01 · scope
- Does this replace our loop?
- No. It's one stage. Most clients slot it after the final technical screen, before offer.
- What roles does it cover?
- Software engineers from mid-level to staff, across backend, frontend, full stack, infrastructure, and data. If your role is outside that, ask. We would rather say no than run a session we cannot calibrate.
- Do you give a hire or no-hire recommendation?
- No. The report contains structured observations against a documented rubric. Your team makes the call, and it should.
- Can the session cover our specific codebase?
- Not your code. The exercise is shaped like your domain and stack, built during onboarding, and kept fixed across candidates so the observations stay comparable.
02 · scheduling
- How fast can you see a candidate?
- Standard is within 5 business days of the request. Rush, urgent, and same-day options are on the pricing page.
- What if the candidate is remote?
- They come to San Francisco, or you wait until they're passing through. Bay Area candidates are the core case. We'll tell you honestly if your pipeline doesn't fit.
- Do you cover travel?
- No. The session is in our downtown San Francisco office. Companies that want to fly a finalist in usually do so alongside a day of onsite meetings.
- What if they no-show?
- Under 24 hours' notice bills at half. Retainer clients don't think about this.
- Which ATSs do you support?
- Greenhouse, Ashby, and Lever. The round shows up as a normal interview stage with a scorecard. If you use something else, we can still schedule by email.
03 · the report
- When does the report arrive?
- Within 24 hours of the session ending. In practice, the next morning.
- What is in it?
- A header confirming the ID check, structured observations across five dimensions with a level for each, a short examiner note, and a signature. There is a full sample on this site.
- Is the session recorded?
- No audio or video. The examiner takes notes, and the code the candidate writes is retained with the report.
- Can we talk to the examiner?
- Yes. A 30-minute live debrief is included on every retainer and available for $300 otherwise.
04 · legal and compliance
- Is this legal to use in hiring decisions?
- The report contains structured observations against a documented rubric, and your team makes the decision. Run it past your employment counsel; we're happy to join that call.
- Do you sign NDAs and DPAs?
- Yes to both. Send yours or ask for ours.
- Are you SOC 2 certified?
- Not yet. We are a small firm that opened in September 2026. We will complete your security questionnaire and pursue certification when a client requires it.
- How is candidate data handled?
- The trust page describes exactly what we collect, how long we keep it, and what we never store. The short version: no ID copies, no recordings, and everything deleted after 12 months or sooner on request.
05 · candidates
- What do candidates think?
- The session is framed as a working session with a senior engineer, because that's what it is. AI tools are allowed. We track candidate feedback and will share it.
- What does the candidate need to bring?
- A government-issued photo ID. Their own laptop if they prefer it. Everything else is in the room.
- Can candidates use AI tools?
- Yes, and we expect it. How they use the tools is one of the five things we observe.