At GetGround, the Software Engineer role is central to our mission of simplifying the complexities of property investment. You are not just writing code; you are building the digital infrastructure that allows our users to manage assets with unprecedented transparency and efficiency. Whether you are working on our core property management platform or scaling our backend services, your contributions directly translate into time saved and value created for our clients. We operate as a high-growth scale-up, meaning this role requires a blend of technical precision and a product-focused mindset. We value engineers who can bridge the gap between technical architecture and user experience. Because we are solving real-world problems in the property and financial technology sectors, you will find yourself working on complex, high-impact systems that demand both reliability and the agility to iterate quickly based on user feedback. You will join a team that prides itself on technical excellence and collaborative problem-solving. We look for engineers who are comfortable navigating ambiguity and who are excited by the prospect of building scalable solutions. If you enjoy environments where your work is visible, your influence is felt, and you have the autonomy to solve challenging problems, you will find to be a uniquely rewarding place to grow your career. GetGround
Technical Screen
reportedInitial assessment of technical skills relevant to the role.
What to demonstrate
- Initial assessment of technical skills relevant to the role
- Depth in System Design
How to prepare
- Answer aloud and timed: Explain the core concepts of concurrency and context handling in Go.
- Answer aloud and timed: How would you approach designing a scalable search engine for property listings?
Deep-Dive Session
reportedIn-depth discussion focusing on technical expertise and problem-solving.
What to demonstrate
- In-depth discussion focusing on technical expertise and problem-solving
- Depth in System Design
How to prepare
- Answer aloud and timed: Describe your experience working with SPAs and state management tools like Redux.
- Answer aloud and timed: How do you handle database optimization and query performance in a high-traffic application?
Values-Based Interview
reportedEvaluation of cultural fit and alignment with company values.
What to demonstrate
- Evaluation of cultural fit and alignment with company values
- Depth in System Design
How to prepare
- Prepare three examples from your own work, each with a decision you made and an outcome you can quantify.
- Re-read the description of the values-based interview above and write down what you would ask to confirm before it.
PracHub editorial advice for the preparation topics above.
Think Out Loud
During live coding, your thought process is as important as the final code. Explain your assumptions and the trade-offs you are considering.
Ask Clarifying Questions
Never jump into a solution before fully scoping the problem. Ask questions to define the constraints and requirements first.
Be Concise
When answering behavioral questions, use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to keep your answers structured and impactful.
Research Our Domain
Have a firm grasp of what GetGround does. Showing an interest in our product and the problems we solve for our users will set you apart.
Choose a category, try a prompt, then open its approach, worked solution or follow-up when you need it.
Explain the core concepts of concurrency and context handling in Go.
Explain the core concepts of concurrency and context handling in Go.
Approach
- Say what the runtime actually does before reasoning about the code.
- Name what is shared across threads and what owns each piece of state.
- Identify the window where an invariant is briefly untrue.
- Distinguish a value from a reference to it, and say which one you handed out.
Follow-up
- What happens if two callers reach this at the same time?
- Where could this allocate more than you expect?
How have you demonstrated a product-first mindset in your previous roles?
How have you demonstrated a product-first mindset in your previous roles?
Approach
- Restate the input: its shape, its size, and what is guaranteed about it.
- Name the brute-force solution and its complexity before improving on it.
- Choose the data structure from the access pattern, not from familiarity.
- State the target complexity and say which constraint rules the naive version out.
Follow-up
- How does this change if the input no longer fits in memory?
- What is the worst case, and how likely is it on real data?
Tell us about a complex technical situation you faced and how you resolved it.
Tell us about a complex technical situation you faced and how you resolved it.
Approach
- Restate the input: its shape, its size, and what is guaranteed about it.
- Name the brute-force solution and its complexity before improving on it.
- Choose the data structure from the access pattern, not from familiarity.
- State the target complexity and say which constraint rules the naive version out.
Follow-up
- How does this change if the input no longer fits in memory?
- What is the worst case, and how likely is it on real data?
Find version gaps and relay lag with window functions
outbox_event holds event_id, aggregate_type, aggregate_id, aggregate_version, event_type, payload, status ('pending','published','dead'), attempts, created_at, published_at. A projection is missing rows and you must decide whether the relay skipped events or the consumer dropped them. Write three queries over the last seven days: one listing every aggregate_id whose published aggregate_version sequence has a hole, one giving per-day counts with a running total, and one returning the newest published event per aggregate. For each, say where the window function is evaluated relative to WHERE and LIMIT. PostgreSQL 16.
Approach
- Gaps: compute lead(aggregate_version) OVER (PARTITION BY aggregate_id ORDER BY aggregate_version) in a subquery, then filter next_version <> aggregate_version + 1 in the outer query. Window functions are evaluated after WHERE, GROUP BY and HAVING and before the outer ORDER BY and LIMIT, so the predicate cannot sit in the same WHERE clause and PostgreSQL 16 has no QUALIFY.
- Say what the seven-day filter does to the answer: it truncates every partition, so the first row per aggregate has no predecessor inside the window and a hole spanning the boundary is invisible. Widen the window, or join to resource.version as the authority for the true maximum.
- Running total: SELECT date_trunc('day', created_at) AS d, count() AS n, sum(count()) OVER (ORDER BY date_trunc('day', created_at) ROWS UNBOUNDED PRECEDING). An aggregate inside a window call is legal because grouping runs before windowing. The grouping key is unique per row here so ROWS and RANGE agree, but write the frame anyway — over ungrouped rows with tied timestamps the default RANGE frame pulls in every peer row and the total jumps.
- Newest per aggregate: DISTINCT ON (aggregate_id) ... ORDER BY aggregate_id, aggregate_version DESC is the cheap PostgreSQL-only form when an index matches that order; row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY aggregate_id ORDER BY aggregate_version DESC) = 1 is the portable form and needs a subquery for the same evaluation-order reason as the gap query.
Follow-up
- Relay failover redelivers events. Does a duplicate break the gap query, and how would you detect one from this table alone?
- Turn the gap check into a continuous monitor rather than a query someone runs after an incident. What does it watch?
Denormalise tenant onto revisions and backfill it live
resource_revision (revision_id, resource_id, version, actor_user_id, change_kind, patch, request_id, created_at) has 400M rows and no tenant column; tenant_id lives only on resource. Two reads need it: a tenant-scoped audit feed ordered by created_at DESC, and an offboarding purge. Both join back to resource today. Justify adding tenant_id to resource_revision against those two reads, name the anomaly the copy introduces and the constraint that prevents it, then give the ordered migration for a live table taking 1.2k writes/second — the lock each step takes, how the backfill is batched, and where each step stops being reversible. PostgreSQL 16.
Approach
- Justify from the access path rather than from taste. Without the column, the audit feed either scans resource_revision by created_at and discards other tenants' rows, or resolves the tenant's resource_ids first and probes with them — both proportional to the tenant's whole history rather than to one page. With (tenant_id, created_at DESC, revision_id DESC) it is a seek that stops at 50 rows, and the purge becomes a ranged delete instead of a join.
- Name the cost exactly: a second copy of a fact can disagree with the first. Make the disagreement unwritable rather than documented — add UNIQUE (resource_id, tenant_id) on resource so it can serve as a foreign-key target, then FOREIGN KEY (resource_id, tenant_id) REFERENCES resource (resource_id, tenant_id) on the revision table. A revision can then only ever carry its parent's tenant.
- Step one, expand: ALTER TABLE resource_revision ADD COLUMN tenant_id BIGINT NULL, with no default, so it is a catalogue change and no rewrite. It still needs ACCESS EXCLUSIVE for an instant, and that instant queues behind the longest open transaction on the table while every later query queues behind it — set lock_timeout to 2s and retry rather than wait.
- Step two, dual-write: deploy the writer that populates tenant_id on every new revision while reads still use the join. Reversible by redeploying the previous build, because nothing reads the column yet.
Follow-up
- The backfill is half finished and a rollback is required. What state is the table in, and what does the previous build do with a half-populated column?
- How do you verify the backfill actually finished, given rows are still being inserted while it runs?
How would you approach designing a scalable search engine for property listings?
How would you approach designing a scalable search engine for property listings?
Approach
- Fix the scope first: who calls this, how often, and what they do when it fails.
- Name the read and write paths separately; they rarely have the same bottleneck.
- Choose a partition key and say what query it makes expensive.
- State the consistency you need, and where you are willing to be stale.
Follow-up
- What breaks first when traffic grows ten times?
- How does this behave when that dependency is down for an hour?
Walk us through the trade-offs you considered when building a specific REST API.
Walk us through the trade-offs you considered when building a specific REST API.
Approach
- Say who the caller is and what they do when the call fails halfway.
- Define the identity of a request so a retry cannot double-apply it.
- Separate accepted, pending, failed and confirmed; they are different facts.
- Design the error taxonomy before the success shape; callers branch on it.
Follow-up
- What happens if the caller retries after a timeout?
- How does a client discover it is on an old version of this contract?
How would you design a product feature that aligns with our specific domain of property management?
How would you design a product feature that aligns with our specific domain of property management?
Approach
- Fix the scope first: who calls this, how often, and what they do when it fails.
- Name the read and write paths separately; they rarely have the same bottleneck.
- Choose a partition key and say what query it makes expensive.
- State the consistency you need, and where you are willing to be stale.
Follow-up
- What breaks first when traffic grows ten times?
- How does this behave when that dependency is down for an hour?
Listing latency scales with page size, not with filters
The tenant listing endpoint reads resource filtered by tenant_id and status, ordered by updated_at DESC, and returns each row plus the owner's display name from app_user and the actor of that resource's latest resource_revision. p99 is 55 ms at 10 rows per page and 1.4 s at 200. Database telemetry shows 401 statements per request, each under 1 ms, and nothing in the slow-query log. Diagnose the cause and give the fix, stating the statement count per request and the p99 you expect afterwards.
Approach
- Read the counters before forming a theory. 401 statements for 200 rows is one driver query plus two per row, and sub-millisecond execution with an empty slow-query log rules out a bad plan. The time is round trips, which is why it is invisible in every per-query metric and scales with rows returned rather than with filter selectivity.
- Name the two per-row statements from their normalised text: a single-row app_user lookup by user_id, and a resource_revision lookup by resource_id ordered by version DESC LIMIT 1. Confirm by dropping those two response fields and watching the statement count fall to one. That locates the calls in the serialisation layer, not the repository.
- Check that the arithmetic accounts for the whole gap. Measure one round trip to the replica in isolation; 400 trips at roughly 3 ms of network plus 0.2 ms of execution is about 1.3 s on top of a 55 ms baseline, which matches. If the multiplication had fallen short, the N+1 would only be part of the story and you would keep looking.
- Batch both lookups. Collect owner_user_ids and resource_ids from the driver query, then issue WHERE tenant_id = $1 AND user_id = ANY($2) for the users, and PostgreSQL's SELECT DISTINCT ON (resource_id) ... WHERE resource_id = ANY($2) ORDER BY resource_id, version DESC for the latest revision, which the UNIQUE (resource_id, version) index serves directly. On an engine without DISTINCT ON, use a lateral join or a row_number window. Three statements per request at any page size.
Follow-up
- The page size is capped at 200 today. What breaks first if it is raised to 2,000, and is it still this bug?
- How do you stop the next N+1 from reaching production, given that no individual query is slow and the endpoint's tests pass?
Built from the rounds and topics GetGround candidates report.
Prepare, practise & reflect
One practical outcome each day. Spend longer where you need it.
0 / 7 done01Map the GetGround loop
- Write out the reported sequence: Technical Screen, Deep-Dive Session, Values-Based Interview.
- For each round, write one sentence on what it is judging, from the description above, and mark the one you are least ready for.
Deliverable: A one-page map of the 3 reported rounds, with the weakest marked.
02Work System Design
- Spend the session on System Design, which GetGround candidates report being tested on.
- Write one worked example in System Design and time yourself on it.
Deliverable: One timed worked example in System Design.
03Work Live Coding
- Spend the session on Live Coding, which GetGround candidates report being tested on.
- Write one worked example in Live Coding and time yourself on it.
Deliverable: One timed worked example in Live Coding.
04Work React
- Spend the session on React, which GetGround candidates report being tested on.
- Write one worked example in React and time yourself on it.
Deliverable: One timed worked example in React.
05Answer out loud: Technical and Domain Knowledge
- Answer aloud, timed: Explain the core concepts of concurrency and context handling in Go.
- Answer aloud, timed: How would you approach designing a scalable search engine for property listings?
Deliverable: Spoken answers to 2 reported Technical and Domain Knowledge question(s), under time.
06Answer out loud: Product Mindset and Problem Solving
- Answer aloud, timed: How have you demonstrated a product-first mindset in your previous roles?
- Answer aloud, timed: Describe a time you had to make a technical trade-off to meet a product deadline.
Deliverable: Spoken answers to 2 reported Product Mindset and Problem Solving question(s), under time.
07Answer out loud: Cultural Alignment and Values
- Answer aloud, timed: What is your favorite GetGround value and why?
- Answer aloud, timed: Can you provide an example of a time you showed resilience in the face of a challenge?
Deliverable: Spoken answers to 2 reported Cultural Alignment and Values question(s), under time.
Expand any day for tasks and deliverables. Your progress is saved on this device.
Behavioural rounds judge the decision you made and what it cost.
Describe your experience working with SPAs and state management tools like Redux.
Describe your experience working with SPAs and state management tools like Redux.
Approach
- Pick a story where you made the decision, not one where you watched it.
- State the situation in two sentences and spend the rest on the reasoning.
- Give the blast radius: what could have broken, and what you measured.
- Name the disagreement and how you resolved it with evidence.
Follow-up
- What would you do differently if you ran that again?
- How did you know your change caused the improvement?
How do you handle database optimization and query performance in a high-traffic application?
How do you handle database optimization and query performance in a high-traffic application?
Approach
- Pick a story where you made the decision, not one where you watched it.
- State the situation in two sentences and spend the rest on the reasoning.
- Give the blast radius: what could have broken, and what you measured.
- Name the disagreement and how you resolved it with evidence.
Follow-up
- What would you do differently if you ran that again?
- How did you know your change caused the improvement?
Describe a time you had to make a technical trade-off to meet a product deadline.
Describe a time you had to make a technical trade-off to meet a product deadline.
Approach
- Pick a story where you made the decision, not one where you watched it.
- State the situation in two sentences and spend the rest on the reasoning.
- Give the blast radius: what could have broken, and what you measured.
- Name the disagreement and how you resolved it with evidence.
Follow-up
- What would you do differently if you ran that again?
- How did you know your change caused the improvement?
What is your favorite GetGround value and why?
What is your favorite GetGround value and why?
Approach
- Pick a story where you made the decision, not one where you watched it.
- State the situation in two sentences and spend the rest on the reasoning.
- Give the blast radius: what could have broken, and what you measured.
- Name the disagreement and how you resolved it with evidence.
Follow-up
- What would you do differently if you ran that again?
- How did you know your change caused the improvement?
Can you provide an example of a time you showed resilience in the face of a challenge?
Can you provide an example of a time you showed resilience in the face of a challenge?
Approach
- Pick a story where you made the decision, not one where you watched it.
- State the situation in two sentences and spend the rest on the reasoning.
- Give the blast radius: what could have broken, and what you measured.
- Name the disagreement and how you resolved it with evidence.
Follow-up
- What would you do differently if you ran that again?
- How did you know your change caused the improvement?
Describe a piece of feedback you received and how you used it to improve your performance.
Describe a piece of feedback you received and how you used it to improve your performance.
Approach
- Pick a story where you made the decision, not one where you watched it.
- State the situation in two sentences and spend the rest on the reasoning.
- Give the blast radius: what could have broken, and what you measured.
- Name the disagreement and how you resolved it with evidence.
Follow-up
- What would you do differently if you ran that again?
- How did you know your change caused the improvement?
What specific traits or personality types do you believe make for the most effective engineering team?
What specific traits or personality types do you believe make for the most effective engineering team?
Approach
- Pick a story where you made the decision, not one where you watched it.
- State the situation in two sentences and spend the rest on the reasoning.
- Give the blast radius: what could have broken, and what you measured.
- Name the disagreement and how you resolved it with evidence.
Follow-up
- What would you do differently if you ran that again?
- How did you know your change caused the improvement?
- 01
Describe your experience working with SPAs and state management tools like Redux.
- 02
How do you handle database optimization and query performance in a high-traffic application?
- 03
Describe a time you had to make a technical trade-off to meet a product deadline.
- 04
What is your favorite GetGround value and why?
How long does the interview process typically take?
While it varies, we aim for a fast, efficient process. Many candidates complete the cycle in a couple of weeks, with consistent feedback provided after each stage.
GetGround Software Engineer candidate reports ↗Is the coding test a take-home assignment or live?
We use a mix of live coding and technical discussions. We prioritize your ability to solve problems in real-time and communicate your thought process over long, multi-hour take-home projects.
GetGround Software Engineer candidate reports ↗What is the best way to prepare for the cultural interview?
Be authentic. We are looking for people who align with our values, so reflect on your personal experiences and be prepared to share specific examples of how you have demonstrated growth, resilience, and collaboration in your career.
GetGround Software Engineer candidate reports ↗Do I need to be an expert in all the technologies listed?
We value versatility. While expertise in our core stack (like Go) is helpful, we prioritize strong fundamental engineering skills and the ability to learn new tools quickly.
GetGround Software Engineer candidate reports ↗What topics does GetGround test in interviews?
GetGround interviews most often cover System Design, React, TypeScript, JavaScript, and Pagination. The exact emphasis depends on the specific role you apply for.
GetGround Software Engineer candidate reports ↗Sources & methodology 3 sources ↗
No official company page is cited. Rounds and questions come from candidate reports and PracHub editorial material; each source shows the date it was read.
- 01GetGround Software Engineer candidate reports ↗
Company-reported rounds, questions and FAQ.
Candidate reports · Accessed 2026-09-22 - 02PracHub Software Engineer practice ↗
PracHub practice material, not company-reported.
PracHub page · Accessed 2026-09-22 - 03PracHub preparation framework ↗
PracHub preparation guidance.
PracHub page · Accessed 2026-09-22
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