Embedded Systems Engineer Interview Prep

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Preparing for the embedded systems engineer interview requires a robust action plan and
unwavering commitment. Since embedded systems engineers are responsible for
designing, developing, and improving cutting-edge embedded systems, the interviews
focus a lot on testing these skills in candidates. With regular practice and guidance from
FAANG experts, you too can crack your next embedded systems engineer interview!

If you are preparing for a tech interview, check out our technical interview checklist,
interview questions page, and salary negotiation e-book to get interview-ready! Also,
readBest Tech Companies to Work in 2021 and Understanding Technical Interviews at
FAANG and How to Crack Them for specific insights and guidance on tech interviews.

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In this article, we have put together everything you need to cover while preparing for an
embedded systems engineer interview:

What does an embedded systems engineer do?

Qualifications and skills required for embedded systems engineer jobs at FAANG
What’s the embedded systems engineer interview process and timeline like?
Preparation topics for an embedded systems engineer interview
Skills required to become an embedded systems engineer
Sample embedded systems engineer interview questions
Embedded systems engineer interview tips

What Does an Embedded Systems Engineer Do?

As an embedded software engineer at a tech company, you will have the opportunity of
being a part of a team working towards pioneering, developing, and building cutting-edge
technologies that will potentially change the way people interact with information and
each other. The roles and responsibilities of an embedded software engineer are:

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 To engineer and build products that contribute to the company’s products and
services ecosystem.
To help develop new technology tools that solve human problems and can be
integrated into daily life easily.
To design and develop superfast data center networks.
Designing, developing, testing, deploying, maintaining, and improving system
software.
Managing your project priorities and deliverables.
Developing and maintaining performance measurement tools used by the
company for debugging, analyzing, and testing embedded products.
Working on computer architecture, lower-level computer systems, embedded
system products, and kernel development.
Analyzing and enhancing the efficiency, scalability, and stability of system
resources.
Supporting software quality analysis and optimizing I/O performance.
Providing post-production support to clients.
Interfacing with the hardware design and development team for seamless
integration and execution of the project.

Pro tip: When preparing for the role of an embedded systems engineer, work around
the moonshot approach. A moonshot approach is driven by the desire to break new
ground in the tech industry. It is based on the concept of 10× thinking and inspired by
former President John F. Kennedy's successful mission to land a man on the moon.

Qualifications and Skills Required for Embedded Systems

Engineer Jobs at FAANG
The following are some of the standard qualifications that recruiters at FAANG and
other Tier-1 tech companies seek when hiring embedded systems engineers:

A bachelor's degree in computer science or computer engineering, a related

technical field, or equivalent practical experience
Knowledge of hardware and software architecture and debugging
Experience in working with consumer electronics or embedded systems design
Experience in writing software in C or C++
Experience in working with embedded environments, schematics, trace, and board-
level debugging

What's the Embedded Systems Engineer Interview Process and

Timeline Like?
A typical embedded systems engineer interview process involves similar rounds as that of
a software engineer. The main steps of the interview process are:

1. Phone Screen + Technical Screen

2. On-site Interviews

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The embedded systems engineer interview process can last for 6-8 weeks on average.
Practicing patience is the key here to make sure that you are able to present your true
potential in the future rounds.

Application Process
Step one is to score an embedded systems engineer interview. You can apply to companies
directly, or you can take the help of a recruiter. Make sure to provide your updated
resume tailored to the company, team, and role you are applying for. If you can manage
an employee referral, you may stand a better chance of getting shortlisted for further
interview rounds.

Phone Screen Interview

Once your application is shortlisted, you will get a call from a recruiter who will conduct a
phone screen round to get to know you better. The purpose of this round is to assess your
level of skills and which team you would be the best fit for. Once you get past this first HR
screen, the recruiter will schedule your next interview, which will involve solving a coding
problem.

Here’s a coding assessment cheat sheet to help you get started.

Technical Screen — Coding Interview

In the coding interview, you will be asked data structure and algorithm questions which
you will have to solve on a remote collaborative editor. These questions will be pretty
similar to the questions you'd come across in a software engineer interview. The level of
difficulty of these questions will be similar to those of a fresh graduate.

Onsite Interviews

On-site interviews usually involve five or six face-to-face interviews on various

coding and embedded systems topics and are generally held at the company office. Each
interview lasts about 45-60 minutes and is based on the following topics:

1. Coding interview: In this round, you will be asked to solve basic algorithm and data
structure questions similar to those you would encounter in a software engineer
interview.
2. System design interview: In this interview, you will be asked to design a high-level
modern technology system like a social media platform or a product feature specific
to the company.
3. Embedded systems interview: Here, you will be evaluated on your approach to
solving problems using embedded systems. Interviewers will also discuss your
previous embedded systems projects in this round.
4. Behavioral interview: These interviews evaluate whether your values align with
those of the company or not. Interviewers also want to see if you will be able to work
with the team you are interviewing for.

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Preparation Topics for an Embedded Systems Engineer Interview
Here is a list of topics you should cover during your embedded systems engineer
interview preparation:

Coding Topics
Programming languages
Data Structure: Arrays, Trees, Stacks, Recursion
Algorithms: Binary Search, Insertion Sort, Bubble Sort, Selection Sort, Breadth-
First Search
Object-oriented design
Databases
Distributed computing
Operating systems
Internet topics

System Design
Designing complex architecture systems and platforms
Product features

Embedded Systems Topics

Basic electronics: Oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters for debugging
Design Patterns: Factory, singleton, observer
Microprocessor basics: Interrupt processing, assembly code, registers
Microcontroller basics: DAC, ADC, Timers, DMA, PWM, watchdog
Memory: NAND, NOR, DRAM, SRAM, wear leveling
Basic protocols: I2C, UART, SPI, LIN
Advanced protocols: SATA, USB, PCIE, CAN, MOST
Concurrent or parallel programming: MPI for SMP
UML Diagrams: Class, Component, State, Sequence
Python or Perl for scripting
Embedded programming: Debouncing switches, rotary encoders, resistive ladder
switches
Embedded systems software architecture: software design, integration, and
programming
Build environments: cmake, makefile
Basic DSP and FPGA/ ASIC design
IoT Devices: Audio stacks (microphone, DSP, and filters), HMI programming
Complementary programming languages: Rust, Go, Python

Behavioral Topics
Leadership
Why do you want to work for us?

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Do check out our complete list of engineering interview prep topics and solved technical
questions.

Skills Required to Become an Embedded Systems Engineer

According to experts, here are some more skills most FAANG companies look for in an
embedded systems engineer are:

Programming
Microprocessor ecosystems
Memory management
Circuit design
CAD design
Measurement tools
Internet of Things
Data processing and analysis
Networking and security
Designing and implementing hardware-software interfaces
Hardware bring-up and debugging of i2c, SPI, Ethernet, PCI-e, and other
peripherals
Designing and implementing kernel/userspace frameworks and interfaces
Working with offload engines in video, networking, crypto, and machine learning
Modern video formats, ML algorithms, codecs, and related frameworks
Strong foundation in data structures, algorithms, and software design
Processors and GPU programming
Performance analysis tools and optimization experience
Embedded systems development, device drivers, RTOS concepts, and hardware-
software integration
Foundation in ARM or x86 assembly, Linux kernel, system BIOS, and device drivers
Embedded systems design with preemptive and multitasking real-time OS, IP
protocols, hardware subsystems, and OS coding techniques
Defect tracking tools, software configuration management tools, and peer review
Reading datasheets and schematics for components
Knowledge of hardware, such as electronic boards, is required.
Technical writing
Soft skills

Sample Embedded Systems Engineer Interview Questions

It’s always good to have an idea of what an embedded systems engineer interview could be
like. In this section, we’ve listed common questions asked at embedded systems engineer
interviews:

General Questions
Listed below are some generic questions embedded systems engineers are asked during
interviews:

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 1. Explain the working of the I2C interface.
2. How will you make a finite state machine work in an embedded system?
3. What’s an atomic operation?
4. When targeting embedded devices, how will you avoid memory fragmentation?
5. Tell us some ways you will reduce power consumption in your embedded system.
6. What is a semaphore?
7. Can you use a semaphore to interrupt context in Linux Kernel?
8. What is a watchdog timer?

Microcontroller Questions
1. When building an embedded system, how will you decide when to use a
microcontroller and when to use a microprocessor?
2. How is a microcontroller used to determine the high-voltage level frequency on a
bus?

Real-Time OS Questions
1. Which real-time software metrics are the most important, according to you?
2. What are the pros and cons of using a real-time OS on a mid-range micro-
controller?

Specific Coding Questions

1. Given an array of numbers nums of size n, find an array of numbers products of size
n, such that products [i] is the product of all numbers nums [j], where j != i.
(Solution)
2. Write a code to determine whether an integer is even or odd.

Puzzle Questions for Embedded Engineers

1. How would you weigh a train without using any scales?

2. If you see two light bulbs in a room and three switches outside, how will you
determine which switch operates which bulb?
3. Why are sewer caps round in shape?

Read Top 20 Interview Puzzles for Software Engineers for more.

Embedded Systems Engineer Interview Tips

Here are a few crucial tips to help you prepare for your embedded systems engineer
interview:

Practice the moonshot approach to embedded systems solving problems.

Your interviewer will give you a vague coding problem. This is an opportunity for
you to ask for details and specifics so that your solution is as close to their
expectations as possible. Ask questions about system requirements here and
determine what customer base and scale you’re building for.

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 Practice some tough interview-style coding questions on a whiteboard without using
a compiler.
Practice mock interviews with yourself, your peers, or a complete interview prep
guide like Interview Kickstart.
When practicing, make it a point to think out loud and explain your thought process
to the interviewer.
Start timing yourself when you practice system design questions. A lot of attention is
given to how you manage your time and how efficiently you come up with the
solution.
Sign up with Interview Kickstart to practice interviews with experienced coaches,
hiring managers, and tech leads from FAANG companies.

Also, check out these system design interview tips from experts to leave no stone
unturned in your embedded systems engineer interview prep!

Land Your Dream Job as an Embedded Systems Engineer!

Although the road to bagging an embedded systems engineer job at FAANG+ is difficult,
expert help is at hand! If you are unsure how to apply or where to start preparing, enroll
for Interview Kickstart’s Embedded Software Engineering Interview Course
— the first-of-its-kind, domain-specific tech interview prep program designed specifically
for Embedded Software Engineers.

Our interview preparation courses are taught by FAANG tech leads and seasoned hiring
managers. With such a cracking team of instructors, Interview Kickstart is a
powerhouse of expert knowledge and guidance on nailing FAANG interviews.

Sign up for our FREE webinar to learn more!

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