iOS Engineer at Airbnb

How it went

What they would tell you

How to prepare

Round by round

1. 1

   Technical Phone Screen60 min

   The interviewer gave me a task to build a simple app that hits an API and displays the results. It wasn’t about tricky algorithms or obscure iOS libraries, but about testing basic iOS networking and UI handling. Task Details:

   • Networking: Used URLSession to fetch data.
   • Data Parsing: Implemented Codable to decode the data received.
   • UI: Displayed the results using UITableView or UICollectionView. The interviewer was supportive throughout, offering hints when I got stuck. The questions also delved into my decisions, like why I chose URLSession over Alamofire, or why Codable was the best fit for decoding the response.
2. 2

   Technical iOS Round60 min

   The interviewer gave me a practical problem to programmatically create a UICollectionView inside a UITableViewCell. While this might sound straightforward, it required me to explain how I would handle view lifecycle, cell reuse, delegation, and performance considerations when working with dynamic content. In my interview, these were the key topics discussed and the approach I took to tackle them,

   • UICollectionView in UITableViewCell: Explained how to handle cell reuse and Auto Layout constraints.
   • Delegates & Data Source: Discussed managing data sources and delegates across nested UI components.
   • Performance: Talked about how to optimize the performance of scrolling lists when dealing with large datasets. Make sure you understand Auto Layout, cell reuse, and delegation in-depth. This question tests your knowledge of UIKit fundamentals.
3. 3

   Architecture/System Design Round60 min

   This round was more conceptual and focused on iOS architecture. I was asked to design a scalable iOS module, discussing modularization, MVVM architecture, and dependency injection.

   • Modularization: Emphasized breaking down components into smaller, reusable modules.
   • MVVM Pattern: Discussed how MVVM fits well in iOS apps and why it’s beneficial for scalability.
   • Testing & Dependency Injection: Proposed strategies for writing unit tests and managing dependencies using Swinject or Dagger.
4. 4

   Behavioral Interview60 min

   The interviewer was keen on understanding how I handle challenges and collaborate with teams, particularly in situations that test both technical and interpersonal skills. I shared an experience where I had a disagreement with a product manager about priorities. I explained how I used data-driven arguments to make my case and how we eventually found common ground, aligning on a solution that worked for both of us. We also talked about my experience mentoring a junior developer. I explained how I helped them grow by offering constructive feedback and creating a collaborative environment where they felt comfortable asking questions and taking on challenges.

5. 5

   Leadership + Company Fit43 min

   The final round focused on whether I aligned with Airbnb’s values, such as Humility, Empathy, Adaptability, and Transparency. The interviewer was genuinely interested in how I would fit into their team culture and how I would contribute to company values.

   • Company Values: Discussed how I align with Airbnb’s values and how I can contribute to a positive team culture.
   • Leadership: The interviewer asked how I would mentor juniors and help with team growth.

What came up