Interviewing for Google Engineering Manager role. I passed the hangout Google Doc coding interview and next step is the onsite with 5 x 45 min sessions. I got given a choice to have: 2 systems design and 1 coding & algo Or 1 systems design and 2 coding & algo The rest are EM related (tech leadership, people management). What would you choose? I've got <30 LC done (still more than a month of prep) and am fairly confident on systems design. My biggest fear is some weird coding problem I wont be able to solve in time. Not worried that much about open-ended systems design, although I found myself in a rabbit hole on systems design while interviewing with Amazon in the past. However if I can figure out optimal solution with proper use of Data Structures, I wouldn't have a problem producing nice and clean code. YoE - 14 TC - 190k
Your role is Engineering Manager. What are you most comfortable with and does the role truly entail? Getting that info should help you make the final decision. Can you proform and do the job right there during the interview? System Design is the overall big picture of a puzzle. Coding and Algo is like the peicies of the puzzle. Pick your path. Hope this helps.