What It's Like to Be a Software Engineer at Grammarly
As a software engineer at Grammarly, you'll be working on a product that is used by millions of people every day. You'll be part of a team that is passionate about using technology to help people communicate more effectively. The engineering team at Grammarly is divided into several smaller teams, each focused on a specific area of the product, such as the Grammarly Editor, the browser extension, or the mobile app. The tech stack is diverse, with a mix of technologies including React, Vue.js, and various backend technologies. They are also heavily invested in machine learning and natural language processing, so there are plenty of opportunities to work on cutting-edge AI-powered features.
Grammarly has a strong engineering culture, with a focus on collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. You'll be working with a talented team of engineers, product managers, and designers to build and ship features that have a real impact on the lives of our users. The company also has a strong commitment to open source, and you'll have the opportunity to contribute to projects that are used by the wider community.
Salary & Compensation
Grammarly is known for offering very competitive salaries, especially for a company of its size. Here's a general breakdown of what you can expect for a software engineering role in San Francisco:
| Level | Base Salary | Total Comp (incl. equity) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (L1-L2) | $150K–$200K | $200K–$300K |
| Mid (L3-L4) | $200K–$250K | $300K–$400K |
| Senior (L5+) | $250K–$300K | $400K–$500K+ |
Interview Process
The interview process at Grammarly is known for being rigorous, but also for being a positive experience. It typically consists of 4-5 rounds:
- Recruiter Screen — A 30-minute call with a recruiter to discuss your background and interest in the role.
- Technical Phone Screen — A 60-minute coding interview with a software engineer. You can expect a LeetCode-style question.
- Onsite/Virtual Loop — A series of 4-5 interviews with engineers and managers. This will include a mix of coding, system design, and behavioral questions.
- Hiring Manager Interview — A final interview with the hiring manager to discuss your career goals and fit with the team.
How to Stand Out
- Show your passion for communication. Grammarly is a company that is passionate about helping people communicate more effectively. Show that you share that passion.
- Brush up on your machine learning and NLP skills. Even if you're not applying for a machine learning role, showing that you have a basic understanding of these technologies will be a big plus.
- Practice your system design skills. As Grammarly continues to scale, system design is becoming increasingly important.
- Be prepared to talk about your past projects. Grammarly wants to see that you can take a project from idea to completion.
