100+ System Engineer Hardware Interview Questions and Answers

Counting letter-pairs with same no. of letters left between them in the word SERVANT.

• Identify the letter-pairs in the word SERVANT.

• Count the number of letters between each pair.

• Compare the count with the position of the pair in the word.

• If they match, increment the count of such pairs.

• Answer the total count of such pairs.

List and tuple are both data structures in Python, but they have some differences.

• Lists are mutable, while tuples are immutable.

• Lists use square brackets [], while tuples use parentheses ().

• Lists are typically used for collections of homogeneous items, while tuples are used for heterogeneous items.

• Lists are usually used for sequences that will be modified, while tuples are used for sequences that will not be modified.

• Lists have more built-in methods than tuples.

Explains difference between string object, string literal and string buffer. Also, sorts array and finds pair of numbers.

• String object is an instance of a class, string literal is a sequence of characters enclosed in double quotes, and string buffer is a mutable sequence of characters.

• To sort an array of strings, use Arrays.sort() method.

• To find a pair of numbers in an array that add up to a target value, use a nested loop to compare each element with every other element.

• Exam...read more

Interview questions for Systems Engineer role

• Roles and responsibilities of a Systems Engineer

• Work experiences and technical skills required for the role

• Explanation of Automation Framework used in a project

• Basic concepts of Java programming language

• Understanding of Maps, List, and Sets in Java

• Knowledge of Selenium automation tool

• Understanding of TestNG testing framework

Programming is essential for automating tasks, solving complex problems, and creating innovative technologies.

• Programming is needed to automate repetitive tasks and increase efficiency.

• It is essential for developing software applications, websites, and mobile apps.

• Programming allows for the creation of innovative technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality.

• Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of objects, which can ...read more

Referential integrity constant ensures that a foreign key value always refers to an existing primary key value.

• It maintains consistency between related tables

• It prevents orphaned records

• It enforces data integrity

• Example: A foreign key in the Orders table refers to the primary key in the Customers table

ACID properties are a set of properties that ensure reliability and consistency of data in a database.

• ACID stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability.

• Atomicity ensures that a transaction is treated as a single, indivisible unit of work.

• Consistency ensures that the database remains in a valid state before and after a transaction.

• Isolation ensures that concurrent transactions do not interfere with each other.

• Durability ensures that once a transaction is commit...read more

Selecting 0.95 of the whole dataset helps in training the model on a larger portion of the data while still having enough for testing.

• Using 0.95 of the dataset ensures that the model is trained on a majority of the data, leading to better generalization.

• Having a larger training set can help in capturing more patterns and relationships in the data.

• Reserving 0.05 of the dataset for testing allows for evaluating the model's performance on unseen data.

• This split ratio is commonly...read more

Delete, drop, truncate, and join are SQL commands with different functionalities.

• DELETE: Removes specific rows from a table based on a condition.

• DROP: Deletes an entire table or database object from the database.

• TRUNCATE: Removes all rows from a table, but keeps the table structure.

• JOIN: Combines rows from two or more tables based on a related column between them.

Different types of transformations in Informatica include active and passive transformations, as well as union and joiner transformations.

• Active transformations are those which change the number of rows that pass through them, such as Filter or Router transformations.

• Passive transformations do not change the number of rows that pass through them, such as Expression or Lookup transformations.

• Union transformation combines data from multiple pipelines into a single pipeline.

• Join...read more

Static variable is a variable that retains its value even after the function execution is completed.

• Static variables are declared inside a function with the keyword 'static'.

• They are initialized only once and retain their value throughout the program.

• They have a default value of 0 if not initialized explicitly.

• They are useful in situations where we need to maintain the state of a variable across function calls.

Global variables are accessible throughout the program, while local variables are only accessible within a specific function.

• Global variables can be accessed and modified by any function or module in the program.

• Local variables are declared within a specific function and can only be accessed within that function.

• Global variables can cause naming conflicts and make debugging difficult.

• Local variables are preferred for their encapsulation and reduced risk of naming conflicts.

The most difficult coding problems in the coding round were related to optimizing algorithms and handling complex data structures.

• Optimizing algorithms for efficiency

• Handling complex data structures like trees and graphs

• Implementing dynamic programming solutions

• Dealing with multi-threading and concurrency issues

Explanation of Collection API, ArrayList internal implementation and syntax for HashMap

• Collection API is a set of interfaces and classes that provide a framework for handling groups of objects

• ArrayList is a resizable array implementation of List interface in Collection API

• ArrayList internally uses an array to store the elements and dynamically increases its size as required

• Syntax for HashMap: HashMap map = new HashMap();

Yes, I am familiar with ticketing tools.

• I have experience using JIRA for issue tracking and project management.

• I have also used ServiceNow for IT service management.

• Other ticketing tools I am familiar with include Zendesk and Freshdesk.

• I understand the importance of using ticketing tools to efficiently manage and track issues.

• I am comfortable using ticketing tools to communicate with team members and stakeholders.

Covariance measures the relationship between two variables, correlation measures the strength and direction of a relationship, and multicollinearity occurs when independent variables in a regression model are highly correlated.

• Covariance is a measure of how two variables change together. It can be positive, negative, or zero.

• Correlation is a standardized measure of the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables. It ranges from -1 to 1.

• Multicollinearity i...read more

SCD stands for Slowly Changing Dimensions and lookups in Informatica are used to perform data transformations by looking up data from a reference table.

• SCD is used to track changes to dimension data over time.

• There are three types of SCD - Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3.

• Lookups in Informatica are used to perform data transformations by looking up data from a reference table.

• Lookups can be connected to different types of sources like flat files, databases, etc.

• Example: In a Type 2...read more

A signal is a physical quantity that varies with time, conveying information. A sine wave is a periodic signal.

• A signal can be electrical, acoustic, or optical.

• Signals can be analog or digital.

• Examples of signals include sound waves, radio waves, and voltage signals.

• A sine wave is a smooth, repetitive oscillation that can be described mathematically.

• It is characterized by its amplitude, frequency, and phase.

Pass statement skips the current iteration and continue statement skips the current iteration and moves to the next one.

• Pass statement is used to do nothing and move to the next iteration in a loop.

• Continue statement is used to skip the current iteration and move to the next one in a loop.

• Pass statement is used when a statement is required syntactically but no action is needed.

• Continue statement is used when a condition is met and the current iteration needs to be skipped.

DELETE is a SQL command used to remove rows from a table.

• DELETE is used with the WHERE clause to specify which rows to remove

• It can also be used with JOIN to delete rows from multiple tables

• The deleted rows can be recovered using the ROLLBACK command

Learning Python as a newbie

• Start with basic syntax and data types

• Practice coding exercises and challenges

• Read documentation and watch tutorials

• Join online communities and forums for support

• Work on personal projects to apply knowledge

Code for infinite loop and prime number check

• For infinite loop: while(1) { //code }

• For prime number check: bool isPrime(int n) { for(int i=2; i<=sqrt(n); i++) { if(n%i == 0) return false; } return true; }

• Infinite loop can be used for continuous monitoring or background tasks

• Prime number check is useful in cryptography and number theory

CSS can be included in HTML in three ways.

• Inline CSS - using the style attribute in HTML tags

• Internal CSS - using the

OOPs concepts are the fundamental principles of Object-Oriented Programming that help in designing and implementing software systems.

• Encapsulation: bundling of data and methods that operate on that data

• Inheritance: creating new classes from existing ones

• Polymorphism: ability of objects to take on multiple forms

• Abstraction: hiding implementation details and showing only functionality

• Examples: Java, C++, Python, Ruby

Place by value passes a copy of the value, while place by reference passes a reference to the original value.

• Place by value creates a new copy of the value, while place by reference uses the original value.

• Place by value is used for simple data types like integers and floats, while place by reference is used for complex data types like arrays and objects.

• An example of place by value is passing an integer to a function, while an example of place by reference is passing an arra...read more

Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach by James Kurose and Keith Ross

• Provides a comprehensive overview of computer networking concepts and protocols

• Covers both theoretical foundations and practical applications

• Includes real-world examples and case studies for better understanding

Use SQL query with LIMIT clause to display top 5 rows from a table.

• Use SELECT statement to retrieve data from the table

• Add LIMIT 5 at the end of the query to display only the top 5 rows

Yes, I have experience working with Production Environments.

• Managed and maintained production servers to ensure uptime and performance

• Deployed software updates and patches in production environments

• Troubleshooted and resolved issues in live production systems

OOPs principles are encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.

• Encapsulation is the process of hiding implementation details from the user.

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

• Polymorphism allows objects to take on multiple forms or behaviors.

• Abstraction is the process of hiding complex implementation details from the user.

• Objects are instances of classes that contain data and behavior.

• Classes are templates for creating objects wit...read more

Method overriding is when a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method that is already provided by its parent class, while method overloading is when multiple methods have the same name but different parameters.

• Method overriding involves inheritance and is used to provide a specific implementation of a method in a subclass.

• Method overloading involves having multiple methods with the same name but different parameters in the same class.

• In method overriding, the me...read more

Languages that support OOPS concept include Java, C++, Python, C#, and Ruby.

• Java

• C++

• Python

• C#

• Ruby

React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Fragments are used to group elements without adding extra nodes to the DOM.

• React is used for building reusable UI components

• Fragments are used to group elements without adding extra nodes to the DOM

• Divs are not used because they add extra nodes to the DOM

• Fragments are more efficient than divs when rendering lists of items

Java OOPS is class-based and strongly typed, while Python OOPS is dynamic and duck-typed.

• Java OOPS requires explicit declaration of data types, while Python OOPS does not.

• Java OOPS has strict rules for inheritance and polymorphism, while Python OOPS allows for more flexibility.

• Java OOPS has a more verbose syntax, while Python OOPS is more concise and readable.

• Example: Java - public class Car extends Vehicle; Python - class Car(Vehicle):

Different types of CSS styling include inline, internal, external, and imported stylesheets.

• Inline CSS is applied directly to an HTML element using the style attribute.

• Internal CSS is defined within the head section of an HTML document using the style tag.

• External CSS is stored in a separate file and linked to the HTML document using the link tag.

• Imported stylesheets allow for modular CSS by importing one stylesheet into another using the @import rule.

Python is a versatile programming language used in various real-world applications such as web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and automation.

• Web development: Django and Flask are popular Python frameworks for building websites and web applications.

• Data analysis: Python is widely used in data science for tasks like data cleaning, visualization, and machine learning.

• Artificial intelligence: Python libraries like TensorFlow and PyTorch are used for developi...read more

OOPS stands for Object-Oriented Programming System. It is a programming paradigm based on the concept of objects.

• OOPS is based on four main concepts: encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.

• Encapsulation is the process of hiding the implementation details of an object from the outside world.

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

• Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as if they were of the same...read more

Polymorphism refers to the ability of an object to take on many forms. There are two types of polymorphism: compile-time and runtime.

• Compile-time polymorphism is achieved through function overloading and operator overloading.

• Runtime polymorphism is achieved through virtual functions and function overriding.

• Example of compile-time polymorphism: function overloading - multiple functions with the same name but different parameters.

• Example of runtime polymorphism: virtual functio...read more

Common causes for boot failure include hardware issues, software errors, and incorrect BIOS settings.

• Hardware failure (e.g. faulty hard drive, RAM issues)

• Software errors (e.g. corrupted operating system files)

• Incorrect BIOS settings (e.g. boot order misconfiguration)

I have worked on a keyword-driven automation framework using Selenium and TestNG.

• Used Excel sheets to store test data and keywords

• Implemented reusable functions for common actions

• Integrated with Jenkins for continuous integration

• Supported parallel execution for faster testing

Scrum is an agile framework for managing and completing complex projects.

• Scrum involves a team working together to complete a project in short iterations called sprints.

• The team has daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress and plan for the day.

• Scrum emphasizes flexibility and adaptability to changing requirements.

• The product owner prioritizes the backlog of work and the team works to complete the highest priority items first.

• Scrum includes roles such as the Scrum Master, P...read more

Data encapsulation is the bundling of data with the methods that operate on that data, while data hiding is the concept of hiding the implementation details of a class from the outside world.

• Data encapsulation bundles data and methods together to protect data from outside interference.

• Data hiding hides the implementation details of a class, allowing only necessary information to be accessed.

• Encapsulation helps in achieving data abstraction and information hiding.

• Example: In o...read more

Identifying circuits in a schematic involves understanding the symbols and connections used in the diagram.

• Familiarize yourself with common symbols used in schematics

• Trace the connections between components to identify circuits

• Use a multimeter to test for continuity and isolate circuits

• Look for patterns in the schematic to identify repeating circuits

Transition from mechanical core to IT was driven by passion for technology and desire to work on cutting-edge systems.

• Passion for technology and interest in IT drove the transition

• Desire to work on cutting-edge systems and innovative projects

• Opportunity to expand skill set and explore new career paths

• Recognized the growing importance of IT in modern industries

HashMap, set, and lists are different data structures used in programming for storing and organizing data efficiently.

• HashMap: key-value pairs, allows fast lookup of values based on keys (e.g. phonebook)

• Set: collection of unique elements, no duplicates allowed (e.g. set of unique user IDs)

• Lists: ordered collection of elements, allows duplicates and maintains insertion order (e.g. list of tasks)

Garbage collector in JAVA is a program that automatically frees up memory by removing objects that are no longer in use.

• Garbage collector is a part of JVM that manages memory allocation and deallocation

• It runs in the background and frees up memory by removing objects that are no longer in use

• It helps prevent memory leaks and improves performance

• Examples of garbage collectors in JAVA are Serial, Parallel, CMS, and G1

The Travelling Salesman Problem is a classic optimization problem where a salesman must visit a set of cities exactly once and return to the starting city with the shortest possible route.

• Involves finding the shortest possible route that visits each city exactly once and returns to the starting city

• Considered a NP-hard problem, meaning there is no known efficient algorithm to solve it for large number of cities

• Applications in logistics, network routing, DNA sequencing, etc.

• Ex...read more

Hash maps and hash tables are data structures that store key-value pairs and use a hash function to map keys to values for efficient retrieval.

• Hash maps and hash tables are used to implement associative arrays, dictionaries, and sets.

• They use a hash function to compute an index into an array of buckets or slots, where the value is stored.

• Collision resolution techniques like chaining or open addressing are used to handle situations where multiple keys map to the same index.

• Exa...read more