Microsoft Software Engineer Senior interview questions
based on 309 ratings - Updated Jun 16, 2026
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Software Engineer Senior applicants have rated the interview process at Microsoft with 3 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 100% positive. To compare, the company-average is 67.6% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
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I applied online. The process took 4 days. I interviewed at Microsoft (New York, NY) in Jan 2020
Interview
These are deeper technical rounds that go beyond basic coding. Expect complex data structure and algorithm questions that involve multiple steps or require optimization.
Questions often emphasize problem-solving under time constraints, requiring you to walk through your thought process out loud.
You might encounter system design questions (especially for higher-level roles) that test your knowledge of designing scalable and efficient systems. For instance, you may be asked to design a system for file storage, message processing, or real-time data streaming.
I applied online. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at Microsoft (Redmond, WA) in Aug 2024
Interview
The interview process was lengthy and drawn out due to the abysmal scheduling of both the engineering team and the human resources team. I was waiting almost 2 months to receive the final decision. Would not recommend!
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Microsoft in Mar 2024
Interview
Fairly straightforward - email communication with recruiter who set up technical screen with a Lead. Virtual onsite interviews with 4 people (including hiring manager) after clearing technical screen. All the interviewers were great, the recruiter though never responded to any of my emails. They only emailed me when they had to set up interviews, but never answered my questions on what to expect in the interview or any feedback after the interviews. Overall experience during the interviews was great, thoroughly enjoyed speaking and solving problems with potential teammates during all 5 interviews.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Depth first traversal in Binary tree,
Binary Search in rotated matrix
Easy JS algorithm to use with React component
One design to design a game
Behavioral questions - why Microsoft, past experiences, tell me about a time...