As a Software Engineer at Oklahoma City Thunder, you will play a vital role in developing and maintaining the technological backbone that supports our operations both on and off the court. Your work will directly impact the efficiency of various teams, from player analytics to fan engagement platforms. This position is crucial not just for the functionality of our systems, but also for driving forward innovations that can enhance the overall experience for players, staff, and fans alike. The complexity and scale of the projects you will encounter are both challenging and rewarding. You will work with cross-functional teams to develop software solutions that facilitate data analysis, improve user interfaces, and optimize workflows. This role is not only about coding; it’s about understanding the broader business context and leveraging technology to solve real-world problems in a dynamic sports environment. Expect to contribute to exciting projects that integrate data science, machine learning, and user experience design in a way that enhances the performance of the Oklahoma City Thunder organization.
Coding Project
reportedComplete a take-home assignment that assesses your ability to implement a solution based on given requirements.
What to demonstrate
- Complete a take-home assignment that assesses your ability to implement a solution based on given requirements
- Depth in Django (Python web framework)
How to prepare
- Answer aloud and timed: What is your experience with [specific programming languages or frameworks]?
- Answer aloud and timed: Can you explain how RESTful APIs work?
Team Discussions
reportedEngage in discussions with team members to provide insights into your technical approach and past experiences.
What to demonstrate
- Engage in discussions with team members to provide insights into your technical approach and past experiences
- Depth in Django (Python web framework)
How to prepare
- Answer aloud and timed: Describe a project where you implemented a database solution. What were the challenges?
- Answer aloud and timed: How do you ensure code quality and maintainability?
Technical Interviews
reportedParticipate in technical interviews that may include system design discussions.
What to demonstrate
- Participate in technical interviews that may include system design discussions
- Depth in Django (Python web framework)
How to prepare
- Answer aloud and timed: What are your strategies for debugging and optimizing code?
- Answer aloud and timed: How would you design a system to handle real-time data updates?
Behavioral Assessments
reportedUndergo behavioral assessments to evaluate your problem-solving skills and cultural alignment.
What to demonstrate
- Undergo behavioral assessments to evaluate your problem-solving skills and cultural alignment
- Depth in Django (Python web framework)
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 behavioral assessments above and write down what you would ask to confirm before it.
PracHub editorial advice for the preparation topics above.
Going into the loop without having done this.
Emphasize your passion for sports: Show how your interest in sports can enhance your contributions to the team.
Going into the loop without having done this.
Prepare for technical assessments: Review core programming concepts and be ready to demonstrate your coding skills in practical tests.
Going into the loop without having done this.
Practice behavioral questions: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
Going into the loop without having done this.
Stay informed about the organization: Familiarize yourself with the latest news and developments surrounding Oklahoma City Thunder, as this can help you connect your answers to the organization's goals.
Choose a category, try a prompt, then open its approach, worked solution or follow-up when you need it.
Write a function to reverse a linked list.
Write a function to reverse a linked list.
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?
Explain the time complexity of your solution.
Explain the time complexity of your solution.
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?
How would you approach solving a common algorithmic problem, such as sorting or searching?
How would you approach solving a common algorithmic problem, such as sorting or searching?
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?
Can you discuss the differences between iterative and recursive solutions?
Can you discuss the differences between iterative and recursive solutions?
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?
Write code to find the longest substring without repeating characters.
Write code to find the longest substring without repeating characters.
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?
Stop tag and share joins from fanning out a page
resource_tag is (resource_id, tag_id) with PK (resource_id, tag_id); resource_share is (resource_id, shared_with_user_id, permission). The tagged-and-shared listing inner-joins resource to both, filters tenant_id, tag_id = ANY($2) and shared_with_user_id = $3, orders by updated_at DESC and takes 50. Pages come back with fewer than 50 distinct resources and the total in the header is far too high. Explain the row multiplication, rewrite both the page query and the count query so each is correct, and name the index each one needs. PostgreSQL 16.
Approach
- Do the arithmetic against the predicates that are actually there. An inner join emits one row per matching child row, and both joins are filtered: tag_id = ANY($2) admits only the requested tags, shared_with_user_id = $3 admits one user's share rows. So a resource holding three of the requested tags and shared with $3 once yields three rows, not one — the multiplier is its count of matching tags times its share rows for that single user, and that second factor is 1 unless the table admits duplicate (resource_id, shared_with_user_id) pairs. LIMIT 50 then limits rows rather than resources, and COUNT(*) counts pairs — the header is the product, not the population.
- Reject DISTINCT as the fix. It deduplicates after the product has been built, so the planner must materialise and sort the fanned-out set before the LIMIT can apply, and it leaves any SUM or AVG in the same select list wrong.
- Rewrite both filters as semi-joins, keeping resource as the only row source: AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM resource_tag rt WHERE rt.resource_id = r.resource_id AND rt.tag_id = ANY($2)) and the same shape against resource_share. A semi-join stops at the first match per resource and preserves the driving index order, so ORDER BY updated_at DESC, resource_id DESC LIMIT 50 still stops after 50 rows.
- Count with the same predicates and no join at all: SELECT count(*) FROM resource r WHERE r.tenant_id = $1 AND r.status = 'active' AND EXISTS (...) AND EXISTS (...). Nothing multiplies a resource, so the number is the population.
Follow-up
- The filter changes from 'any of these tags' to 'all of these tags'. Rewrite it and state what it costs relative to the ANY form.
- A resource can be shared with the same user twice under different permissions. Does your count change, and should it?
Replace offset paging on the resource feed with keyset
resource holds resource_id, tenant_id, owner_user_id, title, body_ref, version, status ('draft','active','archived','deleted'), created_at, updated_at, deleted_at, with an index on (tenant_id, status, updated_at DESC, resource_id DESC). The listing endpoint returns active resources for one tenant, newest update first, 50 per page, today with LIMIT 50 OFFSET n. Tenants reach page 400 and rows are created while they read. Write the keyset query, define what the cursor carries and how it is encoded, and say which part of the index each predicate uses. Assume PostgreSQL 16.
Approach
- Name the two failures separately. OFFSET 20000 makes the server produce and discard 20,000 rows, so page cost grows with depth rather than with page size. Independently, any write that changes how many rows sort above the offset moves the window between two fetches, and the direction decides which anomaly you get: an insert lands at the head of updated_at DESC and pushes already-returned rows down past the boundary, so they are returned a second time; a delete above the offset, or a row whose updated_at is bumped above the cursor, pulls rows up and one is never returned at all. Nothing in the response reveals either.
- Write the seek: WHERE tenant_id = $1 AND status = 'active' AND (updated_at, resource_id) < ($2, $3) ORDER BY updated_at DESC, resource_id DESC LIMIT 50. The row-value comparison is one index range rather than a disjunction, and both columns are NOT NULL, which is what makes that comparison well defined.
- Map each predicate onto the index: tenant_id and status are equality on the leading columns, (updated_at, resource_id) is the range, and the ORDER BY matches the index order so no Sort node appears and the scan stops after 50 rows. The DESC in the definition only matters for mixed directions — a plain ascending btree on the same columns is read backwards for this query.
- Put both sort columns in the cursor and nothing the client can tamper with into another tenant: base64 of (updated_at, resource_id), validated server-side, with tenant_id taken from the principal.
Follow-up
- The client asks for 'jump to page 400'. What do you offer instead, and what does the honest version cost?
- Sort order becomes user-selectable across four columns. How many indexes is that, and which would you refuse to add?
Can you explain how RESTful APIs work?
Can you explain how RESTful APIs work?
Approach
- Clarify what is being asked and what a complete answer contains.
- State your assumptions explicitly before working the problem.
- Say what you would check first and why it is the highest-information step.
- Work from the requirement backwards to the design.
Follow-up
- What assumption would you test first?
- How would you know your answer was wrong?
Describe a project where you implemented a database solution. What were the challenges?
Describe a project where you implemented a database solution. What were the challenges?
Approach
- Clarify what is being asked and what a complete answer contains.
- State your assumptions explicitly before working the problem.
- Say what you would check first and why it is the highest-information step.
- Work from the requirement backwards to the design.
Follow-up
- What assumption would you test first?
- How would you know your answer was wrong?
How do you ensure code quality and maintainability?
How do you ensure code quality and maintainability?
Approach
- Clarify what is being asked and what a complete answer contains.
- State your assumptions explicitly before working the problem.
- Say what you would check first and why it is the highest-information step.
- Work from the requirement backwards to the design.
Follow-up
- What assumption would you test first?
- How would you know your answer was wrong?
How would you design a system to handle real-time data updates?
How would you design a system to handle real-time data updates?
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?
Describe how you would approach building a user authentication system.
Describe how you would approach building a user authentication system.
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?
What factors do you consider when designing an API?
What factors do you consider when designing an 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?
Can you walk us through a system you designed and what trade-offs you made?
Can you walk us through a system you designed and what trade-offs you made?
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?
Given a dataset, how would you approach deriving insights?
Given a dataset, how would you approach deriving insights?
Approach
- Clarify what is being asked and what a complete answer contains.
- State your assumptions explicitly before working the problem.
- Say what you would check first and why it is the highest-information step.
- Work from the requirement backwards to the design.
Follow-up
- What assumption would you test first?
- How would you know your answer was wrong?
How would you handle a sudden system failure during a critical game?
How would you handle a sudden system failure during a critical game?
Approach
- Clarify what is being asked and what a complete answer contains.
- State your assumptions explicitly before working the problem.
- Say what you would check first and why it is the highest-information step.
- Work from the requirement backwards to the design.
Follow-up
- What assumption would you test first?
- How would you know your answer was wrong?
Describe a complex problem you solved using technology.
Describe a complex problem you solved using technology.
Approach
- Clarify what is being asked and what a complete answer contains.
- State your assumptions explicitly before working the problem.
- Say what you would check first and why it is the highest-information step.
- Work from the requirement backwards to the design.
Follow-up
- What assumption would you test first?
- How would you know your answer was wrong?
If tasked with improving an existing application, what steps would you take?
If tasked with improving an existing application, what steps would you take?
Approach
- Clarify what is being asked and what a complete answer contains.
- State your assumptions explicitly before working the problem.
- Say what you would check first and why it is the highest-information step.
- Work from the requirement backwards to the design.
Follow-up
- What assumption would you test first?
- How would you know your answer was wrong?
How would you assess the effectiveness of a new feature you implemented?
How would you assess the effectiveness of a new feature you implemented?
Approach
- Clarify what is being asked and what a complete answer contains.
- State your assumptions explicitly before working the problem.
- Say what you would check first and why it is the highest-information step.
- Work from the requirement backwards to the design.
Follow-up
- What assumption would you test first?
- How would you know your answer was wrong?
What are your strategies for debugging and optimizing code?
What are your strategies for debugging and optimizing code?
Approach
- Establish what changed and when, before forming any theory.
- Pick a bisection that eliminates candidates whichever way it turns out.
- Check the instrumentation before believing the symptom.
- Separate the trigger from the cause; the deploy is rarely the bug.
Follow-up
- What would you look at first, and what would it rule out?
- How would you tell a cause from a coincidence here?
Built from the rounds and topics Oklahoma City Thunder candidates report.
Prepare, practise & reflect
One practical outcome each day. Spend longer where you need it.
0 / 7 done01Map the Oklahoma City Thunder loop
- Write out the reported sequence: Coding Project, Team Discussions, Technical Interviews, Behavioral Assessments.
- 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 4 reported rounds, with the weakest marked.
02Work Django (Python web framework)
- Spend the session on Django (Python web framework), which Oklahoma City Thunder candidates report being tested on.
- Write one worked example in Django (Python web framework) and time yourself on it.
Deliverable: One timed worked example in Django (Python web framework).
03Work Angular (front-end framework)
- Spend the session on Angular (front-end framework), which Oklahoma City Thunder candidates report being tested on.
- Write one worked example in Angular (front-end framework) and time yourself on it.
Deliverable: One timed worked example in Angular (front-end framework).
04Work Take-home / Project-based coding assessments
- Spend the session on Take-home / Project-based coding assessments, which Oklahoma City Thunder candidates report being tested on.
- Write one worked example in Take-home / Project-based coding assessments and time yourself on it.
Deliverable: One timed worked example in Take-home / Project-based coding assessments.
05Answer out loud: Technical / Domain Questions
- Answer aloud, timed: What is your experience with [specific programming languages or frameworks]?
- Answer aloud, timed: Can you explain how RESTful APIs work?
Deliverable: Spoken answers to 2 reported Technical / Domain Questions question(s), under time.
06Answer out loud: System Design / Architecture
- Answer aloud, timed: How would you design a system to handle real-time data updates?
- Answer aloud, timed: Describe how you would approach building a user authentication system.
Deliverable: Spoken answers to 2 reported System Design / Architecture question(s), under time.
07Answer out loud: Behavioral / Leadership
- Answer aloud, timed: Tell us about a time you faced a significant challenge in a project. How did you overcome it?
- Answer aloud, timed: How do you prioritize your tasks when faced with multiple deadlines?
Deliverable: Spoken answers to 2 reported Behavioral / Leadership 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.
What is your experience with [specific programming languages or frameworks]?
What is your experience with [specific programming languages or frameworks]?
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 transactions in a multi-user environment?
How do you handle database transactions in a multi-user environment?
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?
Tell us about a time you faced a significant challenge in a project. How did you overcome it?
Tell us about a time you faced a significant challenge in a project. How did you overcome it?
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 prioritize your tasks when faced with multiple deadlines?
How do you prioritize your tasks when faced with multiple deadlines?
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 situation where you had to collaborate with a difficult team member.
Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with a difficult team member.
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 motivates you to work in the sports industry?
What motivates you to work in the sports industry?
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 feedback and criticism?
How do you handle feedback and criticism?
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
What is your experience with [specific programming languages or frameworks]?
- 02
How do you handle database transactions in a multi-user environment?
- 03
Tell us about a time you faced a significant challenge in a project. How did you overcome it?
- 04
How do you prioritize your tasks when faced with multiple deadlines?
What is the typical interview difficulty for this position?
The interview process for a Software Engineer at Oklahoma City Thunder is generally considered to be of average to high difficulty, particularly in technical assessments. Candidates are encouraged to prepare thoroughly for both coding challenges and behavioral questions.
Oklahoma City Thunder Software Engineer candidate reports ↗How can I differentiate myself as a candidate?
Successful candidates often demonstrate not only technical proficiency but also a strong alignment with the company’s values and culture. Showcasing your passion for sports and your ability to collaborate effectively can set you apart.
Oklahoma City Thunder Software Engineer candidate reports ↗What is the timeline from initial screen to offer?
Typically, the interview process might take anywhere from a few weeks to over a month, depending on the number of candidates and internal scheduling. Candidates should remain proactive in seeking updates during this period.
Oklahoma City Thunder Software Engineer candidate reports ↗Is remote work an option for this role?
While specific policies may vary, Oklahoma City Thunder does offer flexible working arrangements. It's advisable to clarify this during the interview process if it is a priority for you.
Oklahoma City Thunder Software Engineer candidate reports ↗What is the company culture like at Oklahoma City Thunder?
The culture at Oklahoma City Thunder emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and a strong commitment to the community. Candidates who align with these values and demonstrate a team-oriented mindset often thrive in this environment.
Oklahoma City Thunder Software Engineer candidate reports ↗How hard is the Oklahoma City Thunder interview?
Candidates most commonly rate Oklahoma City Thunder interviews as medium, based on 26 reported interviews.
Oklahoma City Thunder Software Engineer candidate reports ↗What topics does Oklahoma City Thunder test in interviews?
Oklahoma City Thunder interviews most often cover Group Interview Dynamics, Data-Driven Decision Making, Data Science Project Execution, Python, and Django (Python web framework). The exact emphasis depends on the specific role you apply for.
Oklahoma City Thunder Software Engineer candidate reports ↗Is Oklahoma City Thunder a good place to work?
Employees rate Oklahoma City Thunder 4.1 out of 5 overall, based on aggregated workplace reviews spanning career growth, work-life balance, compensation, culture, and management.
Oklahoma City Thunder Software Engineer candidate reports ↗Where is Oklahoma City Thunder headquartered?
Oklahoma City Thunder is headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK.
Oklahoma City Thunder Software Engineer candidate reports ↗Sources & methodology 3 sources ↗
Official role evidence, timestamped platform data and clearly labeled preparation advice.
- 01Oklahoma City Thunder Software Engineer candidate reports ↗
Company-reported rounds, questions and FAQ.
candidate · Accessed 2026-09-22 - 02PracHub Software Engineer practice ↗
PracHub practice material, not company-reported.
platform · Accessed 2026-09-22 - 03PracHub preparation framework ↗
PracHub preparation guidance.
platform · Accessed 2026-09-22
Explore related engineering environments and compare the preparation focus.
Steadily Software Engineer Interview Guide
What Steadily asks Software Engineer candidates, from reported rounds and questions.
Schneider Electric North America Software Engineer Interview Guide
What Schneider Electric North America asks Software Engineer candidates, from reported rounds and questions.
Rystad Energy Software Engineer Interview Guide
What Rystad Energy asks Software Engineer candidates, from reported rounds and questions.
Samsung Ads Software Engineer Interview Guide
What Samsung Ads asks Software Engineer candidates, from reported rounds and questions.