Okay, I've searched for C/C++ Software Engineer roles in Chicago, IL with full-time positions requiring 5+ years of experience, a Bachelor's degree, and skills in distributed systems. I have found 73 relevant positions for you.

Sure. Here's the analysis:

Job Analysis:

This C/C++ Software Engineer III role at FreeWheel centers on developing and maintaining a high-performance, distributed online video ad server platform. This is a technically demanding position that requires mastery of C/C++ along with a deep understanding of large-scale system design, network programming, and database architecture. Beyond coding, the role demands strong collaboration with Product Managers and cross-functional teams, translating business needs into robust technical solutions that can operate globally and at scale. The emphasis on the full software development lifecycle—from design and prototyping to testing, deployment, and ongoing support—reflects an expectation for ownership, technical leadership, and the ability to mentor peers. The candidate will face challenges typical of mission-critical, high-availability distributed systems, such as concurrency, fault tolerance, and performance optimization. Success means delivering reliable, efficient code for complex ad tech products, supporting continuous integration and deployment processes, and actively contributing to architectural decisions while meeting tight deadlines and operational demands. The role also requires adaptability to asynchronous global collaboration, occasional non-standard hours, and a strong drive for learning and problem-solving in a fast-evolving technical environment.

Company Analysis:

FreeWheel, a Comcast company, operates within the digital advertising ecosystem, supplying technology that enables video content monetization across multiple platforms worldwide. Positioned as a leader in premium video ad tech, FreeWheel’s global scale and integration with Comcast’s ecosystem suggest a blend of startup agility and mature corporate structure. The company culture appears to value technical excellence, innovation, and customer-centricity, with a clear emphasis on teamwork, inclusion, and continuous feedback — all integral to sustaining their market position. The role fits into a core engineering team within a complex, distributed product environment, suggesting collaboration across geographies and functions, and visibility into strategic product and engineering leadership. Given the global scope and dynamic nature of media and advertising markets, this position is strategically important for supporting FreeWheel’s growth by evolving their platform’s capabilities and reliability. The organization likely expects engineers to thrive in a high-accountability, fast-paced setting where continuous improvement and innovation are encouraged alongside a strong commitment to customer experience and operational excellence.

Absolutely. Here are some mock interview questions that could come up:

• Behavioral: Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a complex technical issue in a distributed system under tight deadlines. How did you approach it?
• Behavioral: Describe an experience where you collaborated with cross-functional teams such as product management and operations. How did you ensure alignment and successful delivery?
• Behavioral: Give an example of how you mentored a junior engineer or contributed to elevating your team’s technical expertise.
• Behavioral: Describe a situation where you had to adapt to changing priorities or work outside normal hours to meet global team requirements.
• Technical: How would you design a high-availability distributed video ad server system to handle millions of ad requests per day?
• Technical: What are key considerations when implementing network programming in C/C++ for mission-critical applications?
• Technical: Explain how you approach debugging and performance tuning in a large-scale C++ system.
• Technical: How familiar are you with Agile methodologies, and how have you applied them in previous software development lifecycles?
• Situational: Imagine a critical production bug in the ad server is causing downtime during peak traffic hours. How would you prioritize and manage the incident while communicating with stakeholders?
• Situational: You receive conflicting requirements from product and operations teams regarding a new feature. How do you navigate this to reach a feasible technical solution?
• Situational: Suppose your team is distributed globally and you face communication delays impacting coordination. What strategies would you use to maintain productivity and quality?
• Company Fit: Why are you interested in working at FreeWheel and Comcast, specifically in the ad tech space?
• Company Fit: How do your personal values align with FreeWheel’s emphasis on customer experience, teamwork, and continuous learning?
• Company Fit: What excites you most about building technology for premium video advertising in a globally distributed environment?
• Questions for Interviewer: Can you describe the typical career progression for engineers on the Core Engineering team at FreeWheel?
• Questions for Interviewer: How does FreeWheel foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across its global teams?
• Questions for Interviewer: What are the biggest technical challenges the engineering team anticipates in the next 12 months, and how could this role contribute?