What does a Software Engineer do at Google or Facebook?

Working at Facebook, Google is the goal and dream of many engineers. The main reason is that these companies offer a lot of perks, attractive salaries, and benefits.

But, you should know exactly what you are going to do at big tech like Google and Facebook. Understanding the role of this position will give you some good ideas to prepare for your following interview.

In general, the role of a software engineer is almost the same in every company. But, there is still a slight difference in this role at Google and Facebook.

What Does a Software Engineer Do at Google?

Google office

Working at Google is much more complicated than other companies. 

You probably won’t have to work with all the features of an app. Yet, you will have the opportunity to develop the front-end, the back-end of an algorithm. Of course, it depends on your expertise and qualifications.

As a software engineer, you will have unlimited responsibilities in the areas:

  • Write and build the code
  • Write unit-tests
  • Review peer’s code changes
  • Run tests & debug failures
  • Debug the problems which arise in production
  • Read & write bug reports
  • Read & write design documents

At this great company, you will most likely work with a great product offered by this company, which you probably use every day, such as:

  • Google Docs
  • Google Maps
  • Google Search
  • Gmail
  • GCP (Google Cloud Platform)
  • Android
  • Google Play Store
  • Google Chrome

What Does a Software Engineer Do at Facebook?

Facebook office

As a Facebook engineer, you will improve, maintain, and develop applications and software.

You will likely work in various roles across the company’s suite of applications and software, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and so on.

You may be responsible for specific functions or applications of the software, for example, the Android operating system, virtual reality, or cryptocurrency.

By coding in various programming languages, you will be at the core of the innovation powered by Facebook.

In addition, you will also be tasked with bringing new features and products to market and maintaining the performance and stability of existing systems.

Is Working at Facebook Worth It?

The answer is obviously yes. Many software engineers work hard to get a job at this company for many good reasons. According to a 2020 survey, Facebook employees rank 8th for the happiest employees in the United States.

In addition to receiving a competitive salary and bonus, Facebook employees can enjoy many other perks:

1. Family

It includes maternity benefits, assisted reproduction and family planning, dependent care support, and “baby cash” grants.

2. Health and Wellness

You will get medical, transgender, dental, and mental health support. The company will even cover some sports and gym fees for you.

3. Finance

You will receive a competitive retirement plan, life insurance, tax consultation, legal support, access to TurboTax, and more.

4. Time Away

You are entitled to 21 days of paid leave per year and 30 days of long-term leave after 5 years. In addition, you will also enjoy sick days when required and eleven annual company holidays.

5. Other Perks

If you have to leave your old residence to work for this company, you may receive a relocation bonus and other compensation. As a result, you can quickly settle into your new place.

If you work at its headquarters (in Menlo Park, CA), you also have access to many on-site services, including:

  •  Free meals
  • Valet parking
  • Dental services
  • Free electric-car charging
  • A bicycle repair shop
  • A barbershop
  • A video game arcade
  • Dry cleaning services
  • and more
software engineering team meeting

Is Working at Google Worth It?

You will enjoy many perks and benefits while working at this tech company, including:

1. Attractive Salary

There is no denying that Google is one of the highest-paying tech companies today.

2. Work-life Balance

As an employee of this company, you will be entitled to legal holidays, vacations, extra leaves, personal events, or sick leaves.

3. Working with Multiple Platforms

The company has many exciting platforms available to which you can contribute, such as Search, Docs, and Android.

Is It Difficult to Get a Job at Google?

This company offers attractive remuneration and great perks. However, it is not easy to get a job at this company. 

The reason is that they tend to hire the best of the best. In addition, this company also receives tons of job applications every year, making it a lot harder to get a job in this company.

However, getting a job at this company is not impossible. So, always work hard to make your dreams come true.

Is It Difficult to Get a Job at Facebook?

Landing a job at this company is challenging. It is one of the most iconic tech companies to work for now. 

So, the standards of this company are high, and you have to consider the competition as many highly-skilled individuals at this company.

But, nothing is impossible, even if we are talking about getting a job at this social media giant.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long are Google Engineer interviews?

The duration of each interview round can be from half an hour to 45 minutes, depending on the round. So, the overall time of the hiring process can range from a few weeks to several months.

2. What Is the Entry-Level Salary at Facebook?

The lowest software engineer level at Facebook is E3. Entry-level E3 remuneration is a total of 178,000 dollars, including stock options and bonuses. 

3. What Are the Levels at Facebook?

The six standard levels that this company follows are:

  • Level 1 – E3
  • Level 2 – E4
  • Level 3 – E5
  • Level 4 – E6
  • Level 5 – E7
  • Level 6 – E8

Conclusion

Both Facebook and Google want to attract the best software engineers. Therefore, they always provide the best treatment for their employees. 

Of course, getting a job at these companies is not easy. It means you have to put in a lot of effort to attract employers.