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Cognizant Data Engineer Interview Questions, Process, and Tips

Updated 17 Jan 2025

Top Cognizant Data Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

  • Q1. What are all the issues you faced in your project? What is Global Parameter? Why do we need parameters inADF? What are the API's in Spark?
  • Q2. What is the difference between supervised and unsupervised learning?
  • Q3. How to find delta between two tables in SQL?
View all 28 questions

Cognizant Data Engineer Interview Experiences

30 interviews found

Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image Abhishek Paithankar

posted on 16 Nov 2024

Interview experience
5
Excellent
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - Aptitude Test 

Aptitude test involved with quantative aptitude, logical reasoning and reading comprehensions.

Round 2 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Tell me your introduction.
  • Q2. Tell me about your skills.
  • Ans. 

    I have strong skills in data processing, ETL, data modeling, and programming languages like Python and SQL.

    • Proficient in data processing and ETL techniques

    • Strong knowledge of data modeling and database design

    • Experience with programming languages like Python and SQL

    • Familiarity with big data technologies such as Hadoop and Spark

  • Answered by AI
Round 3 - HR 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Are you ready relocate,?
  • Ans. 

    Yes, I am open to relocating for the right opportunity.

    • I am willing to relocate for the right job opportunity.

    • I have experience moving for previous roles.

    • I am flexible and adaptable to new locations.

    • I am excited about the possibility of exploring a new city or country.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Document verification

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - If you are fresher first prepare for aptitude, because once aptitude get cleared you will get selected from the large compitition and then focus on your technical knowledge and managerial skills about the company.

Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image Anonymous

posted on 22 Dec 2024

Interview experience
3
Average
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Different types of Joins in spark
  • Ans. 

    Different types of joins in Spark include inner join, outer join, left join, right join, and full join.

    • Inner join: Returns only the rows that have matching values in both datasets.

    • Outer join: Returns all rows when there is a match in either dataset.

    • Left join: Returns all rows from the left dataset and the matched rows from the right dataset.

    • Right join: Returns all rows from the right dataset and the matched rows from t...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Spark optimization techniques
  • Ans. 

    Optimization techniques in Spark improve performance and efficiency of data processing.

    • Partitioning data to distribute workload evenly

    • Caching frequently accessed data in memory

    • Using broadcast variables for small lookup tables

    • Avoiding shuffling operations whenever possible

  • Answered by AI

Skills evaluated in this interview

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Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image Anonymous

posted on 13 Nov 2024

Interview experience
5
Excellent
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Explain the architecture of delta lake
  • Ans. 

    Delta Lake is an open-source storage layer that brings ACID transactions to Apache Spark and big data workloads.

    • Delta Lake provides ACID transactions, scalable metadata handling, and unifies streaming and batch data processing.

    • It stores data in Parquet format and uses Apache Spark for processing.

    • Delta Lake ensures data reliability and data quality by providing schema enforcement and data versioning.

    • It supports time tra...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Tuning operations in databricks
  • Ans. 

    Tuning operations in Databricks involves optimizing performance and efficiency of data processing tasks.

    • Use cluster configuration settings to allocate resources efficiently

    • Optimize code by minimizing data shuffling and reducing unnecessary operations

    • Leverage Databricks Auto Optimize to automatically tune performance

    • Monitor job performance using Databricks Runtime Metrics and Spark UI

  • Answered by AI

Skills evaluated in this interview

Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image Anonymous

posted on 11 Jul 2024

Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
-
Result
No response

I applied via Approached by Company and was interviewed in Jun 2024. There was 1 interview round.

Round 1 - Technical 

(5 Questions)

  • Q1. Spark architecture
  • Q2. Spark optimization used in our project
  • Ans. 

    Spark optimization techniques used in project

    • Partitioning data to optimize parallel processing

    • Caching frequently accessed data to reduce computation time

    • Using broadcast variables for efficient data sharing across nodes

    • Optimizing shuffle operations to minimize data movement

    • Tuning memory and CPU settings for better performance

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. What is XCom in Airflow
  • Ans. 

    XCom in Airflow is a way for tasks to exchange messages or small amounts of data.

    • XCom allows tasks to communicate with each other by passing small pieces of data

    • It can be used to share information between tasks in a DAG

    • XCom can be used to pass information like task status, results, or any other data

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. How to connect S3 from Databricks
  • Ans. 

    To connect S3 from Databricks, you can use the AWS connector provided by Databricks.

    • Use the AWS connector provided by Databricks to connect to S3

    • Provide the necessary AWS credentials and S3 bucket details in the connector configuration

    • You can access S3 data using the file system API in Databricks

  • Answered by AI
  • Q5. What do you mean by CDC
  • Ans. 

    CDC stands for Change Data Capture, a process of identifying and capturing changes made to data in a database.

    • CDC is used to track changes in data over time, allowing for real-time data integration and analysis.

    • It captures inserts, updates, and deletes made to data, providing a historical record of changes.

    • CDC is commonly used in data warehousing, data replication, and data integration processes.

    • Examples of CDC tools i...

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Prepare well for basics of Spark, Databricks, Python and practice SQL.
Knowing any cloud technology will be an extra advantage.

Skills evaluated in this interview

Cognizant interview questions for designations

 Senior Data Engineer

 (2)

 Big Data Engineer

 (2)

 Data Center Engineer

 (2)

 Azure Data Engineer

 (7)

 Associate Data Engineer

 (4)

 Gcp Data Engineer

 (3)

 AWS Data Engineer

 (2)

 Data Science Engineer

 (1)

Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image Saloni Goswami

posted on 21 Aug 2024

Interview experience
5
Excellent
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-

I applied via Campus Placement

Round 1 - One-on-one 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Why you want to join cognizant
  • Ans. 

    I want to join Cognizant because of its reputation for innovation and growth opportunities.

    • Cognizant is known for its cutting-edge technology solutions

    • I am impressed by Cognizant's commitment to employee development

    • I believe Cognizant will provide me with a challenging and rewarding work environment

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Why are you looking for only data engineer role.
  • Ans. 

    I am passionate about working with data and enjoy the challenges and opportunities that come with being a data engineer.

    • I have a strong background in data engineering and enjoy working with data processing technologies such as Hadoop, Spark, and Kafka.

    • I find data engineering to be a dynamic and evolving field that allows me to continuously learn and grow my skills.

    • I am excited about the impact that data engineering can...

  • Answered by AI

Get interview-ready with Top Cognizant Interview Questions

Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image Anonymous

posted on 20 Aug 2024

Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Sql related questions
  • Q2. Hive related questions

Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image Anonymous

posted on 16 Feb 2024

Interview experience
3
Average
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
Less than 2 weeks
Result
Not Selected

I applied via Naukri.com and was interviewed in Jan 2024. There was 1 interview round.

Round 1 - One-on-one 

(3 Questions)

  • Q1. Word count by spark,, falt map and map difference
  • Ans. 

    Word count by spark, flatMap, and map difference

    • Spark is a distributed computing framework for big data processing

    • flatMap is used to split each input string into words

    • map is used to transform each word into a key-value pair for counting

    • The difference lies in how the data is processed and transformed

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Flat map and map difference
  • Ans. 

    Flat map is used to flatten nested arrays while map is used to transform each element in an array.

    • Flat map is used to flatten nested arrays into a single array.

    • Map is used to transform each element in an array using a function.

    • Flat map is commonly used in functional programming languages like JavaScript and Scala.

    • Map is a higher-order function that applies a given function to each element in an array.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. Pationong and bucket difference
  • Ans. 

    Partitioning is dividing data into smaller chunks for better organization and performance, while bucketing is grouping data based on a specific criteria.

    • Partitioning is dividing data into smaller subsets based on a column or key.

    • Bucketing is grouping data based on a specific number of buckets or ranges.

    • Partitioning is commonly used in distributed systems for better data organization and query performance.

    • Bucketing is o...

  • Answered by AI

Skills evaluated in this interview

Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image abhinav bagri

posted on 19 Nov 2024

Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - Aptitude Test 

50 MCQ for python SQL

Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image anant deora

posted on 2 Nov 2023

Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
2-4 weeks
Result
Selected Selected

I applied via Company Website and was interviewed in Oct 2023. There was 1 interview round.

Round 1 - Technical 

(5 Questions)

  • Q1. What is the difference between supervised and unsupervised learning?
  • Ans. 

    Supervised learning uses labeled data to train the model, while unsupervised learning uses unlabeled data.

    • Supervised learning requires a target variable to be predicted, while unsupervised learning does not.

    • In supervised learning, the model learns from labeled training data, whereas in unsupervised learning, the model finds patterns in unlabeled data.

    • Examples of supervised learning include regression and classification...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Elaborate concepts of Object Oriented Programming in Python.
  • Ans. 

    Object Oriented Programming in Python focuses on creating classes and objects to organize code and data.

    • Python supports classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation.

    • Classes are blueprints for creating objects, which are instances of classes.

    • Inheritance allows a class to inherit attributes and methods from another class.

    • Polymorphism enables objects to be treated as instances of their parent class.

    • Encap...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. How to find delta between two tables in SQL?
  • Ans. 

    To find delta between two tables in SQL, use the EXCEPT or MINUS operator.

    • Use the EXCEPT operator in SQL to return rows from the first table that do not exist in the second table.

    • Use the MINUS operator in SQL to return distinct rows from the first table that do not exist in the second table.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. Illustrate exception handling in python.
  • Ans. 

    Exception handling in Python allows for graceful handling of errors and preventing program crashes.

    • Use try-except blocks to catch and handle exceptions.

    • Multiple except blocks can be used to handle different types of exceptions.

    • Finally block can be used to execute code regardless of whether an exception was raised or not.

    • Custom exceptions can be defined by creating a new class that inherits from the built-in Exception c

  • Answered by AI
  • Q5. Give an example of decorators in Python?
  • Ans. 

    Decorators in Python are functions that modify the behavior of other functions.

    • Decorators are defined using the @decorator_name syntax before the function definition.

    • They can be used for logging, timing, authentication, etc.

    • Example: @staticmethod decorator in Python makes a method static.

  • Answered by AI

Skills evaluated in this interview

Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image Anonymous

posted on 27 Oct 2023

Interview experience
3
Average
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - Resume Shortlist 
Pro Tip by AmbitionBox:
Keep your resume crisp and to the point. A recruiter looks at your resume for an average of 6 seconds, make sure to leave the best impression.
View all tips
Round 2 - Technical 

(4 Questions)

  • Q1. Self Introduction
  • Q2. About the current project
  • Q3. Different types of joins in SQL
  • Ans. 

    Different types of joins in SQL include inner join, left join, right join, and full outer join.

    • Inner join: Returns rows when there is a match in both tables.

    • Left join: Returns all rows from the left table and the matched rows from the right table.

    • Right join: Returns all rows from the right table and the matched rows from the left table.

    • Full outer join: Returns rows when there is a match in either table.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. Questions related to Cloud
Round 3 - Technical 

(3 Questions)

  • Q1. Roles and responsibilities in current project
  • Q2. Optimizations used in present project
  • Ans. 

    Various optimizations such as indexing, caching, and parallel processing were used in the project.

    • Implemented indexing on frequently queried columns to improve query performance

    • Utilized caching mechanisms to store frequently accessed data and reduce database load

    • Implemented parallel processing to speed up data processing tasks

    • Optimized algorithms and data structures for efficient data retrieval and manipulation

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. How did you overcome out of memory issues
  • Ans. 

    I optimized code, increased memory allocation, used efficient data structures, and implemented data partitioning.

    • Optimized code by identifying and fixing memory leaks

    • Increased memory allocation for the application

    • Used efficient data structures like arrays, hashmaps, and trees

    • Implemented data partitioning to distribute data across multiple nodes

  • Answered by AI

Skills evaluated in this interview

Cognizant Interview FAQs

How many rounds are there in Cognizant Data Engineer interview?
Cognizant interview process usually has 1-2 rounds. The most common rounds in the Cognizant interview process are Technical, HR and Coding Test.
How to prepare for Cognizant Data Engineer interview?
Go through your CV in detail and study all the technologies mentioned in your CV. Prepare at least two technologies or languages in depth if you are appearing for a technical interview at Cognizant. The most common topics and skills that interviewers at Cognizant expect are SQL, Python, Azure, AWS and Data Modeling.
What are the top questions asked in Cognizant Data Engineer interview?

Some of the top questions asked at the Cognizant Data Engineer interview -

  1. What are all the issues you faced in your project? What is Global Parameter? Wh...read more
  2. What is the difference between supervised and unsupervised learni...read more
  3. How to find delta between two tables in S...read more
How long is the Cognizant Data Engineer interview process?

The duration of Cognizant Data Engineer interview process can vary, but typically it takes about less than 2 weeks to complete.

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Cognizant Data Engineer Interview Process

based on 32 interviews

2 Interview rounds

  • Technical Round - 1
  • Technical Round - 2
View more

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Cognizant Data Engineer Salary
based on 2k salaries
₹3.8 L/yr - ₹15.2 L/yr
20% less than the average Data Engineer Salary in India
View more details

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based on 139 reviews

3.5/5

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3.5

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3.4

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3.0

Salary

3.2

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3.3

Company culture

2.7

Promotions

3.1

Work satisfaction

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