20+ Research Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Used high degree polynomial fit for better accuracy

• Higher degree polynomial fits can capture more complex relationships between variables

• May be necessary for accurate predictions in certain scenarios

• However, can lead to overfitting if not used carefully

Active filters are electronic circuits that use active components to filter out unwanted signals from a circuit.

• Different types of active filters include low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-stop filters.

• Designing an active filter involves selecting the appropriate filter topology, choosing the cutoff frequency and gain, and selecting the appropriate active components such as operational amplifiers.

• For example, a Sallen-Key filter is a common type of active filter that us...read more

Digital offers better accuracy, flexibility, and storage capabilities than analog.

• Digital signals can be processed and manipulated with greater precision than analog signals.

• Digital systems are more flexible and can be easily reconfigured or updated compared to analog systems.

• Digital data can be easily stored and retrieved, whereas analog data requires physical storage space.

• Examples include digital audio and video recording, digital communication systems, and digital medical...read more

Thermo-acoustic instabilities are oscillations in gas turbines caused by the interaction between combustion and acoustics.

• Occurs when the heat release rate and the acoustic modes of the combustor are coupled

• Can lead to high-amplitude pressure oscillations that can damage the turbine

• Can be mitigated by altering the geometry of the combustor or by using active control methods

• Examples include the Helmholtz resonator and the Rijke tube

Robotics operating system (ROS) is a flexible framework for developing robot software.

• ROS provides libraries and tools to help software developers create robot applications.

• It offers a communication infrastructure for connecting different components of a robot system.

• ROS supports various programming languages such as C++, Python, and Java.

• It has a large community of developers who contribute to its development and maintenance.

• ROS is used in various fields such as industrial a...read more

Ripple power supplies are electronic devices that convert AC voltage to DC voltage with a small amount of AC ripple.

• They are commonly used in electronic devices such as computers and televisions.

• The ripple voltage can cause interference with sensitive electronic components.

• Ripple power supplies can be regulated or unregulated.

• Regulated ripple power supplies use feedback to maintain a constant output voltage.

• Unregulated ripple power supplies do not use feedback and have a vary...read more

Arrays are used to store multiple values of the same data type. Pointers are used to store memory addresses of variables.

• Arrays are accessed using index notation, e.g. array[0]

• Pointers can be used to access array elements, e.g. *(array+0)

• Arrays can decay into pointers when passed to functions

• Pointers can be used to dynamically allocate memory for arrays

IOT is the interconnection of physical devices, vehicles, buildings, and other objects embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity.

• IOT enables devices to communicate with each other and with humans, creating a network of interconnected devices.

• It allows for the collection and analysis of data from these devices, leading to improved efficiency and decision-making.

• Examples include smart homes, wearable technology, and industrial automation.

• IOT has the...read more

BFS algorithm is used to traverse a graph in a breadth-first manner.

• BFS starts at the root node and explores all the neighboring nodes at the current depth before moving to the next depth.

• It uses a queue data structure to keep track of the nodes to be visited.

• BFS can be used to find the shortest path between two nodes in an unweighted graph.

• Example problem: Given a binary tree, find its minimum depth.

Use SQL query with ORDER BY and LIMIT to find 2nd highest salary.

• Use SELECT statement to retrieve salary column

• Use ORDER BY clause to sort salaries in descending order

• Use LIMIT 1,1 to skip the highest salary and retrieve the 2nd highest salary

Reverse a given string

• Create a new string and iterate through the original string in reverse order, appending each character to the new string

• Alternatively, use built-in functions like reverse() or StringBuilder in languages like Python or Java

• Example: Input 'hello' -> Output 'olleh'

Introducing bias is not useful in research as it can lead to inaccurate results and unethical practices.

• Bias can lead to inaccurate results and skew the findings of a study

• It can also lead to unethical practices such as discrimination and prejudice

• Researchers should strive to eliminate bias in their studies to ensure validity and reliability

• Examples of bias include selection bias, confirmation bias, and publication bias

Memory layout in C program refers to how variables are stored in memory.

• Variables are stored in memory in a specific order based on their data types and sizes.

• Local variables are typically stored on the stack, while dynamically allocated memory is stored on the heap.

• Memory layout also includes the concept of memory alignment to optimize memory access.

• Example: int x; char c; double d; will be stored in memory as x -> c -> padding -> d.

Yes

• I have relevant work experience in conducting research and development in the field of engineering.

• During my previous role as a Research Engineer at XYZ Company, I worked on various projects related to developing new technologies and improving existing systems.

• I conducted experiments, collected and analyzed data, and presented findings to the team.

• I also collaborated with cross-functional teams to design and implement solutions to engineering challenges.

• One example of my w...read more

Orthographic projections are 2D representations of a 3D object from different views.

• Orthographic projections show the object from the front, top, and side views.

• Each view is drawn as if looking directly at that face of the object.

• Lines representing the edges of the object are projected onto the 2D plane.

• The views are typically labeled as front (F), top (T), and side (S).

C++ concepts include object-oriented programming, classes, inheritance, polymorphism, templates, and memory management.

• Object-oriented programming is a programming paradigm based on the concept of objects, which can contain data in the form of fields and code in the form of procedures.

• Classes are user-defined data types that contain data members and member functions.

• Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and behavior from another class.

• Polymorphism allows objects of...read more

CFD is a branch of fluid mechanics that uses numerical methods and algorithms to solve and analyze problems involving fluid flow.

• CFD stands for Computational Fluid Dynamics

• It involves using numerical methods to solve and analyze fluid flow problems

• Applications include aerodynamics, heat transfer, and chemical reactions

• Common software used for CFD simulations include ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, and COMSOL Multiphysics