What It's Like to Be a Software Engineer at Discord
Software Engineers at Discord are responsible for building and maintaining the platform that connects millions of users around the world. They work on a variety of projects, from developing new features for the desktop and mobile apps to scaling the backend infrastructure to support the company's massive user base. The tech stack is diverse and includes Elixir, Go, Python, and Rust on the backend, and React and TypeScript on the frontend.
Salary & Compensation
Based on data from Levels.fyi, the median total compensation for a Software Engineer at Discord is $340,000. This includes a base salary of $258,000, $105,000 in stock, and a $2,000 bonus. Compensation can vary depending on experience and location.
| Level | Base Salary | Total Comp (incl. equity) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (L1-L2) | $134K–$191K | $154K–$245K |
| Mid (L3-L4) | $191K–$287K | $245K–$449K |
| Senior (L5+) | $287K+ | $449K+ |
Interview Process
The interview process at Discord for a Software Engineer 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 technical screen with a software engineer, typically involving a coding challenge on a platform like CoderPad.
- Onsite/Virtual Loop — A series of 4-5 interviews with members of the team, including a mix of technical and behavioral questions.
- Hiring Committee — A final review by a hiring committee.
How to Stand Out
- Passion for the product: Discord is a product-driven company, so be prepared to talk about why you're passionate about the product and how you would improve it.
- Strong technical skills: The company has a high bar for technical talent, so make sure you're up-to-date on your skills in distributed systems, real-time communication, and other relevant areas.
- Experience with scale: Discord operates at a massive scale, so experience with building and maintaining large-scale systems is a plus.
- Collaborative spirit: The company has a very collaborative culture, so be prepared to talk about how you work with others.