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Fabian Hinsenkamp | Senior Software Engineer @Microsoft

It's 2024 and this is the year, you finally land your dream job in big tech. Hiring season has already started.  

Do you want to make the next big step in your software engineering career and land a a job at one of the big tech company like Google, Facebook,  Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, or other tech-savvy companies? But, you don't have any idea how to even start systematically prepare for the system design interview? Then this course is for you.

This course is taught by an experiences senior software engineer who landed a job in big tech just after going through the same as go you through right now.

Read more

It's 2024 and this is the year, you finally land your dream job in big tech. Hiring season has already started.  

Do you want to make the next big step in your software engineering career and land a a job at one of the big tech company like Google, Facebook,  Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, or other tech-savvy companies? But, you don't have any idea how to even start systematically prepare for the system design interview? Then this course is for you.

This course is taught by an experiences senior software engineer who landed a job in big tech just after going through the same as go you through right now.

Only a minority of developers today own a computer science degree, many more are "self taught" or boot camp graduates. Many feel intimidated by the system design interviews of big tech as topics large-scale architecture and design patterns you will barely learn from day-to-day coding experience.

This course allow to catch up and learn enough system design fundamentals to get through the interview, without drowning students in endless theory lessons.

Included in the course fee is your access to a private online community to find fellow students to discuss system design question and find a sparring partner for mock interviews.

In this course you will learn the following: 

This course covers all commonly discussed systems.

I help you to understand what's the expectation and take you on a deep-dive into all commonly discussed systems within the system design interview.

  • Netflix

  • Youtube

  • Amazon

  • Dropbox

  • Instagram

  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Whatsapp

Learn the interview structure hands-on.

For each system we walk through the entire interview structure together step-by-step:

1. Functional Requirements Engineering   

2. Non-Functional Requirements Engineering

3. Capacity Estimations

4. Data Model Design

5. System Design

6. Component Design

All Technologies, Architectures and Patterns are explained, no prior experience needed.

We will draw each of these real-world systems and discuss all design choices made. I introduce all technologies, architectures and patterns we come across:

  • Micros Services

  • Load Balancer

  • Servers & Clients

  • Databases

  • Message Broker

  • Many More

Drill-down to Component Level Design

The course is intended to go beyond covering the bare minimum of knowledge to barely pass the interview. I cover enough depth so you feel confident to handle any bar raiser question your interviewer might come up with. That's why we will down the the component level design to make sure you have some backup knowledge to shine with.  

Disclaimer: This course is applied.

You won't be asked to just lean back and enjoy the show. I leverage Excalidraw, the great collaborative white board tool to draw to help you actively follow the course, make up your own mind about each design and draw it the way you believe would be best.

  Who is your Instructor?

I am an experienced instructor with more than 10.000 taught students on Udemy alone. I am also a senior software engineer working in big tech. I have gone through the same interview process myself and I also conduct interviews from the other side of the table. Moreover, I design system architectures on a daily bases.

My goal is to teach you everything it takes for you to master your system design interview with confidence and ease.

You don't have to be an expert in any of it to get started.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Develop a deeper understanding of architecture principles and design patterns, which will enhance your overall software engineering skills and knowledge.
  • Become more confident and well-prepared to tackle any system design interview with ease and effectiveness, gaining a competitive edge.
  • Differentiate yourself from other candidates and increase your chances of landing your dream job in big tech.
  • Knowledge of functional and non-functional requirements engineering and capacity estimation in system design.
  • Gain hands-on experience with component-level system design and real-world application through 10 mock interview challenges.
  • Pursue more rewarding career opportunities in the tech industry, max-out your earning potential!

Syllabus

Mock Interview: Todo List
Intro
Requirements
Deep-dive: Notifications
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers commonly discussed systems like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon, which are relevant examples for system design interviews
Explores technologies, architectures, and patterns, including microservices, load balancers, and message brokers, which are essential for modern system design
Includes access to a private online community, which allows learners to discuss system design questions and find partners for mock interviews
Walks through the entire interview structure step-by-step, from functional requirements to component design, which mirrors the interview process
Leverages Excalidraw, a collaborative whiteboard tool, which encourages active participation and personalized design thinking
Features mock interviews for systems like Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp, which provides practical experience with real-world scenarios

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Reviews summary

Bigtech system design interview bootcamp

According to learners, this course is a highly effective resource for preparing for BigTech system design interviews. Students praise its structured approach, breaking down complex problems step-by-step, and the focus on real-world system examples like Netflix and YouTube. Many found the mock interview walkthroughs particularly valuable for understanding the process. The instructor is frequently described as clear and knowledgeable. While broadly positive, some reviewers note that certain deep dives could go into more detail and that the course might require supplementary learning depending on your background, suggesting it's a strong foundation rather than an exhaustive guide.
Helps learners feel more prepared for interviews.
"It truly boosted my confidence. Worth every penny."
"I feel much more prepared now."
Demonstrates the interview process effectively.
"The mock interviews walk-throughs were spot on."
"The mock interviews are particularly useful to see the process in action."
"The mock interviews were helpful."
Uses well-known systems to illustrate concepts.
"The deep dives into real-world systems like Netflix and YouTube were invaluable."
"The coverage of common systems is thorough, and explaining technologies like message queues, CDNs, etc., in context is very effective."
"The real-world examples are perfect for illustrating concepts."
"The real-world case studies are the highlight."
Content is organized logically and explained well.
"The instructor is clear, knowledgeable, and structured the content logically."
"The step-by-step approach to solving problems, from requirements gathering to component design, is incredibly helpful."
"The structure is good, breaking down complex systems into manageable parts. The instructor explains concepts well."
"I appreciated the structure covering requirements, estimation, data modeling, etc."
Directly addresses the needs of interview preparation.
"Absolutely stellar course! This is exactly what I needed to bridge the gap between typical SWE work and the depth required for BigTech system design interviews."
"Fantastic preparation resource. The course covers all the essential topics comprehensively..."
"As someone targeting FAANG, this course was a game changer. It provided the necessary framework and examples to approach system design questions systematically."
"Very practical and focused on what's needed for interviews."
Some topics might require additional study.
"My only minor criticism is that some deep dives could go a *little* bit deeper on specific technologies..."
"Some sections felt a bit rushed, especially the component design parts. I had to supplement with external resources..."
"If you already have some background, it might not offer enough advanced insights... it's decent as a starting point or quick refresher."
"I found myself needing to look up details on specific technologies and patterns quite often. It's a decent primer but not a deep dive..."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The "BigTech" System Design Interview Bootcamp with these activities:
Review Database Concepts
Reviewing database concepts will help you understand the data storage and retrieval mechanisms discussed in the course.
Browse courses on Relational Databases
Show steps
  • Review the differences between SQL and NoSQL databases.
  • Study ACID and BASE properties.
  • Practice designing simple database schemas.
Read 'System Design Interview – An Insider's Guide'
Reading this book will help you prepare for system design interviews.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to common system design questions.
  • Practice solving the problems presented in the book.
  • Reflect on how the solutions can be applied to other systems.
Read 'Designing Data-Intensive Applications'
Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of the underlying principles of system design.
View Secret Colors on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to data storage and retrieval.
  • Take notes on key concepts and technologies.
  • Reflect on how these concepts apply to the systems discussed in the course.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Capacity Estimation
Practicing capacity estimation will help you develop the skills needed to estimate the resources required for a system.
Show steps
  • Review the capacity estimation techniques discussed in the course.
  • Find practice problems online or create your own.
  • Estimate the resources required for different systems.
  • Compare your estimates with the actual resources used by those systems.
Participate in Mock Interviews
Participating in mock interviews will help you practice your system design skills and get feedback from others.
Show steps
  • Find a partner to conduct mock interviews with.
  • Take turns interviewing each other.
  • Provide constructive feedback to each other.
  • Focus on communication, problem-solving, and technical skills.
Design a URL Shortener
Designing a URL shortener will allow you to apply the concepts learned in the course to a real-world problem.
Show steps
  • Define the functional and non-functional requirements.
  • Design the data model and API.
  • Implement the system using a programming language of your choice.
  • Test the system for scalability and reliability.
Create a System Design Portfolio
Creating a portfolio will showcase your system design skills to potential employers.
Show steps
  • Choose 2-3 systems that you have designed.
  • Document the design process, including the requirements, data model, and architecture.
  • Create diagrams to illustrate the system design.
  • Publish your portfolio online.

Career center

Learners who complete The "BigTech" System Design Interview Bootcamp will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Software Engineer
A software engineer designs, develops, and maintains software systems. This course helps build a foundation for tackling system design interviews, a crucial part of the hiring process for many software engineering roles, especially at large tech companies. The in-depth exploration of various systems, such as Netflix and Youtube, provides practical knowledge relevant to the daily work of a software engineer. The course's emphasis on component-level design and real world application through mock interviews is invaluable for a software engineer aiming to excel. This course provides a structured approach to mastering system design principles, which are often considered difficult without formal training. The course also emphasizes active participation, which is an important skill for working on a software engineering team.
Systems Architect
A systems architect is responsible for designing the overall structure of a software system. They make high-level decisions about technology and system design. The "BigTech" System Design Interview Bootcamp directly aligns with the work of a systems architect. This course helps prepare one for the kind of thinking required to design highly scalable and efficient systems. The course covers key architectural concepts like microservices, load balancers, and databases, and it goes deep into real-world examples like Netflix and Dropbox. Aspiring systems architects will find the practical focus, mock interviews and the component-level design aspects of the course particularly useful. The course provides an efficient way to acquire vital system design knowledge. An aspiring systems architect will gain a competitive edge and be well-prepared for the challenges of the job market.
Backend Engineer
A backend engineer focuses on the server-side logic, databases, and APIs of a software application. This course may be useful to any aspiring backend engineer as it provides a thorough understanding of how backend systems function. The course explores databases, message brokers, and other technologies crucial for backend development. The practical approach of the course, with its focus on real-world systems like Amazon and Twitter, provides valuable context. A backend engineer needs to master concepts like capacity estimation, data model design, and API design, all of which this course covers in detail. The course further explores design choices, and patterns. This course is a direct resource to backend engineers looking to strengthen their system design expertise.
Solutions Architect
A solutions architect designs and implements solutions to complex business problems using technology. This role requires a broad understanding of different systems and how they interact. The "BigTech" System Design Interview Bootcamp is directly relevant because it covers various system architectures and explores core technologies. The course may be useful as it dives into real-world examples, such as Instagram and WhatsApp, which helps develop skills in designing complete systems. The structured approach to system design will assist in the work of a solutions architect, and the hands-on exercises will build a practical understanding. This course may help improve the critical thinking and problem-solving abilities of a solutions architect. The course helps in preparing one to tackle the challenges of the role.
Cloud Engineer
A cloud engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing cloud-based systems. This course may be useful for those looking to become a cloud engineer as it covers fundamental concepts regarding system design and architecture relevant to large-scale systems. The course may be useful to an aspiring cloud engineer as it delves into architectures, patterns, and technologies used in cloud-based systems. The course also covers design choices and technologies like load balancers and databases that are essential in cloud environments. The hands-on nature of this course will help in building skills necessary for cloud system design. A cloud engineer may find the course to be a valuable resource as it helps one to understand system design fundamentals.
Technical Lead
A technical lead guides a development team. This role needs a deep understanding of system architecture and design. This course may be useful to a technical lead, helping them to understand how to build scalable and robust systems. The course's detailed coverage of system components and design patterns enables a technical lead to make better technical decisions. The course may be useful to hone communication skills as one will engage in discussions about system design. A technical lead should seek opportunities to improve and refresh knowledge of system design, and this course can help them achieve this goal. The hands-on activities, such as mock interviews and collaborative drawing, give additional insights into system design.
Data Engineer
A data engineer builds and maintains data pipelines and infrastructure. It enables data analysis, machine learning and other data-related tasks. This course may be useful for a data engineer because of its focus on data models and database design. The course helps gain an improved understanding of distributed systems, which is crucial for large-scale data processing. Additionally, data engineers work with various data storage and retrieval systems that a data engineer would benefit from learning about. Data engineers need to efficiently prepare, manage, store, and deliver data for various use cases, and this course may be useful for building a foundation for these tasks. This course may help a data engineer to understand system design principles.
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps engineer works to streamline the software development lifecycle. This role focuses on system deployment and maintenance. This course may be useful as it introduces architectural concepts and patterns common in large-scale systems. The course will help to ensure a better understanding of how different components interact with each other. A DevOps engineer needs to understand system design principles to optimize infrastructure, manage deployment pipelines, and monitor system performance. This course may be useful to understanding these principles, and would help a DevOps engineer identify potential bottlenecks. The course touches on essential components like load balancers, servers, and databases, which are fundamental to a DevOps engineer’s daily tasks.
Database Administrator
A database administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining database systems. This role requires a strong understanding of database design, architecture, and performance. This course may be useful because it covers various database technologies and aspects of data modeling, which is fundamental to a database administrator. The course helps build an improved understanding of how databases interact with other system components. The course may help a database administrator to understand system design principles at a higher level. The course contains a discussion of various database types, such as relational and non-relational, which is relevant to the responsibilities of a database administrator. The system design insights offered by this course may be helpful.
Technical Project Manager
A technical project manager oversees software development projects, ensuring projects are completed on time and in budget. They need an understanding of software systems and technologies. This course may be useful as it provides a conceptual overview of system architectures, allowing technical project managers to better communicate with development teams. The course’s coverage of how each system works may be useful for project planning and resource allocation. The system design principles and practices taught in this course may help a technical project manager grasp how development tasks come together as a cohesive product. While not directly involved in coding, a technical project manager can use this course to improve communication.
Product Manager
A product manager defines the vision, strategy, and roadmap for a product. This role also requires some understanding of the technical aspects of a system. This course may be useful for a product manager seeking to improve their understanding of the technical side of product development, especially in relation to system design. The course's exploration of different systems, like Netflix and YouTube, offers insight into the technical complexities of such platform. It enables a product manager to better translate user needs into actionable requirements for a development team. A product manager may find the discussions about each design choice to be particularly insightful. This course may help to be a more effective product manager, particularly in tech-focused environments.
IT Consultant
An IT consultant advises organizations on how to use technology to meet their business goals. This may involve suggesting solutions to technical problems. This course may be useful for an IT consultant as it covers system design principles and how different technologies integrate. The course may also facilitate understanding the architecture of large-scale systems. This course helps provide a foundation for understanding system requirements, capacity estimation, and potential solutions. The course’s case studies of well known technology companies may be useful for an IT consultant. In particular, the course will help provide an IT consultant with actionable knowledge on technology and system design. Gaining this knowledge will help an IT consultant better advise their clients.
Quality Assurance Engineer
A quality assurance engineer tests software to ensure its quality and functionality. This role requires an understanding of how systems are designed. This course may be helpful to a quality assurance engineer to understand how components work together. The course's focus on real world systems can help a quality assurance engineer develop test cases that adequately exercise all facets of a given system. The course's emphasis on various system components such as databases, servers, and message brokers may help a quality assurance engineer to better understand which areas of a system to focus on. This course may help a quality assurance engineer to improve their test design skills.
Technical Writer
A technical writer creates documentation for software systems. This role requires some understanding of system architecture. This course may be useful for a technical writer as it offers a good look at the inner workings of system architecture and design. The various interviews and design discussions may help provide a technical writer a better understanding for their documentation. The deep dive into component level design and real-world applications of the course may be helpful to a technical writer. A technical writer may find the course to be a helpful source for understanding how different systems interact. This course may be useful for crafting clear, concise, and accurate technical documentation.
Sales Engineer
A sales engineer provides technical expertise to support the sales process. This role requires an understanding of technology and system design. This course may be useful for a sales engineer by giving them more context about large-scale system design. This course's focus on system design will help a sales engineer articulate technical solutions, particularly when discussing the capabilities of a product or service. The ability to discuss system design, architectures, and patterns learned in the course may enable a sales engineer to more comfortably interact with potential customers. This course may be useful for a sales engineer by enabling them to speak more fluently about a product's technical aspects.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The "BigTech" System Design Interview Bootcamp.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the concepts and technologies used in building scalable and reliable systems. It covers topics such as data storage, data processing, and distributed systems. This book is highly recommended as it provides a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of system design. It is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals.
Provides a practical guide to preparing for system design interviews. It covers common system design questions and provides step-by-step solutions. This book is particularly useful for understanding the interview process and developing a structured approach to solving system design problems. It valuable resource for anyone preparing for system design interviews at big tech companies.

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