Xero Software Engineer interview: live coding and a role closed after later rounds

After an HR screen, most of the process involved hands-on work and live interviews. I solved a typical algorithms question in a live HackerRank round, then laid out a high-level system design and explained my decisions. A hiring-manager discussion covered behavior and team fit, particularly how I handled conflict and resolved problems. At times, I felt they were testing my collaboration as closely as my technical reasoning.

The process felt intense. The questions were presented as difficult, and timing mattered. At one stage it seemed to be moving forward, but things went quiet after a verbal conversation. A later call explained that the role was no longer available because of restructuring or repurposing. I never received a final offer.

I'd invested a lot of time across several rounds, so it was disappointing to have it end for reasons outside the interviews. What stayed with me was the contrast between all the effort spent evaluating me through the later stages and how abruptly the process stopped.

Location: Auckland, Auckland. Overall feedback: neutral. Offer status: no offer.