As a Software Engineer at SPH Media, you are at the heart of Singapore’s digital transformation in the media industry. You will be responsible for building, scaling, and maintaining the platforms that deliver news and content to millions of readers. Your work directly impacts how information is consumed, processed, and monetized in a fast-paced, high-traffic digital environment. This role requires a balance of technical precision and product-minded thinking. You will contribute to core infrastructure, user-facing applications, and backend services that power SPH Media’s diverse digital portfolio. Whether you are optimizing content delivery systems or integrating new features, your technical decisions play a critical role in maintaining the reliability and performance of platforms that are central to the public discourse. ##### Tip The team culture at SPH Media values practical delivery over purely academic theory. Demonstrating your ability to solve real-world problems will set you apart more effectively than reciting textbook definitions.
Initial Screening
reportedThe process begins with an initial screening to assess your qualifications and fit for the role.
What to demonstrate
- The process begins with an initial screening to assess your qualifications and fit for the role
- Depth in TypeScript
How to prepare
- Be able to walk your CV end to end in two minutes, and say why this company specifically.
- Have your salary expectations, notice period and location constraints ready, and ask for the rest of the loop in writing.
Technical Evaluation
reportedEngagement with technical leads or department heads to evaluate your technical skills and problem-solving abilities.
What to demonstrate
- Engagement with technical leads or department heads to evaluate your technical skills and problem-solving abilities
- Depth in TypeScript
How to prepare
- Answer aloud and timed: What are the trade-offs of using specific frameworks or libraries for our stack?
- Answer aloud and timed: How do you ensure your code is scalable and performant?
Behavioral Check-in
reportedA discussion focused on your past experiences and how they align with the team's culture and values.
What to demonstrate
- A discussion focused on your past experiences and how they align with the team's culture and values
- Depth in TypeScript
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 check-in above and write down what you would ask to confirm before it.
PracHub editorial advice for the preparation topics above.
Show Your Portfolio
If you have public projects or a GitHub profile, be ready to walk through them. This is a great way to prove your skills.
Focus on the Business
Understand that SPH Media is a media company. Show interest in how your code supports the delivery of news and content.
Be Honest About Your Limits
If you don't know an answer, explain how you would find the solution. This is often more valued than trying to guess.
Prepare for Behavioral Questions
Don't neglect the "introduction" part of the interview. Being able to concisely state your professional history and goals is vital.
Choose a category, try a prompt, then open its approach, worked solution or follow-up when you need it.
Can you explain the difference between specific features in your primary language (e.g., Typescript vs Javascr
Can you explain the difference between specific features in your primary language (e.g., Typescript vs Javascript)?
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?
What are the trade-offs of using specific frameworks or libraries for our stack?
What are the trade-offs of using specific frameworks or libraries for our stack?
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?
Diff a projection against the primary without per-row point reads
The listing projection has drifted and some rows show a stale version. The primary holds 40,000,000 resource rows across 12,000 tenants while serving 1,200 writes and 14,000 reads per second. The obvious repair, reading each resource row and comparing its version against the projection, is correct and would eventually finish. Explain precisely why it is unacceptable here, then give a diff that finds the differing rows, state its complexity, and make it safe to run against a live primary. Replication lag is usually under 100 ms and is not bounded.
Approach
- Quantify the naive cost rather than calling it slow: 40,000,000 point reads at even 0.5 ms each is over five hours serialised, and the only lever is concurrency, which is exactly what you cannot spend. The primary's pool is sized for the write path, and 40,000,000 random reads evict the buffer cache that sustains the 85 percent cache hit rate, so the audit degrades the system it is auditing.
- Replace random access with one ordered pass per side. Both sides can be read in (tenant_id, resource_id) order, which is a sequential scan on each and a merge join in O(n) time and O(1) memory. For a dense diff that is the whole answer, and it reads the primary once instead of 40,000,000 times.
- For the expected sparse case, compare range hashes instead of rows: partition the key space, compute per range an order-independent aggregate over hash(resource_id, version), compare aggregates, and descend only into ranges that differ. With d differing rows and branching factor B, at most d ranges mismatch per level, so the drill-down examines O(d log_B(n/d)) ranges and reads full rows only in mismatching leaves.
- Aggregate with a sum modulo 2^64 or a multiset hash, never XOR. XOR is order-independent but self-cancelling, so two rows wrong in the same way, or a row duplicated on one side, leave the range aggregate matching and the range is declared clean.
Follow-up
- The diff reports 900 stale rows. How do you decide between patching those rows and rebuilding the projection from resource_revision?
- Same job, but the projection lives in a search index that cannot be scanned in key order. What changes?
Why do you want to join SPH Media specifically?
Why do you want to join SPH Media specifically?
Approach
- Name the grain you start from and join outward from it.
- Check whether any join is one-to-many before aggregating, or the sums inflate.
- Say which index the query would use, and what makes it unusable.
- Handle the rows that do not match: that is usually the actual question.
Follow-up
- How does the query change if that join becomes one-to-many?
- What happens to this when the table is ten times larger?
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?
How do you ensure your code is scalable and performant?
How do you ensure your code is scalable and performant?
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?
How would you design a system to handle high-traffic spikes during breaking news events?
How would you design a system to handle high-traffic spikes during breaking news events?
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 considerations do you make when integrating third-party APIs into our services?
What considerations do you make when integrating third-party APIs into our services?
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 do you structure your databases or data storage for optimal retrieval?
How do you structure your databases or data storage for optimal retrieval?
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?
Can you explain how you would troubleshoot a system-wide bottleneck?
Can you explain how you would troubleshoot a system-wide bottleneck?
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 SPH Media candidates report.
Prepare, practise & reflect
One practical outcome each day. Spend longer where you need it.
0 / 7 done01Map the SPH Media loop
- Write out the reported sequence: Initial Screening, Technical Evaluation, Behavioral Check-in.
- 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 TypeScript
- Spend the session on TypeScript, which SPH Media candidates report being tested on.
- Write one worked example in TypeScript and time yourself on it.
Deliverable: One timed worked example in TypeScript.
03Work Node.js
- Spend the session on Node.js, which SPH Media candidates report being tested on.
- Write one worked example in Node.js and time yourself on it.
Deliverable: One timed worked example in Node.js.
04Work System design
- Spend the session on System design, which SPH Media 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.
05Answer out loud: Technical and Language Proficiency
- Answer aloud, timed: Can you explain the difference between specific features in your primary language (e.g., Typescript vs Javascript)?
- Answer aloud, timed: How do you handle asynchronous operations and error handling in your code?
Deliverable: Spoken answers to 2 reported Technical and Language Proficiency question(s), under time.
06Answer out loud: System Design and Architecture
- Answer aloud, timed: How would you design a system to handle high-traffic spikes during breaking news events?
- Answer aloud, timed: What considerations do you make when integrating third-party APIs into our services?
Deliverable: Spoken answers to 2 reported System Design and Architecture question(s), under time.
07Answer out loud: Behavioral and Culture Fit
- Answer aloud, timed: Why do you want to join SPH Media specifically?
- Answer aloud, timed: How do you approach feedback from non-technical stakeholders?
Deliverable: Spoken answers to 2 reported Behavioral and Culture Fit 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.
How do you handle asynchronous operations and error handling in your code?
How do you handle asynchronous operations and error handling in your code?
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 approach feedback from non-technical stakeholders?
How do you approach feedback from non-technical stakeholders?
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 typical process for managing your own work-life balance?
What is your typical process for managing your own work-life balance?
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?
Are you looking for immediate growth or a stable, long-term contribution?
Are you looking for immediate growth or a stable, long-term contribution?
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
How do you handle asynchronous operations and error handling in your code?
- 02
How do you approach feedback from non-technical stakeholders?
- 03
What is your typical process for managing your own work-life balance?
- 04
Are you looking for immediate growth or a stable, long-term contribution?
How difficult are the technical interviews?
Most candidates find the difficulty to be average. The focus is not on "trick questions" or obscure theory, but on your ability to solve practical, real-world development tasks.
SPH Media Software Engineer candidate reports ↗Will I need to do a whiteboard test?
Yes, coding and whiteboard tests are common components of the process. Focus on writing clean code and explaining your logic clearly as you write.
SPH Media Software Engineer candidate reports ↗What should I emphasize to stand out?
Highlight your ability to deliver. SPH Media values engineers who can take a task, understand the business context, and execute it efficiently without needing constant supervision.
SPH Media Software Engineer candidate reports ↗How long does the hiring process take?
The process can vary, but generally, it moves relatively quickly. Expect 2–3 rounds of interviews, often involving direct interaction with the hiring manager or department head.
SPH Media Software Engineer candidate reports ↗What topics does SPH Media test in interviews?
SPH Media interviews most often cover Design Decision Justification, Stakeholder Management, Communication Skills, Problem Solving, and TypeScript. The exact emphasis depends on the specific role you apply for.
SPH Media 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.
- 01SPH Media 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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