They asked a LeetCode-style interview question from a graph as the first round. Then there were three other coding interviews. I was surprised there was no design question. This was followed up by the manager's behavior interview, the culture seemed very intense and sort of misdirected engineering leadership.

Interview Process: What began as a fairly standard interview process quickly spiraled into an exhausting, opaque, and ultimately disheartening experience. Here's what I went through: Hiring Manager Chat – Warm and engaging. Set a hopeful tone. Three Technical Interviews – Two rounds of algorithms, one OOP design. Challenging but fair. Behavioral Interview – In-depth and thoughtful. Reinforced mutual interest. Two References Provided – Both spoke directly to my skills, impact, and character. Additional Managerial Reference Required – An unexpected ask, but I complied and provided a strong FAANG reference. Verbal Offer Extended – Encouraging conversation; I was told a written offer was forthcoming and advised to pause other interviews. Negotiation Phase – Discussed comp and start date. Awaited the offer letter. Sudden Onsite “Team Fit” Round – A surprise panel interview that felt more like a stress test than genuine team matching. Another Reference Request – This time demanding a specific manager from a prior employer I no longer had access to. I was told, “This is the final step.” I tracked someone down and booked it. Final Outcome – The morning of that 4th reference’s scheduled call, I was informed: “We’ve decided to pursue other candidates whose experience aligns more closely with our current needs.” Red Flags: Lack of Transparency: The process was never clearly scoped. Steps were added after a verbal offer. Moving Goalposts: Every hurdle I cleared was followed by a new one — culminating in four separate references. Unprofessionalism: Encouraging a candidate to pause other interviews based on a verbal offer, only to ghost them, is unacceptable. Power Imbalance: The process felt increasingly like a test of endurance rather than an honest evaluation of fit. It sends a concerning signal about the company culture. Advice to Candidates: Approach this process with caution. Do not pause your job search, even if you’re told an offer is coming. Be prepared for sudden changes, unclear expectations, and a potentially demoralizing experience. Advice to C3.ai: If you want to hire top-tier talent, treat them with the same respect, transparency, and integrity you claim to value. A verbal offer is not a placeholder — it’s a commitment with real-world consequences. Candidates deserve better.