Work simulation detail
Apify Senior Engineer: Scheduled Actor Runs End-to-End
A PM asks for scheduled Actor runs before a customer deadline. The candidate clarifies and scopes the request, implements a small load-analysis function, reviews a risky dispatch patch, and designs a zero-downtime schema change under rolling deployment for the service the feature ships on. A short experience probe connects the simulated evidence to demonstrated ownership, collaboration, honesty, and learning in real work.
The situation
A PM asks for scheduled Actor runs before a customer deadline. The candidate clarifies and scopes the request, implements a small load-analysis function, reviews a risky dispatch patch, and designs a zero-downtime schema change under rolling deployment for the service the feature ships on. A short experience probe connects the simulated evidence to demonstrated ownership, collaboration, honesty, and learning in real work.
What's assessed
5.1 Clarify before building: User job success and constraints, Mvp cuts and alternative, Product risks and follow through
5.2 Coding & algorithmic reasoning: Coding contract and approach, Correct linear window, Complexity readability and tests
5.3 Code review & defending your own work: Proactive dispatch self review, Async boundedness and failure semantics, Review feedback and focused repair
5.4 System design & architecture: Requirements scale and simple shape, Zero downtime schema change, Observability rollout and ownership
5.5 Holistic ownership & collaboration: Real project ownership, Consequential decision and outcome, Disagreement feedback and adaptation, Learning agility and honesty, Intrinsic motivation and curiosity
How it runs
- Ground the session in real experienceCollect scenario-defined evidence.
- Clarify and scope the PM requestCollect scenario-defined evidence.
- Implement the burst-load functionCollect scenario-defined evidence.
- Self-review and defend your dispatcher patchCollect scenario-defined evidence.
- Design the zero-downtime schema changeCollect scenario-defined evidence.
- Optional unscored questionsCollect scenario-defined evidence.
What weaker answers look like