20 Roku Interview Questions and Answers

Roku is a company that specializes in streaming for the TV. They aspire to power every TV in the world. As such, they have a lot of company specific interview questions that they use to test applicants. In this article, we will go over some of the most common Roku interview questions and how to answer them.

Roku Interview Process

The interview process at Roku can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require an initial screening, followed by one or more rounds of interviews. The interviews can be either in-person or virtual, and may include a mix of coding questions, system design questions, and behavioral questions. Overall, the interview process is challenging but reasonable.

1. What was the most difficult programming language you had to learn?

This question can help the interviewer determine your ability to learn new things and adapt to different environments. If you have experience with multiple programming languages, it’s a good idea to mention one that was particularly challenging for you and how you overcame those challenges.

Example: “The most difficult language I had to learn was C++ because of its syntax. It took me some time to get used to the way it worked, but once I did, I found it much easier to understand other languages. Now, I find myself using C++ more often than many other languages.”

2. How would you implement a system that can handle 10 million requests per second?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the technical aspects of Roku. You can use this opportunity to show how you would apply your skills and expertise to help the company achieve its goals.

Example: “I would start by creating an architecture that’s highly scalable, meaning it can handle large amounts of traffic without slowing down or crashing. I’d also make sure the system was fault-tolerant, so if one part fails, another takes over. Finally, I’d implement load balancing, which distributes requests across multiple servers.”

3. What is your experience with embedded systems like Roku devices and how they work?

Embedded systems are computerized devices that control a specific function of a larger system. They’re often used in consumer electronics, and your interviewer may want to know if you have experience working with embedded systems like Roku’s operating system. If you don’t have direct experience, consider describing how an embedded system works and what it does.

Example: “I’ve worked on embedded systems before, but I haven’t had the opportunity to work specifically with Roku’s OS. However, I understand that embedded systems are small computers that run software applications. The operating system is the foundation for all other functions of the device, including input and output.”

4. Tell me about a time when you were faced with an unexpected challenge, what did you do?

This question is a great way to assess how you handle challenges and problem-solving. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight your ability to think critically and creatively in order to solve problems.

Example: “When I was working as an IT manager for a small business, the company’s primary server crashed. This meant that all of our computers were down and we couldn’t access any files or programs. The only backup system we had was on the same server, so if we tried to restore from there, everything would have been erased.

I decided to call my friend who worked at a larger company and asked him if he could lend us his backup server until ours was fixed. He agreed, but when we got the new server up and running, we realized that some of our data hadn’t transferred over correctly. We lost about 20% of our information, which was unfortunate, but I’m glad we were able to get back online quickly.”

5. Do you have any experience working with audio/video streaming technologies?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience working with similar technologies to Roku. If you do, share your previous experience and how it helped you in this role.

Example: “I’ve worked with audio/video streaming technologies for over five years now. I started out as an intern at a tech company that specialized in developing audio/video streaming software. There, I learned about the different types of streaming protocols and how they work together to create a seamless user experience. This knowledge has been very helpful in my current position where I’m responsible for creating new features for our streaming platform.”

6. Provide an example of a time where you led a team through a complex project and what challenges you faced along the way.

This question is an opportunity to showcase your leadership skills and ability to work with a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight the importance of teamwork in completing projects successfully.

Example: “In my last role as a software engineer, I led a team of five other engineers through a project that involved creating a new platform for streaming content. This was a complex project because we had to create a brand-new system from scratch. We faced challenges along the way when trying to integrate our new platform into existing systems. However, by working together as a team, we were able to overcome these challenges and complete the project.”

7. If you could change one thing about our software, what would it be and why?

This question is a great way to test your problem-solving skills and ability to think critically. It also allows you to show the interviewer that you have an opinion about their software, which can be beneficial if you’re applying for a position where you’ll need to make changes or implement new features.

Example: “If I could change one thing about Roku’s software, it would be the search function. Currently, when users enter a search term, they get results from all channels, including those that are not free. This means that many users end up paying for content they don’t want. If I were able to change this, I would create a more advanced search function that allowed users to filter by paid and free content.”

8. Describe a technical problem you solved for a client in the past and how you went about solving it.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can apply them to the job. When answering this question, it’s important to be specific about what the issue was and how you solved it.

Example: “In my last position as an IT professional, I had a client who needed help with their Roku streaming device. The customer reported that they were having trouble connecting to the internet through their Roku device. After troubleshooting the issue, I found out that the customer’s router wasn’t broadcasting a strong enough signal for the Roku device to connect to the internet.”

9. The TV landscape has changed drastically over the last decade. How will this affect us as a company in the coming years?

The interviewer may ask this question to gauge your understanding of the current state of streaming and how it relates to Roku. Your answer should show that you understand the company’s place in the industry and how it will continue to grow as a leader in streaming technology.

Example: “The landscape has changed drastically, but I think it’s for the better. Streaming is now more accessible than ever before, which means there are more options for consumers. This also means that companies like Roku have an opportunity to expand their reach and provide even more content to viewers.”

10. What are some features that you think we should add to make Roku more competitive against its competitors?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and how you can help it grow. You should use this opportunity to showcase your creativity, problem-solving skills and ability to think critically about the future of streaming.

Example: “I think that one feature Roku could add would be voice control. I know that Amazon has already implemented this into their devices, but I think it’s important for Roku to stay competitive in the market by offering similar features. Another feature I think would be beneficial is an option to stream content from other apps on my phone or tablet onto the TV screen. This would allow users to access more content without having to switch between different platforms.”

11. What is one feature that you cannot live without on your phone? Why?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential co-workers and how they use their phones. It can also help you determine which features of the Roku app are most important to users. When answering this question, try to think of something that would be useful on the Roku app.

Example: “I cannot live without my phone’s calculator because I am constantly doing math in my head. If I had to choose one feature from the Roku app, it would be the voice search function. I find myself using voice search on my phone all the time when I’m looking for something specific. Having the same functionality on the Roku app would make searching much easier.”

12. You’re going to join a team that’s in charge of developing new products or improving existing ones. We want them to be innovative. What skills do you bring to the table that will help us create these products?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can apply them to the company’s goals.

Example: “I have an analytical mind that helps me understand what customers want, which makes it easier for me to create products they’ll love. I also have experience with customer service, so I know what features are most important to users. This knowledge will help me develop new products that meet their needs.”

13. Tell me about a time when you used data to make a business decision.

This question is a great way to assess your analytical skills and how you use data to make decisions. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of how you used data to help the company achieve its goals or objectives.

Example: “In my last role as a marketing manager for a software company, I was tasked with creating a campaign that would increase sales by 10% in one month. To do this, I analyzed our current customer base and found that we had a lot of customers who were using our product but not purchasing upgrades. After analyzing our database, I discovered that many of these customers were using outdated versions of our software. We then created a special upgrade offer for those customers.”

14. Can you tell us about a time when you worked well under pressure?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your ability to handle stress and tight deadlines. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation that you faced and how you overcame the challenge.

Example: “In my previous role as an IT specialist, I was responsible for maintaining our company’s website. One day, I noticed that the site wasn’t loading properly on some devices. This meant that customers couldn’t access all of our products and services. I immediately began troubleshooting the issue and found out that there was a problem with one of our servers. I worked quickly to fix the server so we could get back up and running.”

15. Are there any areas of improvement that you see at Roku right now?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and how you can help it grow. When answering, make sure to be honest about what you see as an issue but also include ways that you would fix it if you were hired.

Example: “I think one area where Roku could improve is its customer service. I’ve had some issues with my streaming device in the past and found the support team to be less than helpful. They didn’t seem to know much about the product or how to troubleshoot any problems I was having. If I were hired here, I would implement a training program for all customer service representatives so they are better equipped to handle questions from customers.”

16. How would you assess someone else’s code if you were asked to review it?

This question is a great way to assess your ability to work with others and collaborate on projects. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you would approach the task of reviewing someone else’s code and what steps you would take to ensure that the code was functional and efficient.

Example: “I would first ask for an overview of the project and its goals before diving into the code itself. I would then look at the structure of the code and make sure that it follows best practices. After that, I would review each line of code to see if there are any issues or errors in syntax. If there are no problems, I would run tests to ensure that the code functions as intended.”

17. How would you approach customer service issues?

Customer service is an important part of any job, and the interviewer may ask this question to see how you would handle a situation where a customer has a problem with their Roku device. Use your answer to show that you are empathetic and willing to help customers solve problems.

Example: “I believe in treating every customer as if they were my own family member. I would first apologize for the inconvenience and then try to find out what exactly was wrong with the device. If it’s something simple like resetting the device or changing the batteries, I would do so right away. If it’s more complicated, I would offer to send them a new device or arrange for a technician to come by and fix the issue.”

18. Have you ever gone above and beyond for a customer? Tell me about it.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to exceed expectations. When answering this question, think of a time you went above and beyond for a customer or client and the positive outcome that resulted from it.

Example: “I once had a customer who was having trouble streaming on their Roku device. I spent over an hour troubleshooting with them until we figured out the issue. It turned out they needed a new power cord. Once I replaced the cord, the customer was able to stream again. They were so grateful for my help and told me how much they loved using our service.”

19. Our customers love to stream their favorite shows and movies but sometimes run into problems. How would you go about diagnosing problems?

This question is a great way to test your troubleshooting skills. It’s important for any IT professional to be able to solve problems, and this question can help you show the interviewer that you have what it takes to do so.

Example: “I would first try to identify the problem by asking questions about how they’re experiencing issues with streaming. I’d also ask them if they’ve experienced similar issues in the past. If they have, I’ll look at their account history to see if there are any patterns or recurring issues. Once I know what the issue is, I’ll go through my diagnostic process to find out exactly what’s causing the problem.”

20. What is your experience in testing and debugging software?

Debugging is a skill that many software developers need to have. Debugging involves finding and fixing errors in computer code. This question can help the interviewer learn more about your debugging skills and how you apply them to your work.

Example: “I’ve worked on several projects where I needed to debug software. In my last role, I was responsible for testing and debugging new features of our streaming platform. I would test each feature by using it with different devices and checking for any bugs or errors. If I found an error, I would report it to my team lead so they could fix it.”