall, the entire interview process can take up to two weeks, and all interviews are conducted remotely, reflecting the current emphasis on virtual interactions.

As you prepare for your interviews, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the types of questions that may be asked during this process.

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

Master the Coding Assignment

The first step in the interview process is a timed coding assignment, which is crucial for demonstrating your technical skills. Focus on data structures and algorithms, as these are fundamental to the role. Practice implementing various data structures and algorithms in your preferred programming language, especially Java or Kotlin, as these are commonly used at Next Insurance. Familiarize yourself with the specific requirements of the assignment, such as implementing functions like add(n), setAll(n), and get(i), to ensure you can solve similar problems efficiently.

Prepare for Technical Interviews

Following the coding assignment, you will face two technical interviews. These interviews will likely focus on your ability to design and build REST APIs, as well as your experience with microservices architecture. Be ready to discuss your previous projects, particularly those that involved API development and backend services. Brush up on your knowledge of ORM frameworks and automated build platforms, as these are essential for the role. Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely, as communication is key in technical interviews.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

During the interviews, you may be presented with real-world problems that require you to analyze and solve issues across various levels of the stack. Approach these questions methodically: clarify the problem, outline your thought process, and discuss potential solutions. Highlight your ability to triage and resolve high-priority issues, as this is a critical aspect of the role. Demonstrating a structured approach to problem-solving will set you apart from other candidates.

Emphasize Team Collaboration

Next Insurance values teamwork and collaboration. Be prepared to discuss your experiences working in high-performing teams and how you have contributed to collective goals. Share examples of how you have communicated effectively with business users to identify problems and offer creative solutions. Highlight your ability to work closely with product teams to groom requirements and present scalable designs, as this will resonate well with the company culture.

Focus on Quality and Continuous Improvement

The company seeks candidates who are passionate about coding and committed to producing clean, secure, and maintainable code. During the interview, emphasize your dedication to quality and simplicity in your work. Discuss your experience with code reviews and how you have implemented feedback to improve your codebase. Show that you are not only focused on what needs to be done but also on how it should be done, reflecting the company's values.

Be Yourself and Stay Authentic

Finally, remember that Next Insurance is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Be authentic in your responses and let your personality shine through. Share your passion for technology and coding, and express your eagerness to contribute to the company's mission of helping entrepreneurs thrive. This authenticity will resonate with the interviewers and help you connect on a personal level.

By following these tips, you will be well-prepared to navigate the interview process at Next Insurance and demonstrate that you are the right fit for the Software Engineer role. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a software engineering interview at Next Insurance. The interview process will likely focus on your technical skills, particularly in server-side development, API design, and problem-solving abilities. Be prepared to demonstrate your coding skills, as well as your understanding of software architecture and best practices.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the principles of RESTful API design?

Understanding RESTful principles is crucial for this role, as you will be designing and building APIs.

How to Answer

Discuss the key principles of REST, such as statelessness, resource-based URLs, and the use of standard HTTP methods. Highlight how these principles contribute to scalability and maintainability.

Example

“RESTful APIs should be stateless, meaning each request from a client must contain all the information needed to understand and process the request. This allows for better scalability. Additionally, using standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE helps in maintaining a clear and consistent interface.”

2. Describe a time you had to refactor existing code. What was your approach?

Refactoring is essential for maintaining code quality, and your approach will demonstrate your coding philosophy.

How to Answer

Explain your process for identifying areas of improvement, the steps you took to refactor, and the outcomes of your changes.

Example

“I identified a module that had become difficult to maintain due to its complexity. I first wrote unit tests to ensure existing functionality was preserved, then I broke the module into smaller, more manageable components. This not only improved readability but also made future updates easier.”

3. How do you ensure the security of your APIs?

Security is a critical aspect of API development, especially in the insurance domain.

How to Answer

Discuss common security practices such as authentication, authorization, input validation, and data encryption.

Example

“I implement OAuth for authentication and ensure that all sensitive data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. Additionally, I validate all inputs to prevent SQL injection and other common vulnerabilities.”

4. What is your experience with microservices architecture?

Microservices are a key part of modern software development, and your familiarity with them will be assessed.

How to Answer

Share your experience with designing, building, and deploying microservices, and discuss the benefits and challenges you’ve encountered.

Example

“I have designed several microservices that communicate via REST APIs. This architecture allows for independent deployment and scaling of services. However, I’ve also faced challenges with service discovery and managing inter-service communication, which I addressed using tools like Kubernetes.”

5. Can you walk us through your process for unit testing?

Unit testing is vital for ensuring code reliability, and your methodology will be scrutinized.

How to Answer

Explain your approach to writing unit tests, including the tools you use and how you determine what to test.

Example

“I use JUnit for unit testing in Java. My process involves writing tests alongside the code, focusing on edge cases and expected outcomes. I also ensure that my tests are automated and run as part of the CI/CD pipeline to catch issues early.”

Problem Solving

1. How would you approach a performance issue in a web application?

Performance optimization is crucial for user experience, and your problem-solving skills will be evaluated.

How to Answer

Discuss your methodology for identifying performance bottlenecks and the tools you would use to analyze and resolve them.

Example

“I would start by profiling the application to identify slow queries or resource-intensive operations. Tools like JMeter or New Relic can help pinpoint issues. Once identified, I would optimize the code, consider caching strategies, and ensure efficient database queries.”

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

This question assesses your debugging skills and persistence.

How to Answer

Share a specific example, detailing the steps you took to identify and fix the bug.

Example

“I once encountered a bug that caused intermittent crashes in a production environment. I used logging to trace the issue and discovered it was due to a race condition. I resolved it by implementing proper synchronization mechanisms, which stabilized the application.”

3. 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 approach to prioritizing tasks based on urgency, importance, and project deadlines.

Example

“I use a combination of Agile methodologies and tools like Trello to manage my tasks. I prioritize based on project deadlines and the impact of each task on the overall project goals, ensuring that I communicate with my team to align on priorities.”

4. What strategies do you use to stay updated with new technologies?

Continuous learning is essential in the tech industry, and your commitment to growth will be evaluated.

How to Answer

Discuss the resources you use to learn about new technologies, such as online courses, blogs, or community events.

Example

“I regularly follow tech blogs, participate in online courses, and attend local meetups. I also contribute to open-source projects, which helps me learn from others and stay current with industry trends.”

5. How would you handle a disagreement with a team member regarding a technical decision?

Collaboration and communication are vital in a team environment.

How to Answer

Describe your approach to resolving conflicts, emphasizing open communication and compromise.

Example

“I believe in addressing disagreements directly and respectfully. I would set up a meeting to discuss our differing viewpoints, listen to their concerns, and present my rationale. If necessary, I would suggest involving a third party for an objective perspective.”