3 DSA rounds ( leetcode hard ) + 2 system design rounds + 1 managerial round focussed on projects and behavioural questions. Process was well organised in terms of scheduling. The interviewers seemed rigid in evaluating candidates by narrow checklists rather than engineering depth. Feedback reflected a bias towards specific solution paths - even when alternate valid approaches were discussed clearly and with tradeoffs. The interview culture also gave little space for collaborative discussion; it felt more like evaluative than explorative, especially in architecture rounds. I was also penalised for choosing a simple, scalable design before incrementally adding complexity. Advice to Management" Staff+ roles demand open mindedness and an appreciation for diverse design perspectives. Encourage interviewers to listen with curiosity rather than just matching against predefined answers.

Get contacted for a Silicon Valley position, finished screening and onsite (5 rounds). Have not heard back from anybody after 25 days, even after I followed up with the recruiter at the 14 day mark.