Vacasa Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Vacasa is the largest full-service vacation rental company in North America, dedicated to connecting homeowners and renters through innovative technology and local expertise.

As a Software Engineer at Vacasa, you will play a pivotal role in developing scalable, cloud-native solutions that address high-impact business challenges. Your responsibilities will include providing technical leadership on integration across various third-party and legacy systems, defining service boundaries, designing interfaces, and ensuring the stability and scalability of microservices-based platforms. A successful candidate will possess strong expertise in architecting and developing integration applications, particularly with cloud-based business applications like Salesforce, and will demonstrate a commitment to fostering autonomy and collaboration within cross-functional teams. Ideal traits for this role include being curious and entrepreneurial, with a passion for continuous learning and improvement.

This guide will help you understand the expectations for the Software Engineer role at Vacasa and equip you with the insights needed to excel in your interview.

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

1. Initial Phone Screen

The first step in the interview process is a phone screen with a recruiter. This conversation usually lasts about 30-45 minutes and serves as an opportunity for the recruiter to gauge your interest in the role and the company. You will discuss your background, relevant experiences, and motivations for applying to Vacasa. The recruiter will also provide insights into the company culture and the expectations for the role.

2. Technical Assessment

Following the initial screen, candidates typically undergo a technical assessment. This may be conducted via a coding challenge or a live coding session, where you will be asked to solve problems relevant to the role. Expect to demonstrate your proficiency in programming languages such as Python or TypeScript, as well as your understanding of software architecture and design principles. You may also be asked to create architecture diagrams to illustrate your thought process and technical approach.

3. Technical Interview

The next stage involves one or more technical interviews with members of the engineering team. These interviews focus on your technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, and experience with cloud-based applications and integration. You may be asked to discuss your previous projects, particularly those involving microservices, RESTful APIs, and cloud technologies like AWS. Be prepared to answer questions that assess your understanding of software development best practices, including CI/CD pipelines and automated testing.

4. Behavioral Interview

In addition to technical skills, Vacasa places a strong emphasis on cultural fit and teamwork. The behavioral interview will explore your interpersonal skills, collaboration style, and how you handle challenges in a team environment. Expect questions that assess your ability to communicate effectively, mentor others, and contribute to a positive team culture. This is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate your alignment with Vacasa's values of curiosity, empathy, and autonomy.

5. Final Interview

The final stage may involve a wrap-up interview with senior leadership or a hiring manager. This conversation will likely focus on your long-term career goals, your vision for contributing to Vacasa, and how you can help the company achieve its objectives. It’s also a chance for you to ask any remaining questions about the role, team dynamics, and company culture.

As you prepare for your interviews, consider the specific skills and experiences that will be most relevant to the questions you may encounter.

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

Embrace the Company Culture

Vacasa values curiosity, entrepreneurship, and a collaborative spirit. During your interview, demonstrate your eagerness to learn and adapt in a fast-paced environment. Share examples of how you've thrived in similar settings, showcasing your ability to work autonomously while contributing to team success. Highlight your interpersonal skills and your capacity to empathize with colleagues, as these traits resonate well with Vacasa's emphasis on low ego and high empathy.

Prepare for Technical Challenges

Given the technical nature of the role, be ready to discuss your experience with cloud-native solutions, microservices architecture, and integration applications. Familiarize yourself with the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as AWS, Salesforce, and iPaaS platforms like MuleSoft. Practice articulating your past projects, focusing on your role in architecting, designing, and developing integration applications. Be prepared to create architecture diagrams, as this has been a part of the interview process.

Communicate Clearly and Effectively

Strong communication skills are essential for a software engineer at Vacasa. Be prepared to explain complex engineering concepts both visually and verbally. Practice summarizing your technical experiences in a way that is accessible to non-technical stakeholders. This will not only demonstrate your technical expertise but also your ability to collaborate across teams, which is crucial in a cross-functional environment.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

Vacasa is looking for engineers who can think outside the box and tackle unique business challenges. Prepare to discuss specific instances where you identified a problem, proposed a solution, and successfully implemented it. Highlight your experience with high-traffic applications and service-oriented architectures, as well as your ability to design RESTful APIs and CI/CD pipelines.

Be Ready for Behavioral Questions

Expect questions that assess your fit within the team and company culture. Reflect on your past experiences and be ready to discuss how you've handled conflicts, mentored others, and contributed to a positive team environment. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, ensuring you convey the impact of your actions.

Stay Current with Industry Trends

Demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning is vital. Stay updated on the latest technologies and trends in software engineering, particularly those relevant to cloud computing and integration. Be prepared to discuss how you have applied new technologies in your work and how you plan to keep your skills sharp in the future.

Follow Up Thoughtfully

After your interview, send a personalized thank-you note to your interviewers. Mention specific topics discussed during the interview to reinforce your interest in the role and the company. This not only shows your appreciation but also keeps you top of mind as they make their decision.

By following these tips, you'll position yourself as a strong candidate who aligns well with Vacasa's values and technical needs. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a software engineering interview at Vacasa. The interview process will likely focus on your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience with cloud-based solutions and integration architecture. Be prepared to discuss your past projects, your approach to software design, and how you can contribute to a collaborative team environment.

Technical Skills

1. Can you describe your experience with cloud-native applications and the technologies you have used?

This question aims to assess your familiarity with cloud computing platforms and your hands-on experience in building applications.

How to Answer

Discuss specific cloud platforms you have worked with, the types of applications you built, and any challenges you faced during development.

Example

“I have extensive experience with AWS, particularly using EC2 and Lambda for deploying serverless applications. In my last project, I built a microservices architecture that scaled efficiently during peak traffic, which involved integrating various AWS services to ensure seamless operation.”

2. How do you approach designing RESTful APIs?

This question evaluates your understanding of API design principles and your ability to create scalable interfaces.

How to Answer

Explain your design process, including considerations for security, versioning, and documentation.

Example

“When designing RESTful APIs, I prioritize clear and consistent endpoint naming conventions and ensure that the API adheres to REST principles. I also implement authentication mechanisms like OAuth and provide comprehensive documentation to facilitate ease of use for developers.”

3. Describe a challenging integration problem you faced and how you resolved it.

This question tests your problem-solving skills and your experience with integration architecture.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example, detailing the problem, your approach to finding a solution, and the outcome.

Example

“In a previous role, I encountered issues integrating a legacy system with a new cloud-based application. I conducted a thorough analysis of the data flow and identified bottlenecks. By implementing an iPaaS solution, I was able to streamline the integration process, which improved data accuracy and reduced latency.”

4. What is your experience with CI/CD pipelines?

This question assesses your familiarity with modern software development practices.

How to Answer

Discuss the tools you have used, the processes you implemented, and the benefits you observed.

Example

“I have implemented CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins and GitHub Actions. By automating the testing and deployment processes, I reduced the time to release new features significantly, allowing for more frequent updates and quicker feedback from users.”

5. How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in your projects?

This question evaluates your commitment to best practices in software development.

How to Answer

Talk about the methodologies you use, such as code reviews, testing, and documentation.

Example

“I prioritize code quality by conducting regular code reviews and encouraging team members to provide constructive feedback. I also advocate for writing unit tests and maintaining comprehensive documentation to ensure that the codebase remains understandable and maintainable over time.”

Team Collaboration

1. How do you handle conflicts within a development team?

This question assesses your interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment.

How to Answer

Describe your approach to conflict resolution and how you foster a collaborative atmosphere.

Example

“When conflicts arise, I believe in addressing them directly and openly. I facilitate discussions where team members can express their viewpoints and work together to find a compromise. This approach not only resolves the issue but also strengthens team dynamics.”

2. Can you give an example of how you mentored a junior engineer?

This question evaluates your leadership and mentoring abilities.

How to Answer

Share a specific instance where you guided a junior engineer, focusing on the skills you helped them develop.

Example

“I mentored a junior engineer who was struggling with understanding our codebase. I organized regular one-on-one sessions where I walked them through the architecture and best practices. Over time, they became more confident and even contributed to a major feature release.”

3. Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in a project.

This question tests your flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.

How to Answer

Provide an example of a project change and how you adjusted your approach to meet new requirements.

Example

“During a project, we received feedback that required a major pivot in our feature set. I quickly organized a team meeting to reassess our priorities and reallocate resources. By maintaining open communication, we successfully adapted to the changes and delivered a product that met user needs.”

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

This question assesses your time management and organizational skills.

How to Answer

Discuss your methods for prioritizing tasks and ensuring deadlines are met.

Example

“I use a combination of Agile methodologies and project management tools like Jira to prioritize tasks. I assess the impact and urgency of each task and communicate with stakeholders to ensure alignment on priorities, which helps me manage multiple projects effectively.”

5. What role do you believe communication plays in a successful engineering team?

This question evaluates your understanding of team dynamics and the importance of communication.

How to Answer

Explain how effective communication contributes to project success and team cohesion.

Example

“Communication is crucial in an engineering team as it fosters collaboration and ensures everyone is aligned on goals. I encourage open dialogue and regular check-ins, which helps to identify potential issues early and keeps the team motivated and engaged.”