Software Engineer - London

As a Software Engineer at Cloudflare in London, you will engage in building and maintaining the software systems that power our extensive global network. Your responsibilities will include developing APIs, ensuring system performance and security, and optimizing traffic handling to enhance user experience. You will also be involved in debugging and troubleshooting to maintain seamless operations across over 25 million Internet properties.

To be a successful Software Engineer at Cloudflare, candidates should possess strong programming skills in various languages, with a preference for Go and Rust. Familiarity with systems-level programming, data structures, and algorithms is essential, alongside a good understanding of security protocols and network systems. An eagerness to learn and adapt in a continuously evolving tech landscape is also highly valued.

Cloudflare's hiring process for Software Engineers is designed to match candidates with teams that best fit their skills and aspirations. After applying, candidates will go through a series of interviews that may involve coding challenges, problem-solving tasks, and discussions about past experiences. At the end of the process, candidates will have the opportunity to meet various teams to find the right fit.

At Cloudflare, Software Engineers tackle a variety of projects such as building high-performance distributed systems, creating reverse-proxy solutions, and optimizing connections for speed and reliability. You might also work on innovative features like serverless functions, data science applications, and systems to filter out malicious traffic, contributing to the enhancement of our Internet services.

Yes, Cloudflare is deeply committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives helps us build better products and a better Internet. The company actively seeks to hire individuals from diverse backgrounds and ensures equal employment opportunities for all applicants, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.

When answering this question, highlight specific instances where you've identified issues in complex systems and your methodical approach to resolve them. Talk about tools you used, the steps you took, and what you learned from the experience. This demonstrates critical thinking and problem-solving skills, both crucial for a Software Engineer at Cloudflare.

In your response, discuss coding standards and practices you follow to write secure code. Mention specific techniques such as code reviews, testing, and using tools for vulnerability assessments. Emphasizing a security-first mindset aligns well with the responsibilities of a Software Engineer at Cloudflare.

Share any practical experience you have with building or maintaining distributed systems. Discuss the challenges you've encountered—like latency or failure resolution—and what strategies you used to overcome them. This showcases your technical depth and how you can contribute to Cloudflare's mission.

Select a project that demonstrates your problem-solving skills and technical abilities. Explain the scope, your specific role, challenges faced, and how you navigated them. This helps interviewers gauge your project management skills and ability to thrive under pressure.

Be honest about your proficiency in programming languages. Explain your preferences, especially if they lie in Go or Rust, and detail how you've leveraged these languages effectively in past projects. This can help interviewers understand your technical fit for Cloudflare.

Describe your approach to time management during high-pressure situations. Provide an example where you successfully met a deadline while maintaining the quality of your work. This illustrates your ability to handle stress—critical for a fast-paced environment like Cloudflare.

Discuss the importance of automated testing and how you use unit tests, integration tests, or even exploratory testing in your work. Highlight any frameworks or tools you're experienced with, as this shows your commitment to delivering reliable solutions.

Share how you actively seek to learn about new trends in the industry—whether through online platforms, communities, or attending workshops. Demonstrating a proactive learning attitude is essential for a role that requires innovation at Cloudflare.

Discuss the importance of understanding network protocols and how they apply to the software you develop. This reflects your holistic understanding of the Internet and the systems Cloudflare relies on, aligning well with the company’s mission.

Convey your enthusiasm for Cloudflare's mission and how your personal values align with corporate values. Highlight specific projects or initiatives at Cloudflare that excite you, showing that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in being part of the team.