I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Aktos (Ottawa, ON) in Jan 2025
Interview
A common interview with common questions that would be expected of a such position touching topics of algorithms and open-ended technical aspects of product feature design and implementation on an example of existing product feature they already built
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How would you design a system for UI blocks arrangement and how it can be made updatable if we add new features
The interview process with Aktos fell far below expectations — both in terms of how it was conducted and the overall transparency of the company.
From the outset, Aktos presents itself as a promising startup founded by ex-Google, TikTok, and Meta engineers, which naturally sets high expectations around professionalism and clarity. But what was encountered was quite the opposite.
The technical interview was conducted by individuals who showed no interest in creating a welcoming or constructive environment. Their tone was cold, their responses were mostly monosyllabic, and there was a complete lack of empathy or engagement. It felt more like an interrogation than a conversation. For a company supposedly focused on innovation and talent, this kind of attitude is both off-putting and unprofessional.
Beyond the interview itself, what raised even more concerns was the lack of verifiable information about the team. Many of the supposed team members either have incomplete LinkedIn profiles or no profiles at all. Most notably, a person featured in an official article — “A Day in the Life at Aktos with Alvaro Atienza” — as a Staff SRE no longer has a visible LinkedIn presence. The profile that was previously associated with him () is now unavailable. It raises a fair question: does this person still work there, did they ever work there, and do they even exist in the context claimed by the article? Based on the available evidence, the answer is likely no.
This combination of cold, detached interviewing, lack of team transparency, and questionable public representation may reflect deeper issues — such as possible immaturity in leadership, a potentially toxic or unstructured work environment, and even poor architectural or technological choices that could make daily work unnecessarily difficult for those who join.
All in all, the experience gave the impression of a disorganized and opaque company, with a hiring process that prioritizes pressure and detachment over mutual understanding and professional rapport. Interviews should be a two-way street — a chance for both sides to evaluate whether there’s a fit. Unfortunately, in this case, Aktos showed little interest in that kind of exchange.
While caution is advised when considering this company, it goes further than that: I personally do not recommend wasting your time applying or engaging with their process. There are far better places to invest your energy as a candidate.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
API design and system design for the debt collection system.
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Aktos in Dec 2024
Interview
There are four rounds. The first one is about your background, followed by a take-home Django project and deployment. The second round is with the CTO asking average questions. The experience was negative for the second round and didn't bother for the third round.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How does a manager control what an agent sees on a consumer overview page using permissions and roles and how can you assign a role with a particular set of permissions