Harvey interview questions

Showing 31–46 of 46 results

• Implement Spreadsheet Cell UpdatesHard

  This problem tests your ability to manage a directed graph of dependencies and implement a topological update mechanism to recompute spreadsheet cell values efficiently.

  HarveySoftware EngineerCoding & AlgorithmsTechnical Screen
• Implement a Cursor-Based Text EditorMedium

  Design an in-memory cursor-based text editor supporting character insertion, deletion, and cursor navigation with efficient time complexity.

  HarveySoftware EngineerCoding & AlgorithmsOnsite
• Implement a Database Connection PoolMedium

  Tests your ability to implement a thread-safe connection pool that manages connection lifecycles, blocking acquisition with timeouts, and resource reuse under concurrent access.

  HarveySoftware EngineerCoding & AlgorithmsOnsite
• Implement a Spreadsheet With FormulasMedium

  This problem tests your ability to model cell dependencies using a directed graph, handle topological sorting for re-evaluation, and identify circular references.

  HarveyMachine Learning EngineerCoding & AlgorithmsTechnical Screen
• Implement an Integer Spreadsheet with FormulasMedium

  Design an in-memory integer spreadsheet supporting cell assignments, additive formulas with nested references, and dynamic recalculation of acyclic dependency chains.

  HarveySoftware EngineerCoding & AlgorithmsTechnical Screen
• Implement tag matcher and filesystemMedium

  This combined prompt evaluates string-processing and parsing skills for tag matching and design/implementation skills for an in-memory file system, measuring competencies in exact whole-word matching, case normalization, punctuation and duplicate handling, path parsing, hierarchical data structures, and file API behaviors.

  HarveyBackend EngineerCoding & AlgorithmsOnsite
• In-Memory File System: Create, Track Duplicates, and ListMedium

  Design an in-memory file system supporting directory creation, file creation with automated duplicate-name collision resolution, content retrieval, and directory listing.

  HarveySoftware EngineerCoding & AlgorithmsOnsite
• Incremental Variable Resolver for a Build PipelineMedium

  Build an in-memory variable resolver for a CI configuration system in three stages: plain integer variables, expression variables that reference other variables, then cycle detection with recomputation limited to the affected dependents. Checks whether a candidate can grow a design incrementally, respect a correct computation order, and reason about a dependency graph under change.

  HarveySoftware EngineerSoftware Engineering FundamentalsTechnical Screen
• Mini Spreadsheet with Formulas Evaluated in set_cell and Cycle RejectionMedium

  A three-part coding exercise: build a mini spreadsheet with set_cell and get_cell, add formulas that sum constants and cell references with values computed eagerly in set_cell, and detect and reject circular dependencies. It tests dependency graphs, ordered recomputation and cycle checks.

  HarveySoftware EngineerSoftware Engineering FundamentalsTechnical Screen
• Ownership, Tough Feedback, and an Important Problem Outside Your Focus AreaMedium

  Three behavioral questions from a hiring manager screen: a project you owned in the last year, tough feedback you received, and a time you discovered an important problem outside your immediate focus area. It tests ownership, coachability and judgment about raising issues beyond your own scope.

  HarveySoftware EngineerBehavioral & LeadershipTechnical Screen
• Project Deep Dive + Core-Values Behavioral RoundMedium

  This interview module assesses your technical ownership, architectural decision-making, and alignment with engineering core values such as velocity, rigor, and customer obsession.

  HarveySoftware EngineerBehavioral & LeadershipOnsite
• Resolve conflict across teamsMedium

  This question evaluates conflict resolution, stakeholder alignment, cross-team communication, and leadership competencies in the context of engineering coordination, classified under Behavioral & Leadership for a backend engineer role.

  HarveyBackend EngineerBehavioral & LeadershipOnsite
• Spreadsheet Class With Set/Get, Cell-Reference Formulas and Cycle-Rejecting WritesMedium

  Implement an in-memory spreadsheet class in three steps: set and get integer cell values, support formulas that reference other cells, and reject any write that would create a circular reference while leaving the sheet unchanged. It tests dependency tracking, update propagation and cycle detection.

  HarveySoftware EngineerSoftware Engineering FundamentalsTechnical Screen
• Spreadsheet Class with Formula Cells, Recalculation and Cycle DetectionMedium

  Build an in-memory spreadsheet class in three stages: integer cells with set_cell and get_cell, formula cells such as =B1+C1+1 with explicit handling of never-set cells and recomputation on every write, then cycle detection and recomputing only dependent cells. Tests incremental design, evaluation order and dependency graphs.

  HarveySoftware EngineerSoftware Engineering FundamentalsTechnical Screen
• Spreadsheet Formula Engine with Cycle DetectionMedium

  Design an in-memory spreadsheet formula engine supporting cell assignments, formula evaluation with dependencies, and cycle detection. The question tests directed graph modeling, topological invalidation, and cycle detection algorithms.

  HarveySoftware EngineerCoding & AlgorithmsTechnical Screen
• Training LLM Agents for Long-Context, Long-Horizon Tasks: Environments and RewardsMedium

  An ML research discussion on training language-model agents for long-context, long-horizon tasks. It tests the training recipe from context extension through supervised trajectories to RL, the design of reproducible training environments, and reward design that resists reward hacking over long trajectories.

  HarveyMachine Learning EngineerMachine LearningOnsite