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Grammarly's Interview Process (2026)

Blog / Grammarly's Interview Process (2026)

Grammarly's software engineer interview process is structured and values-driven, typically spanning 4 to 8 weeks across 5 to 6 distinct stages. Most candidates report a consistent loop, though the exact format can vary by team and level.

Recruiter Screen: A 30-minute conversation covering your background, experience, and general fit. Recruiters typically address hybrid work expectations early, so be ready to discuss your location and office availability.
Online Assessment: A timed coding assessment, usually on HackerRank, featuring around 2 to 3 problems focused on data structures, algorithms, and CS fundamentals.
Technical Phone Screen: A live coding session with a peer engineer on a shared platform like CoderPad, lasting around 60 minutes and focused on problem-solving and code quality.
Virtual Onsite: A series of 3 to 5 rounds, often spread across two days, covering advanced coding, system design, a deep-dive into your past work, and a values-based behavioral interview.
Hiring Manager Round: A final conversation with the hiring or top manager to assess team fit and discuss role-specific expectations.

To prepare effectively for Grammarly's SWE loop, focus your study plan across these key areas:

Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA): Coding problems tested across the online assessment and technical phone screen, covering strings, graphs, trees, and dynamic programming.
System Design: Architectural discussions focused on scalability and real-world product thinking, commonly featuring Grammarly-specific prompts.
Behavioral & Values: Two distinct rounds assessing both your past project impact and alignment with Grammarly's EAGER values framework.

1. Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA)Grammarly tests DSA across two stages: the online assessment and the technical phone screen. The OA typically features 2 to 3 problems, while the phone screen involves a single live coding problem with discussion.Dynamic programming comes up regularly in the OA. Candidates have reported seeing Climbing Stairs and string-based DP variants, so it's worth brushing up on classic patterns before you sit down.Graph and tree problems appear in both the OA and the phone screen. Reported questions include Clone Graph and Minimum Time Difference, as well as problems involving DAG path-finding and ternary tree traversals. Brush up on graphs and trees as a priority.String manipulation is another recurring theme. Candidates have reported problems like Remove All Adjacent Duplicates In String and a custom "Merge Correction" algorithm for text offsets, which reflects Grammarly's product domain. For a broad foundation, work through our top 100 DSA questions to cover all major patterns efficiently.In the onsite's Technical Coding II round, expect implementation-style problems with real tradeoffs. A commonly reported prompt is building a rate limiter that allows n requests per time unit, which maps closely to our Word Break II and dynamic programming questions practice areas.

2. System DesignSystem design is a core part of Grammarly's virtual onsite and is grounded in real product scenarios. You are expected to go beyond basic architecture and discuss scalability tradeoffs, failure modes, and how your design affects actual users.Commonly reported prompts include designing a real-time grammar correction service, a collaborative document editor, and a scalable notification system. Our Notification System and Messaging App walkthroughs are directly relevant starting points.The rate limiter is another design that comes up frequently, both as a coding implementation and as a system design discussion. Work through our Rate Limiter solution to understand the token bucket and sliding window approaches at scale.For foundational prep, review system design core concepts and networking fundamentals, particularly WebSockets and SSE, since Grammarly's prompts often involve real-time communication. Practice drawing out architectures using our System Design Whiteboard to build confidence before the actual session.

3. Behavioral & ValuesGrammarly runs two separate rounds that fall under the behavioral umbrella, and they are quite different from each other. It helps to treat them as two distinct preparation tasks.The Experience and Impact round is a 45 to 60 minute deep-dive into two specific past projects you choose in advance. You need to articulate your technical decisions, the challenges you faced, and the measurable outcomes. Using the STAR principle is highly recommended here, with a strong focus on quantified results like latency improvements or user engagement lifts.The EAGER values interview assesses how you embody Grammarly's five core values: Ethical, Adaptable, Gritty, Empathetic, and Remarkable. Questions typically explore how you handle conflict, respond to changing requirements, and maintain standards under pressure. Prepare specific stories for each value rather than generic answers.For structured practice across both rounds, the Behavioral Interview Course and Behavioral Playbook are good resources to build and refine your story bank before the onsite.

ConclusionGrammarly's process rewards candidates who think like product engineers, not just coders. Start with the DSA and system design foundations, prepare two strong project deep-dives for the Experience and Impact round, and have clear stories ready for each EAGER value. For a step-by-step plan that ties it all together, follow the Grammarly Interview Roadmap and work through each stage with a clear focus.