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General Questions

General Behavioral Questions

    • Be Honest: Focus on genuine experiences but frame them positively.
    • Quantify Results: Use metrics (e.g., improved performance by 30%) whenever possible.
    • Show Collaboration: Highlight teamwork and cross-functional interactions.
    • Practice Common Scenarios: Be ready with examples of your past work.
    • Tailor Answers to the Role: Emphasize skills most relevant to the position.

1. Tell me why you will be a good fit for the position. Why do you want to work for X?

  • Emphasize your relevant skills, experience, and alignment with the company’s values.
  • Show enthusiasm and confidence without overselling yourself.

I believe I’m a strong fit for this position because of my experience in [specific area relevant to the role, e.g., building scalable web applications] and my ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and challenges. I’ve successfully led projects where I collaborated with cross-functional teams, meeting tight deadlines while maintaining high-quality standards. Additionally, I’m genuinely excited about X company’s work in [specific area, e.g., innovative AI solutions], and I’m eager to bring my technical expertise and passion for problem-solving to the team.

  • Research specific projects, technologies, or values that resonate with you.
  • Emphasize alignment of company goals and culture to your career aspirations.

I’m impressed by X company’s innovative work in [specific area, e.g., cloud solutions or AI development]. I admire your commitment to [a value or mission, e.g., open-source contributions or sustainability]. As someone who [your relevant strength, e.g., enjoys building scalable systems], I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team and learn from such talented engineers.

2. Why do you want to leave your current/last company?

  • Desire for growth: New challenges and learning opportunities 
  • Positive Discussion: How a new company can help you achieve your goals

My last role @Meta provided me with great experience in increasing my scope beyond a Individual Contributor as I worked with Directors and VPs across multiple departments across the country on unifying multiple AR and AI product roadmaps into a cohesive strategy. I enjoyed the increased organizational scope, but I’m looking for a better balance like i did @Samsung, where I traveled a bit less and had more hands-on design and coding end-to-end over supporting several prototypes at the end of the pipeline. X company’s focus on [specific projects or technologies] makes this role a great next step in my career.

3. How to Explain Being Laid Off or a Contract Ending Early

    • Be Honest but Brief: Acknowledge the situation factually without overexplaining.
    • Stay Positive and Highlight your Value: Emphasize achievements and skills you developed, and prep for the future
    • Shift Focus: Emphasize your eagerness to contribute to the new role and be confident.

    • If the Role Was Not a Good Fit (Performance-Related): BG Checks from future employers do not show PIPs, only time of employment with previous company. This means you do not need to admit to poor performance. 

If Laid Off Due to Business Reasons (e.g., Restructuring or Budget Cuts):

Unfortunately, I was part of a company-wide re-org that ended my contract short. Since I worked directly with VPs and Directors and the re-org targeted them in particular, my position was impacted. It was a tough situation, but it gave me the chance learn modern day AR/AI pipelines and push agendas I care about. I’m excited to bring those skills to a new team where I can continue to make an impact

4. What are you looking for in your next role?

  • Learning opportunities, team collaboration, and impactful work
  • Relate your interests to the role.

I’m looking for a role where I can work on challenging pipelines and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to launch an impactful product. [Relate interest to role]

5. What frustrates you?

  • Avoid negativity or blame. Frame your frustrations constructively, focusing on how you handle them.
  • Highlight something that motivates you to take action or improve a situation.

I find it frustrating when there’s a lack of clarity in project requirements because it can lead to inefficiencies. However, I’ve learned to address this by asking clarifying questions early, documenting expectations, and ensuring alignment with stakeholders. It’s rewarding to turn that initial uncertainty into a well-defined plan that everyone can follow.

6. Give an example of a time you received critical feedback. How did you respond?

  • Share feedback that helped you grow, demonstrating a willingness to learn.
  • Explain how you applied the feedback.

Early in my career, a manager pointed out that I often focused on perfecting code at the expense of meeting deadlines. They encouraged me to balance quality with efficiency and prioritize delivering value iteratively. I took that feedback to heart by adopting agile principles and focusing on delivering MVPs while iterating over time. It’s made me a more effective engineer and taught me to align technical decisions with business goals.

7. How have you handled criticism of your work?

  • Show maturity and a growth mindset.
  • Focus on how you turn criticism into an opportunity to improve.

I see criticism as an opportunity to grow and improve. In one project, a colleague pointed out that my code review comments were too focused on syntax rather than overall functionality. I took their feedback to heart and started framing my comments around higher-level design and logic while still addressing smaller details. This not only improved my feedback but also strengthened collaboration within the team. Constructive criticism helps me become a better engineer and teammate.

8. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

  • Align with the role: Show how the position fits into your long-term goals.
  • Focus on growth: Highlight skills you want to develop or contributions you want to make.
  • Be realistic: Avoid overly ambitious or vague answers.
  • Express flexibility: Acknowledge that plans may evolve.

In five years, I see myself growing both technically and professionally in a role that challenges me and allows me to make a meaningful impact. Specifically, I aim to deepen my expertise in [specific area, e.g., distributed systems, machine learning, or front-end optimization] and take on more leadership responsibilities, whether that’s mentoring junior engineers or leading projects. I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to X company’s goals and grow with the team as we tackle innovative challenges together.

9. Describe a situation where you had to explain a complex idea to a non-technical person.

  • Know Your Audience: Understand their level of familiarity based on their role
  • Start with the Big Picture: Begin with the "why" and explain the purpose of the topic before diving into details
  • Use analogies: Relate the concept to something they already understand
  • Break it down to chunks:

    • When explaining how an API works:

      1. "Imagine you're at a restaurant.
      2. The menu is like the API—it lists what you can request.
      3. You place an order with the server (the API), and it brings back your food (the response)."
  • Use Visual Aids
  • Avoid overly technical jargon:  Instead of "distributed systems," say, "a setup where multiple computers work together to handle large tasks."
  • Check for Understanding and Be Patient: Don't rush and ask "Would you like me to explain another way?"

The internet is like a giant postal system, where data (like a letter) travels between computers (addresses) using servers (post offices) to guide it.

Cloud computing is like renting storage and tools in a warehouse instead of owning them. Instead of buying expensive hardware, you can use someone else’s equipment and only pay for what you need, like storing photos or running applications. It’s convenient because you can access it from anywhere with the internet.

10. Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with your manager.

  • Focus on how you resolved the disagreement professionally and what you learned.
  • Avoid blaming your manager or making the disagreement seem adversarial.

Situation: "During a sprint planning session, my manager wanted to prioritize a feature that I believed would delay critical bug fixes."
Task: "I needed to convey the importance of addressing the bugs without undermining their priorities."
Action: "I prepared data showing how the bugs were impacting users and proposed a plan to address the bugs alongside the new feature. I also made sure to listen to my manager’s perspective to understand their reasoning."
Result: "We agreed to split the sprint focus, which allowed us to ship the feature on time and resolve the critical bugs. This taught me the value of presenting data-driven solutions and maintaining open communication.

11. How Do You Use AI to Increase Productivity in Your Work?

  1. Highlight specific tools or techniques: Mention the AI tools you use (e.g., GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, TensorFlow) and how they assist you.
  2. Show impact: Explain how AI improves efficiency, accuracy, or creativity in your tasks.
  3. Demonstrate adaptability: Reflect your ability to integrate emerging AI technologies into your workflow.

I use AI in several ways to increase productivity in my work. For instance, I use GitHub Copilot to streamline coding by suggesting boilerplate code or offering solutions for repetitive tasks. This allows me to focus more on solving complex problems and refining the architecture of my applications. I also leverage tools like ChatGPT for brainstorming solutions, generating technical documentation, or debugging code when I encounter roadblocks.

In addition, I use AI-powered analytics tools to identify patterns in application performance metrics, helping me optimize features and reduce latency. Incorporating AI into my workflow has not only sped up my output but also enhanced the quality of my deliverables by reducing errors and freeing up time for creative problem-solving."

Explaining a technical topic to someone without a technical background requires breaking down complex concepts into simple, relatable terms. Here's how you can do it effectively

12. Have you ever worked on a cross-functional team? What role did you play, and how did you ensure collaboration?

  • Focus: Team collaboration and bridging disciplines.

Project Questions

10. What project are you currently working on?

  • Highlight a recent or current project that is relevant to the job you’re interviewing for.
  • Focus on your role, responsibilities, and the impact of the project.

PipelineTechnical Artist (Gaussian Splats)

I'm currently working on a project that involves optimizing an API for a high-traffic e-commerce platform. My role includes improving response times and implementing caching strategies to reduce server load. It's been exciting to see how small changes in code and architecture can significantly enhance user experience and system performance.

ProductSoftware Engineer (Scavenge AR) 

I'm currently working on a project that involves optimizing an API for a high-traffic e-commerce platform. My role includes improving response times and implementing caching strategies to reduce server load. It's been exciting to see how small changes in code and architecture can significantly enhance user experience and system performance.

11. What is the most challenging aspect of your current project? 

  • Focus on a technical or team-related challenge you’re tackling.
  • Explain how you're addressing it and what you’re learning in the process.

PipelineTechnical Artist

The most challenging aspect of my current project is ensuring high availability while transitioning to a new cloud provider. We need to maintain uptime during the migration, which requires careful planning and thorough testing of failover strategies. I've been collaborating closely with the team to simulate different failure scenarios and refine our approach.

ProductSoftware Engineer  

The most challenging aspect of my current project is ensuring high availability while transitioning to a new cloud provider. We need to maintain uptime during the migration, which requires careful planning and thorough testing of failover strategies. I've been collaborating closely with the team to simulate different failure scenarios and refine our approach.

12. What was the most difficult bug that you fixed in the past 6 months?fix?

  • Choose a bug that highlights your technical and debugging skills.
  • Focus on the process and tools you used to solve it.

PipelineTechnical Artist

I recently fixed a memory leak in a microservice that caused intermittent crashes during peak traffic. Identifying the leak was challenging because it only occurred under specific load conditions. Using tools like Valgrind and custom logging, I traced the issue to a third-party library that wasn’t releasing resources properly. I updated the library and wrote additional tests to ensure it didn’t recur. It was a great reminder of the importance of monitoring and profiling in production systems.

ProductSoftware Engineer 

I recently fixed a memory leak in a microservice that caused intermittent crashes during peak traffic. Identifying the leak was challenging because it only occurred under specific load conditions. Using tools like Valgrind and custom logging, I traced the issue to a third-party library that wasn’t releasing resources properly. I updated the library and wrote additional tests to ensure it didn’t recur. It was a great reminder of the importance of monitoring and profiling in production systems.

13. What is something that you had to push for in your previous projects? For multiple months? 

  • Choose an example where advocating for something resulted in positive change.
  • Show persistence and the ability to influence others.

push for DAM 

In one project, I had to push for automated testing to improve our deployment pipeline. Initially, there was resistance due to tight deadlines, but I presented data on how bugs were slowing down releases and increasing post-launch fixes. I created a prototype test suite to demonstrate the benefits and proposed a phased implementation to minimize disruption. Over time, the team adopted automated testing, which significantly reduced regressions and improved overall productivity.

14. What is something you had to persevere at for multiple months?

  • Highlight a long-term challenge where you showed persistence and adaptability.
  • Explain what you learned from the experience.

I worked on a multi-month migration from a legacy system to a new cloud-based architecture. The process was challenging due to limited documentation and unforeseen compatibility issues. I persevered by breaking the project into manageable phases, seeking advice from colleagues, and thoroughly testing each step. Despite setbacks, we completed the migration successfully, and the project taught me the value of patience, planning, and continuous learning.

Tell me about a project where you faced unexpected challenges. How did you handle them?

Focus: Adaptability, resilience, and creativity.


15. Tell me about a time you met a tight deadline.

  • Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response.
  • Emphasize planning, teamwork, and focus under pressure.

Our team was tasked with delivering a critical feature for a client demo in just two weeks."
Task: "I needed to ensure the feature was fully functional and aligned with the client’s requirements within the deadline."
Action: "I worked with the team to define the MVP, prioritized key tasks, and streamlined communication to avoid delays. We worked extra hours when necessary and conducted daily stand-ups to track progress."
Result: "We delivered the feature on time, and the demo was a success. It reinforced the importance of prioritization and maintaining focus under pressure.

Describe a time when you had to refactor legacy code. How did you approach it?

  • Focus: Attention to detail, understanding of technical debt, and improving code quality.

16. Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a co-worker [and needed to influence somebody else]

  • Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result
  • Focus on Resolution: Highlight how you approached the conflict constructively.
  • Focus on listening and understanding: Show how you addressed concerns and presented solutions.
  • Demonstrate leadership: Explain how you persuaded the person without forcing a decision.

Pipeline Example:

In one project, a teammate and I disagreed on the best approach for implementing a feature. He preferred a quick fix, while I believed a scalable solution was better long-term." Task: "We needed to agree on an implementation to meet the deadline." Action: "I initiated a conversation to understand his concerns and shared my perspective with data showing the benefits of scalability. We collaborated to find a middle ground by implementing a solution that was scalable but prioritized immediate needs." Result: "This not only resolved the conflict but also improved our collaboration and led to a successful project delivery."

Product Example:

Situation: "During a sprint, I proposed refactoring part of the codebase to improve maintainability, but a senior developer opposed it, citing time constraints." Task: "I needed to convince the team that the refactor was critical without jeopardizing timelines." Action: "I gathered data showing the technical debt risks and prepared a proposal to divide the refactor into smaller tasks over multiple sprints. I also ensured the changes wouldn’t delay immediate deliverables." Result: "The team agreed with the plan, and we successfully reduced technical debt while staying on track with deadlines.

 

17. Tell me about a time you hadoptimized a disagreement3D withasset your manager.pipeline.

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    • Avoid blaming your manager or making the disagreement seem adversarial.skills.

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    • Focus: criticalCollaboration, bug fixes."
      Task: "I needed to convey the importance of addressing the bugs without undermining their priorities."
      Action: "I prepared data showing how the bugs were impacting usersadaptability, and proposed a plan to address the bugs alongside the new feature. I also made sure to listen to my manager’s perspective to understand their reasoning."
      Result: "We agreed to split the sprint focus, which allowed us to ship the feature on time and resolve the critical bugs. This taught me the value of presenting data-driven solutions and maintaining open communication.

      18. How Do You Use AI to Increase Productivity in Your Work?

      1. Highlight specific tools or techniques: Mention the AI tools you use (e.g., GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, TensorFlow) and how they assist you.
      2. Show impact: Explain how AI improves efficiency, accuracy, or creativity in your tasks.
      3. Demonstrate adaptability: Reflect your ability to integrate emerging AI technologies into your workflow.

      "I use AI in several ways to increase productivity in my work. For instance, I use GitHub Copilot to streamline coding by suggesting boilerplate code or offering solutions for repetitive tasks. This allows me to focus more on solving complex problems and refining the architecture of my applications. I also leverage tools like ChatGPT for brainstorming solutions, generating technical documentation, or debugging code when I encounter roadblocks.

      In addition, I use AI-powered analytics tools to identify patterns in application performance metrics, helping me optimize features and reduce latency. Incorporating AI into my workflow has not only sped up my output but also enhanced the quality of my deliverables by reducing errors and freeing up time for creative problem-solving."

      • Explaining

    a
    • technical
  • topic to someone without a technical background requires breaking down complex concepts into simple, relatable terms. Here's how you can do it effectively:

  • Have you ever worked on a cross-functionalproject team?where Whatthe roleartistic vision conflicted with technical constraints? How did you play,balance and how did you ensure collaboration?them?

    • Focus: TeamNegotiation, collaborationtechnical expertise, and bridgingartistic disciplines.understanding.

  • Tell me about a time you implemented a tool or workflow that improved efficiency for your team.

    • Focus: Tool development and process improvements.

  • Give an example of a time you had to troubleshoot a rendering or asset issue in production.

    • Focus: Debugging and technical understanding.

  • Describe a situation where you pushed for better performance optimization while maintaining visual fidelity.

    • Focus: Balancing performance and quality.

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