After being tested and screened by recruiter, I had a phone screening with New York Times HR followed by a phone interview with Tech Lead and a Senior Engineer. Then came an on-site 4-part interview with various members of the technology department followed by an offer.

TL;DR: The recruiter prep did not match the actual interview expectations. If you are interviewing for a frontend focused role, do not assume the system design round can focus on frontend application architecture. Prepare for a normal backend system design interview. This was a Standard process, Round 1: Talk with recruiter Round 2: Talk with manager, initial tech interview. Final Round: Recruiter Prep -> System Design + Behaviorals + Tech Interview -> Recruiter Wrap up The recruiter prep just lets you know how the interviews are going to go and what they'll be over. I tried to take notes but I was told I would get an email with the notes after we chatted so I stopped. I asked if it was ok to focus on the frontend for the system design portion and I was told "of course". Unfortunately, I did not receive those prep notes until I reminded the recruiter, and they arrived about 20 minutes into my first final-round interview. My Sys Design round went very poorly. The interviewers were very confused. I was very confused. The expectations seemed completely different from what I had been told. I should have been ready for a backend focused interview, yes, but this was primarily a frontend role AND I did state at the start I would be focusing on frontend application architecture. Most of the requirements questions I asked were either not really answered or redirected, and the hints/follow-up questions were almost entirely backend focused. I tried to steer the conversation back toward frontend architecture, so the interview became a confusing back and forth.. Hence the confusion. During the wrap up the recruiter acknowledged that it sounded frustrating and said she would talk to the hiring manager. She even mentioned that a redo might be possible, though I understood that was unlikely. I should hear back from her in 1 day even though it usually takes 2-3 days. I followed up after a week, no response. Another week later (around 12 days total) she emails me saying I didn't get the job. That part was disappointing but understandable. What was more frustrating was that there was no mention of whether the issue had been discussed with the hiring manager, no follow up on the possibility of a redo, and no acknowledgment that I had been given misleading guidance during the process. I do not blame the recruiter for my performance in the interview; but keep in mind if you are interviewing here for a frontend role, prepare for a backend focused system design interview anyway.