I applied through university. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Viasat (Los Angeles, CA) in Oct 2013
Interview
Pretty straightforward. Asked me regarding my project experiences - a game I made. He asked me about a comment I made regarding how I learned how to implement the tick on my resume to measure every moment of the game. I answered.
He then asked about my internship etc.
Then he asked a programming question, how to implement a function (in any language) that returned in index of a fibonacci sequence. Very straightforward and easy, however, I had difficulty understanding what he wanted at first. After thinking I understood what he wanted I made an assumption (that the fibonacci array was passed in) but evidently it was not. When I gave my code he asked where my array was passed in. I responded by saying I assumed it was passed in. He condescendingly responded by saying with an amusing facial expression "Umm... No I didn't...". Was it inappropriate? Probably, I wasn't phased though. I recognized I had difficulty figuring out exactly what he wanted and what was passed into the function. Regardless I fixed it and he checked and the function turned out correct.
We then had 3 minutes left and he asked my if I had any questions. I thought for about five seconds and said I didn't, I was familiar with the company and my role. He responded indignantly and this time a bit rudely stating: "Well if you have no more questions we should just end this interview right now" and smirking.
It was amusing, I again wasn't phased I just didn't quite understand why he was attempting to be such a jerk. Hence, I asked questions I didn't really care about to get him to lighten up again. The note we ended was a bit better.
friendly people in interview, but it did not take me long to realize that I was not qualified for the position I applied for. I did not want to leave so I suffered through it.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
They asked me algorithm questions like triplet counting which I just did not know.
Resume-Based Questions
Projects:
The interviewer asked detailed questions about the projects mentioned on my resume. They were particularly interested in the technical stacks I used, including any specific libraries or frameworks, challenges I faced, and how I solved them.
They focused on my experience with the MERN stack and Flutter, especially in any recent projects involving third-party integrations, such as payment gateways.
Role in Team Projects:
Since I had experience as a Team Lead, they inquired about my role in team-based projects, how I managed tasks, and any leadership challenges I encountered. They wanted to understand my collaboration skills and how I ensured the success of the project.
Quantified Impacts and Improvements:
They questioned specific quantifiable results I listed on my resume, like the improvement in user retention and performance improvements in the apps I developed.
2. Data Structures and Algorithms Questions
Array Manipulation Problem:
I was given a problem related to manipulating arrays with duplicate values and was asked to solve it efficiently. I discussed both brute-force and optimized approaches, using sorting and hash maps to reduce time complexity.
Graph Traversal:
They asked about graph traversal algorithms, specifically DFS and BFS. I was asked to provide code for both and explain the use cases where each algorithm is preferred.
Two-Pointer Technique:
Since they noticed my preference for the two-pointer approach, I was given a problem that required this technique. They were interested in understanding my thought process in setting up pointers and handling edge cases.
3. Computer Networks Questions
TCP vs. UDP:
I was asked to explain the differences between TCP and UDP, focusing on their use cases. I also discussed how TCP ensures reliable transmission and where UDP is more suitable due to its lower latency.
OSI Model Layers:
They asked for a breakdown of the OSI model layers and for me to describe how each layer interacts with the others. They specifically focused on the transport and network layers.
IP Addressing and Subnetting:
The interviewer asked questions about IP addressing, including the difference between IPv4 and IPv6. I was also asked to explain subnetting and calculate subnet masks for given IP addresses.
DNS and HTTP Protocols:
They wanted to understand my knowledge of the DNS protocol and how the HTTP protocol operates over the internet. I was asked to describe the HTTP request-response cycle and some HTTP status codes.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
TCP vs. UDP
OSI Model Layers
IP Addressing and Subnetting
I applied through university. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at Viasat (Thanjāvūr) in Oct 2024
Interview
There were 3 rounds. First, a written test, and then a technical interview and a technical plus HR round.
The written test consists of aptitude. The interview questions are based on which programming language we are comforable with.