Realtor.com Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Realtor.com is a leading online real estate platform dedicated to making the process of buying, selling, renting, and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone.

As a Software Engineer at Realtor.com, you will play a pivotal role in innovating and maintaining the Consumer Services platform, delivering top-notch technical solutions that enhance the user experience. This role requires strong proficiency in backend development, particularly using microservices architecture, and an understanding of cloud technologies like AWS or Azure. You will be responsible for collaborating with cross-functional teams consisting of Product Managers, Analysts, and fellow Engineers to drive projects from conception to completion. Additionally, mentoring junior engineers and leading by example through best practices will be crucial as you evolve the platform to meet the needs of a growing user base. A solid grasp of programming languages such as Go, Java, or Node.js, along with experience in designing APIs using GraphQL, will set you apart as an ideal candidate.

This guide will help you prepare for the interview by providing insights into the expectations and technical competencies sought by Realtor.com, allowing you to present your skills and experiences effectively.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Realtor.com is structured to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the team. It typically consists of several stages, each designed to evaluate different aspects of a candidate's qualifications and compatibility with the company's values.

1. Initial Recruiter Call

The process begins with a brief phone screening conducted by a recruiter. This initial call usually lasts around 15-30 minutes and focuses on discussing the role, the candidate's background, and their interest in Realtor.com. The recruiter will also assess the candidate's communication skills and cultural fit, providing an overview of the company's mission and values.

2. Technical Phone Screen

Following the recruiter call, candidates typically participate in a technical phone interview with a senior engineer or hiring manager. This interview lasts approximately 30-45 minutes and includes coding challenges, technical questions related to programming languages (such as Java, Node.js, or Go), and discussions about the candidate's previous work experience. Candidates may be asked to solve problems in real-time, demonstrating their thought process and problem-solving abilities.

3. Home Test Assignment

After the technical phone screen, candidates are often required to complete a home test assignment. This assignment usually involves a coding project that candidates must submit within a specified timeframe, typically 48 hours. The project may focus on building a small application or solving a specific problem relevant to the role. This step allows candidates to showcase their coding skills and approach to software development.

4. Onsite Interview

The final stage of the interview process is the onsite interview, which usually consists of multiple rounds with different team members. Candidates may meet with several engineers, including peers and senior staff, as well as a hiring manager or director. Each interview lasts about 45 minutes to an hour and covers a mix of technical questions, system design challenges, and behavioral questions. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their past experiences, technical knowledge, and how they approach teamwork and collaboration.

Throughout the interview process, candidates are encouraged to demonstrate their understanding of software engineering principles, problem-solving skills, and ability to work in a collaborative environment.

Next, let's explore the specific interview questions that candidates have encountered during this process.

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a software engineering interview at Realtor.com. The interview process will likely assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the team. Be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge of backend development, microservices architecture, and your proficiency in relevant programming languages.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the concept of microservices architecture and its advantages?

Understanding microservices is crucial for this role, as it is a key focus in backend development.

How to Answer

Discuss the principles of microservices, such as modularity, scalability, and independent deployment. Highlight how these advantages can lead to improved system resilience and faster development cycles.

Example

“Microservices architecture allows us to break down applications into smaller, independent services that can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently. This modularity enhances resilience, as a failure in one service does not affect the entire system, and it allows teams to work on different services simultaneously, speeding up the development process.”

2. Describe your experience with designing and implementing APIs using GraphQL.

GraphQL is a significant part of the backend development process at Realtor.com.

How to Answer

Explain your experience with GraphQL, focusing on schema design, resolver functions, and how you handle data fetching and mutations.

Example

“I have designed and implemented several APIs using GraphQL, where I focused on creating a clear and efficient schema. I utilized resolver functions to fetch data from various sources, ensuring that the API was both flexible and performant. This approach allowed clients to request only the data they needed, optimizing the overall user experience.”

3. How do you ensure the scalability and performance of a distributed system?

Scalability is essential for handling increased loads in a real estate platform.

How to Answer

Discuss strategies for designing scalable systems, such as load balancing, caching, and database sharding.

Example

“To ensure scalability, I implement load balancing to distribute traffic evenly across servers. I also use caching mechanisms to reduce database load and improve response times. Additionally, I design databases with sharding in mind, allowing for horizontal scaling as data grows.”

4. What are some best practices for unit testing and CI/CD in your development process?

Testing and deployment practices are critical for maintaining code quality.

How to Answer

Share your approach to unit testing, integration testing, and how you implement CI/CD pipelines.

Example

“I prioritize writing unit tests for all new features to ensure code quality and catch issues early. I also implement integration tests to verify that different components work together as expected. For CI/CD, I use tools like Jenkins to automate the build and deployment process, ensuring that code changes are tested and deployed quickly and reliably.”

5. Can you explain the importance of cloud technologies in modern software development?

Cloud technologies are integral to the infrastructure at Realtor.com.

How to Answer

Discuss the benefits of cloud platforms, such as scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.

Example

“Cloud technologies provide the scalability needed to handle varying loads, allowing us to allocate resources dynamically based on demand. They also offer flexibility in terms of deployment options and can significantly reduce infrastructure costs by utilizing a pay-as-you-go model.”

Problem-Solving and Algorithms

1. How would you approach solving a problem where you need to count the total time intervals within a given range?

This question tests your problem-solving skills and understanding of algorithms.

How to Answer

Outline your thought process for breaking down the problem and the algorithm you would use.

Example

“I would first gather all the time intervals and sort them. Then, I would iterate through the sorted list, checking if each interval falls within the specified range. By maintaining a count of the intervals that meet the criteria, I can efficiently determine the total count.”

2. Can you describe a time when you had to debug a complex issue in a distributed system?

This question assesses your troubleshooting skills.

How to Answer

Share a specific example, detailing the steps you took to identify and resolve the issue.

Example

“In a previous project, we experienced intermittent failures in our distributed system. I started by analyzing the logs to identify patterns and narrowed it down to a specific service. I then used tracing tools to follow the request flow, which revealed a bottleneck in the database queries. After optimizing the queries, the issue was resolved, and system reliability improved.”

3. What is your experience with data structures, and how do you choose the right one for a given problem?

Understanding data structures is fundamental for efficient coding.

How to Answer

Discuss your familiarity with various data structures and how you evaluate their suitability for specific tasks.

Example

“I have experience with a range of data structures, including arrays, linked lists, trees, and hash tables. When choosing the right one, I consider factors such as the operations I need to perform, the expected data size, and performance requirements. For instance, I would use a hash table for fast lookups and a tree structure for ordered data.”

4. Explain the concept of time complexity and why it is important.

Time complexity is a key consideration in software engineering.

How to Answer

Define time complexity and discuss its relevance in evaluating algorithm efficiency.

Example

“Time complexity measures how the runtime of an algorithm increases with the size of the input data. It’s important because it helps us understand the efficiency of our algorithms and make informed decisions about which algorithms to use based on the expected data size and performance requirements.”

5. How do you handle version control in your projects?

Version control is essential for collaborative development.

How to Answer

Explain your experience with version control systems and best practices you follow.

Example

“I use Git for version control, following best practices such as creating feature branches for new developments and regularly merging changes back to the main branch. I also ensure to write clear commit messages and use pull requests for code reviews, which helps maintain code quality and facilitates collaboration among team members.”