15 Software Development Engineer Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
It's important to prepare for an interview in order to improve your chances of getting the job. Researching questions beforehand can help you give better answers during the interview. Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various software development engineer interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions.
Common Software Development Engineer Interview Questions
- What does your ideal team look like?
- Do you prefer working on coding projects alone or with a team?
- Do you prefer close supervision or more freedom when working on a project?
- What inspired you to become a software development engineer?
- What coding languages do you know?
- Do you have experience leading a team of coders?
- Discuss a time you identified errors in a coworker's code. How did you handle it?
- Tell me about someone who was influential during your development as an engineer.
- Do you have any experience working with artificial intelligence or neural networks?
- What was the first program you ever coded? When did you make it?
- What projects are you working on right now?
- Do you have experience discussing the technical aspects of a project with non-technical staff or shareholders? How do you handle it, if so?
- What do you think is the most important trait for a software development engineer?
- Tell me about a time a project pushed you outside of your comfort levels. How did you respond, and what was the result?
- Do you have any questions for me about the position or company?
What does your ideal team look like?
This question is important because it allows the interviewer to gauge the applicant's team-building skills. It also allows the interviewer to get an idea of the applicant's ideal working environment and what kind of people they prefer to work with. This question can also help the interviewer to understand the applicant's communication and leadership style.
Example: “My ideal team would be a group of highly skilled and motivated individuals who are able to work together harmoniously to achieve common goals. The team would be composed of individuals with complementary skillsets who are able to support and challenge each other. There would be a strong sense of camaraderie and mutual respect amongst team members. The team would work collaboratively to solve problems and would be open to new ideas and perspectives.”
Do you prefer working on coding projects alone or with a team?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question. First, it can help them understand your working style and how you prefer to collaborate with others. Second, it can give them insight into your ability to work independently and take initiative on projects. Finally, it can help them gauge your level of experience with coding projects and whether you are comfortable working on them alone or with a team.
This question is important because it can help the interviewer understand your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to coding projects. If you prefer to work on them alone, they will know that you are comfortable taking initiative and working independently. However, if you prefer to work with a team, they will know that you are good at collaborating and working with others. Either way, the interviewer will be able to get a better sense of your skills and abilities.
Example: “There is no right or wrong answer to this question, as it depends on the person's preferences. Some people prefer working on coding projects alone so that they can have full control over the code and the project. Other people prefer working on coding projects with a team so that they can benefit from the expertise and experience of other team members.”
Do you prefer close supervision or more freedom when working on a project?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a software development engineer. One reason is to gauge the engineer's level of experience. If the engineer is more experienced, they may prefer to have more freedom when working on a project. On the other hand, if the engineer is less experienced, they may prefer to have close supervision in order to learn from more experienced engineers.
Another reason why an interviewer might ask this question is to gauge the engineer's level of comfort with ambiguity. If the engineer is more comfortable with ambiguity, they may prefer to have more freedom when working on a project. On the other hand, if the engineer is less comfortable with ambiguity, they may prefer to have close supervision in order to have a clear understanding of what is expected of them.
This question is important because it can help the interviewer understand the engineer's level of experience and comfort with ambiguity. This information can be used to determine whether the engineer is a good fit for the position.
Example: “I prefer to have more freedom when working on a project. I like to be able to take initiative and work independently towards objectives. Having close supervision can sometimes hinder my productivity as I may feel micromanaged.”
What inspired you to become a software development engineer?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question. They could be trying to gauge your interest in the field, or they might be trying to determine if you have the necessary skills and knowledge for the job. Additionally, they might be trying to get a sense of your motivations for pursuing a career in software development.
This question is important because it can help the interviewer understand your interest in the field and your motivations for pursuing a career in software development. Additionally, it can help them gauge your skills and knowledge for the job.
Example: “I have always been interested in computers and technology, and I saw becoming a software development engineer as a way to combine my interests and skills. I was also inspired by the potential to make a difference that comes with working in the tech industry. I believe that technology can be used to make the world a better place, and I want to be a part of that.”
What coding languages do you know?
There are many reasons why an interviewer might ask a software development engineer about the coding languages they know. The most important reason is likely because they want to gauge the engineer's level of experience and expertise. Knowing what coding languages an engineer knows can help the interviewer understand what kinds of projects the engineer is qualified to work on. Additionally, the interviewer may be interested in learning what coding languages the engineer is most comfortable working with, as this can impact the engineer's ability to be productive on a given project.
Example: “I am well-versed in a variety of coding languages, including Java, Python, C++, and SQL. I am also familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I am able to learn new coding languages quickly and have no trouble adapting to new environments.”
Do you have experience leading a team of coders?
The interviewer is asking this question to gauge the candidate's leadership experience and see if they are a good fit for the position. It is important to know if the candidate has experience leading a team of coders because the position may require them to do so.
Example: “Yes, I have experience leading a team of coders. I have been a lead developer on multiple projects and have managed teams of coders on those projects. I am familiar with the various coding languages and platforms and am able to provide guidance and direction to coders on those projects. I am also familiar with the project management process and can help to ensure that coding projects are completed on time and within budget.”
Discuss a time you identified errors in a coworker's code. How did you handle it?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a software development engineer. First, it can reveal how the engineer deals with conflict. Second, it can show whether the engineer is able to take constructive criticism and learn from mistakes. Third, it can demonstrate the engineer's ability to communicate effectively with other team members.
It is important for software development engineers to be able to identify errors in coworker's code because it is often necessary to make changes to code in order to fix bugs or improve performance. Furthermore, being able to identify errors can help the engineer to avoid making the same mistakes in their own code. Finally, good communication is essential in any team environment, and being able to discuss errors in a coworker's code in a constructive way is a key part of effective communication.
Example: “I was working on a project with a coworker and I noticed that they were making some errors in their code. I approached them and explained what I had seen, and we worked together to correct the errors. I also suggested some ways to avoid making those mistakes in the future.”
Tell me about someone who was influential during your development as an engineer.
There are a few reasons why an interviewer would ask this question. First, they want to get to know the candidate on a personal level and understand what motivates them. Second, they want to see how the candidate has developed as an engineer and what kinds of experiences they have had that have influenced their development. Finally, this question allows the interviewer to gauge the candidate's ability to communicate and articulate their thoughts and experiences.
It is important for the interviewer to ask this question because it will give them insight into the type of person the candidate is, how they have developed as an engineer, and what motivates them. This question will also help the interviewer to understand the candidate's communication skills and whether or not they are able to articulate their thoughts and experiences clearly.
Example: “My uncle was influential during my development as an engineer. He was always tinkering with something and encouraged me to do the same. He would often give me projects to work on, and he was always available to answer any questions I had. He taught me a lot about the engineering process and how to approach problems.”
Do you have any experience working with artificial intelligence or neural networks?
The interviewer is asking this question to gauge the candidate's experience with artificial intelligence and neural networks. This is important because these technologies are becoming increasingly important in the field of software development. Candidates who have experience with these technologies will be able to hit the ground running with new projects that require their use.
Example: “I have experience working with artificial intelligence and neural networks. I have used these technologies to develop predictive models and algorithms for a variety of applications. I have also used them to develop applications that can automatically learn and improve from data.”
What was the first program you ever coded? When did you make it?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the candidate's level of experience and expertise. This question is important because it allows the interviewer to get a sense of the candidate's coding skills and knowledge.
Example: “The first program I ever coded was a simple calculator program in C++. I made it when I was in high school, and it was a great way to learn the basics of programming.”
What projects are you working on right now?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the candidate's current level of experience and expertise. It is important to know what projects the candidate is working on because it can give insight into their areas of interest and expertise. Additionally, it can help the interviewer determine if the candidate is a good fit for the position.
Example: “I am currently working on a few different projects. One is a web application that allows users to search for and book travel experiences. Another project is a mobile application that helps people track their spending. I am also working on a project that uses machine learning to predict the outcomes of court cases.”
Do you have experience discussing the technical aspects of a project with non-technical staff or shareholders? How do you handle it, if so?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the candidate's ability to communicate with people who do not have a technical background. This is important because in many organizations, software developers need to be able to explain their work to non-technical staff or shareholders. The ability to do this effectively can be crucial to the success of a project.
Example: “Yes, I have experience discussing the technical aspects of a project with non-technical staff or shareholders. I handle it by first ensuring that everyone is on the same page in terms of understanding the project goals and objectives. From there, I break down the technical aspects of the project into layman's terms so that everyone can understand what is being discussed. If there are any questions or concerns, I address them directly so that everyone is on the same page.”
What do you think is the most important trait for a software development engineer?
There are many important traits for a software development engineer, but some traits may be more important than others depending on the specific position. For example, if the position is for a software engineer working on a team of developers, then collaboration and communication skills may be more important than if the position were for a software engineer working independently. In general, some important traits for a software development engineer include analytical and problem-solving skills, creativity, attention to detail, and strong programming skills.
Example: “There are many important traits for a software development engineer, but one of the most important is the ability to think critically and solve problems. A software development engineer needs to be able to understand a problem and then find a way to solve it. This requires critical thinking and the ability to come up with creative solutions.”
Tell me about a time a project pushed you outside of your comfort levels. How did you respond, and what was the result?
The interviewer is trying to determine if the software development engineer is able to work outside of their comfort levels and how they respond to challenging situations. This is important because in the software development field, there will often be times when a project will push outside of an individual's comfort levels. It is important for the software development engineer to be able to respond to these situations in a way that is productive and results in a positive outcome.
Example: “I was working on a project that required me to use a new programming language that I wasn't familiar with. At first, I was feeling uncomfortable and unsure of myself, but I decided to push through and learn the language. As it turned out, I ended up becoming quite proficient in it and ended up impressing my boss with my work.”
Do you have any questions for me about the position or company?
The interviewer is giving the candidate an opportunity to ask questions about the position or company in order to gauge their level of interest and fit for the role. This is important because it allows the candidate to get more information about the role and company that they may not have otherwise, and it also allows the interviewer to see how the candidate interacts and asks questions.
Example: “1. What inspired you to pursue a career in software development?
2. What do you believe makes software development an interesting and unique field?
3. What do you think sets software development apart from other fields?”