1500+ System Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

A database is a collection of organized data that can be easily accessed, managed, and updated. There are different types of databases such as relational, NoSQL, and object-oriented databases.

• Types of databases include relational databases (e.g. MySQL, Oracle), NoSQL databases (e.g. MongoDB, Cassandra), and object-oriented databases (e.g. db4o).

• We use database joins to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column between them.

• Database joins help in retrievin...read more

Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language used for web development, data analysis, and artificial intelligence.

• Python is easy to learn and has a simple syntax.

• It has a large standard library with many pre-built modules.

• Python is used for web development with frameworks like Django and Flask.

• It is also used for data analysis with libraries like NumPy and Pandas.

• Python is case sensitive.

• It is a popular language for artificial intelligence and machine learning.

• Pyt...read more

To delete a table in SQL, you can use the DROP TABLE statement.

• Use the DROP TABLE statement followed by the table name to delete the table.

• Make sure to backup any important data in the table before deleting it.

• Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to delete the table.

Yes, Python is a case sensitive language.

• Variable names 'myVar' and 'myvar' are different in Python.

• Keywords like 'if', 'else', 'while' are case sensitive.

• Function names and method names are also case sensitive.

Inner join returns only the matching rows from both tables while outer join returns all rows from both tables.

• Inner join only returns the rows that have matching values in both tables.

• Outer join returns all rows from both tables, even if there are no matching values.

• Left outer join returns all rows from the left table and matching rows from the right table.

• Right outer join returns all rows from the right table and matching rows from the left table.

• Full outer join returns all ...read more

SMTP and POP are email protocols used for sending and receiving emails respectively.

• SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and is used for sending emails.

• POP stands for Post Office Protocol and is used for receiving emails.

• SMTP server is responsible for sending emails from one email client to another.

• POP server is responsible for receiving emails from the email server and delivering them to the email client.

• Examples of SMTP servers include Gmail's SMTP server smtp.gmai...read more

Interview questions for System Engineer position

• String builder is a class in Java that allows you to build strings dynamically

• OOPS stands for Object-Oriented Programming System and is a programming paradigm

• Exception handling is a mechanism to handle runtime errors in a program

• Code to remove duplicates in hello world: String str = "hello world"; str = new LinkedHashSet<>(Arrays.asList(str.split(""))).stream().collect(Collectors.joining());

Method overloading is having multiple methods in the same class with the same name but different parameters. Method overriding is having a method in a subclass with the same name and parameters as a method in the superclass.

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

• Method overriding involves a method in a subclass with the same name and parameters as a method in the superclass.

• Method overloading is determined at...read more

The 4 pillars of OOPS are encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.

• Encapsulation: bundling of data and methods into a single unit

• Inheritance: ability of a class to inherit properties and methods from another class

• Polymorphism: ability of an object to take on many forms

• Abstraction: hiding unnecessary details and providing only essential information

Yes, I am willing to learn coding if it is needed.

• I have some basic knowledge of coding and am willing to improve my skills.

• I am a quick learner and can adapt to new technologies easily.

• I am open to taking courses or attending training sessions to improve my coding skills.

• Learning coding will also help me better understand the systems I work with.

• For example, I have experience with Python and SQL, and can learn other languages as needed.

Routing protocols are used to determine the best path for data to travel in a network.

• Distance Vector protocols: RIP, IGRP, EIGRP

• Link State protocols: OSPF, IS-IS

• Hybrid protocols: BGP

• Path Vector protocols: BGP

• IGP vs EGP

I have implemented various projects including X, Y, and Z which have real-world applications.

• Project X involved developing a system for automating inventory management, which has helped the company save time and reduce errors.

• Project Y was focused on improving the efficiency of the production line by implementing predictive maintenance, resulting in a significant reduction in downtime.

• Project Z was aimed at enhancing the security of the company's network by implementing multi...read more

Yes, I have certifications in AWS and Azure cloud technologies.

• Certified AWS Solutions Architect

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate

• Completed training courses on Google Cloud Platform

The pay offered is below market standards for a System Engineer.

• The pay offered is significantly lower than the industry average for a System Engineer.

• I would like to discuss the salary further to understand the compensation package and benefits.

• Considering my qualifications and experience, I believe I deserve a higher salary.

• I am open to negotiation and would like to explore the possibility of a higher pay.

• A fair and competitive salary is important for attracting and retaini...read more

Cloud technologies offer numerous benefits such as scalability, cost savings, flexibility, and increased collaboration.

• Scalability: Cloud technologies allow businesses to easily scale their resources up or down based on demand.

• Cost savings: Cloud services eliminate the need for upfront hardware and infrastructure investments, reducing costs.

• Flexibility: Cloud platforms provide the flexibility to access data and applications from anywhere, at any time.

• Increased collaboration: ...read more

Constructor is a special method used to initialize objects in a class.

• Constructors have the same name as the class they belong to.

• They are called automatically when an object is created.

• They can take parameters to initialize the object's properties.

• They do not have a return type.

• Multiple constructors can be defined with different parameters.

• Example: public class Car { public Car(String make, String model) { ... } }

Inheritance is a mechanism in object-oriented programming where a new class is created by inheriting properties of an existing class.

• Inheritance allows code reusability and saves time and effort in programming.

• The existing class is called the parent class or superclass, and the new class is called the child class or subclass.

• The child class inherits all the properties and methods of the parent class and can also add its own unique properties and methods.

• For example, a class A...read more

System operation in electrical transmission refers to the management and control of the transmission system to ensure reliable and efficient power delivery.

• System operation involves monitoring and controlling the flow of electricity through transmission lines.

• It includes tasks such as load balancing, voltage control, and fault detection and isolation.

• Operators use various tools and technologies, such as SCADA systems, to monitor and manage the transmission system.

• System opera...read more

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a reliable, connection-oriented protocol that provides error checking and flow control.

• TCP is responsible for breaking data into packets and reassembling them at the destination

• TCP header contains source and destination port numbers, sequence and acknowledgement numbers, and flags

• TCP uses a three-way handshake to establish a connection and a four-way handshake to terminate it

Thread pool is a collection of threads that are used to execute tasks concurrently. It helps in reducing the overhead of thread creation.

• Thread pool manages a fixed number of threads and assigns tasks to them as they become available.

• It helps in improving the performance of applications by reducing the time taken to create and destroy threads.

• Thread pool can be managed using various parameters such as the size of the thread pool, the priority of threads, and the maximum numbe...read more

C is a procedural language while Java is an object-oriented language.

• C is a low-level language while Java is a high-level language.

• C requires manual memory management while Java has automatic garbage collection.

• Java is platform-independent while C is platform-dependent.

• Java has built-in support for multithreading while C does not.

• C is faster than Java in terms of execution speed.

Retesting focuses on testing the same functionality again, while regression testing focuses on testing the impact of changes on existing functionalities.

• Retesting is done to ensure that a specific bug or issue has been fixed properly.

• Regression testing is done to ensure that new code changes have not adversely affected existing functionalities.

• Retesting is usually performed by the same tester who found the bug, while regression testing can be performed by any tester.

• Examples:...read more

Smoke testing is a preliminary test to check if the software build is stable, while sanity testing is a subset of regression testing to verify specific functionality.

• Smoke testing is done to ensure the critical functionalities of the software are working fine after a build, while sanity testing is done to verify specific changes or fixes.

• Smoke testing is a shallow and wide approach to testing, covering all major areas of the software, while sanity testing is a focused and nar...read more

Some popular tools for automation testing include Selenium, Appium, JUnit, TestNG, and Cucumber.

• Selenium: widely used for web application testing

• Appium: for mobile application testing

• JUnit: for unit testing in Java

• TestNG: for testing in Java

• Cucumber: for behavior-driven development testing

To delete a table in SQL, use the DROP TABLE statement.

• Use the DROP TABLE statement followed by the table name.

• Make sure to use the correct database and schema if necessary.

• Be careful when deleting tables as it will permanently remove all data.

• Example: DROP TABLE my_table;

DDL stands for Data Definition Language and DML stands for Data Manipulation Language.

• DDL is used to define the structure of a database, including tables, columns, and constraints.

• DML is used to manipulate the data within the database, including inserting, updating, and deleting records.

• Examples of DDL commands include CREATE TABLE, ALTER TABLE, and DROP TABLE.

• Examples of DML commands include INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE.

• DDL is used less frequently than DML in day-to-day operat...read more

The OSI Reference Model is a conceptual framework that standardizes the functions of a telecommunication or computing system into seven layers.

• The OSI Reference Model stands for Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model.

• It consists of seven layers: Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, and Application.

• Each layer has specific functions and communicates with the adjacent layers for data transmission.

• For example, the Physical layer deals with the phy...read more

Five essential UNIX commands are ls, cd, pwd, mkdir, and rm.

• ls - list directory contents

• cd - change directory

• pwd - print working directory

• mkdir - make directory

• rm - remove files or directories

TCP is a connection-oriented protocol that ensures reliable data delivery, while UDP is a connectionless protocol that focuses on speed.

• TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol and is used for reliable data transmission.

• TCP establishes a connection between sender and receiver before data transfer.

• TCP uses sequencing and acknowledgment to ensure data integrity.

• UDP stands for User Datagram Protocol and is used for faster data transmission.

• UDP does not establish a connection...read more

while and do while are loops in programming. JOIN in SQL is used to combine data from two or more tables.

• while loop executes the code block as long as the condition is true

• do while loop executes the code block at least once and then checks the condition

• JOIN in SQL combines data from two or more tables based on a related column

• INNER JOIN returns only the matching rows from both tables

• LEFT JOIN returns all the rows from the left table and matching rows from the right table

• RIGHT...read more

Yes, I have knowledge of multiple programming languages.

• I am proficient in Java and Python.

• I also have experience with C++, JavaScript, and SQL.

• I am constantly learning and expanding my knowledge of programming languages.

Pre increment and post increment are unary operators used to increment the value of a variable by 1.

• Pre increment (++x) increments the value of x and then returns the new value.

• Post increment (x++) returns the value of x and then increments it.

• Both operators are commonly used in loops and can also be used with other arithmetic operations.

• Pre increment is faster than post increment as it does not require a temporary variable to store the original value.

Code to allocate memory to an object

• Use the 'new' keyword in C++ to allocate memory to an object

• Use 'malloc' function in C to allocate memory to an object

• In Java, memory is automatically allocated to an object using 'new' keyword

• In Python, memory is automatically allocated to an object when it is created

Controls in UI are interactive elements that allow users to input data or interact with the application.

• Controls include buttons, input fields, checkboxes, dropdowns, sliders, etc.

• In Angular, controls are designed using directives like ngModel, ngForm, ngIf, ngFor, etc.

• In React, controls are created as components with state and props to manage user input.

• In Vue, controls are defined in the template using v-model, v-bind, v-on directives.

OOP stands for Object-Oriented Programming. Python and C differ in syntax, memory management, and application areas. A program to reverse a string can be written using loops or slicing.

• OOP is a programming paradigm that focuses on objects and their interactions.

• Python is a high-level language with dynamic typing and automatic memory management, while C is a low-level language with static typing and manual memory management.

• To reverse a string using loops, iterate through the ...read more

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between clients and servers, forwarding requests and responses.

• Proxy server acts as a middleman between clients and servers

• It forwards client requests to the appropriate server

• It caches data to improve performance

• It can be used for filtering and blocking certain content

• Examples: Squid, Nginx, Apache HTTP Server

Yes, I have experience working with coding languages such as Python, Java, and C++.

• Experience with Python, Java, and C++

• Developed scripts and applications using these languages

• Familiar with object-oriented programming concepts

TRUNCATE removes all records from a table, while DELETE removes specific records based on a condition.

• TRUNCATE is faster than DELETE as it does not log individual row deletions.

• TRUNCATE resets the auto-increment value of the table, while DELETE does not.

• TRUNCATE cannot be rolled back, while DELETE can be rolled back if used within a transaction.

• TRUNCATE does not trigger any delete triggers on the table, while DELETE does.

Transistors are electronic devices that amplify or switch electronic signals. Rectifiers are devices that convert AC to DC.

• Transistors are fundamental building blocks of modern electronic devices.

• They are used to amplify weak signals, switch electronic signals, and control the flow of current.

• Transistors can be categorized into different types such as bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) and field-effect transistors (FETs).

• Rectifiers are electronic devices used to convert alte...read more

I use various methods like monitoring disk usage, deleting unnecessary files, resizing partitions, and implementing quotas.

• Regularly monitor disk usage to identify any potential issues

• Delete unnecessary files and folders to free up space

• Resize partitions to allocate more space to critical areas

• Implement disk quotas to limit space usage for users or applications

R, L, and C are basic electronic components used in circuits for resistance, inductance, and capacitance respectively.

• Resistors (R) limit current flow and reduce voltage

• Inductors (L) store energy in a magnetic field and resist changes in current

• Capacitors (C) store energy in an electric field and pass AC signals while blocking DC signals

• These components are used in various circuits such as filters, oscillators, and amplifiers

C++ supports polymorphism through virtual functions and inheritance.

• C++ allows for function overloading and overriding to achieve polymorphism.

• Polymorphism in C++ can be achieved through both compile-time (static) and runtime (dynamic) polymorphism.

• Virtual functions in C++ enable dynamic binding, allowing objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass.

• Inheritance in C++ allows derived classes to inherit and override methods from base classes, ena...read more

Constructor overloading is creating multiple constructors with different parameters in a class.

• It allows creating objects with different initializations.

• Constructors can have different number or types of parameters.

• Example: class Person { Person(){} Person(String name){}}

• Example: class Rectangle { Rectangle(){} Rectangle(int length){} Rectangle(int length, int width){}}

Power regeneration is the process of converting kinetic energy into electrical energy to be reused in a traction system.

• During braking, the kinetic energy of the moving vehicle is converted into electrical energy by the traction system.

• This electrical energy is then stored in batteries or capacitors for later use, reducing energy consumption and increasing efficiency.

• Regenerative braking is a common example of power regeneration in electric vehicles.

• The process helps in reduc...read more

Transistors are semiconductor devices that amplify or switch electronic signals.

• Transistors are used in electronic devices such as computers, televisions, and radios.

• They have three terminals: the emitter, base, and collector.

• Transistors can be either NPN or PNP, depending on the type of semiconductor material used.

• They are essential components in modern electronics and have replaced vacuum tubes.

• Transistors can be used in amplifiers, oscillators, and digital circuits.

User logon and logout can be logged by enabling auditing and configuring security policies.

• Enable auditing in group policy settings

• Configure security policies to audit logon and logoff events

• View logs in Event Viewer

• Use third-party tools for more advanced logging and analysis

Yes, Python is a complete Object Oriented Programming Language.

• Python supports all the major features of OOP such as inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism.

• Everything in Python is an object, including classes and functions.

• Python allows for multiple inheritance, which is a key feature of OOP.

• Python also supports abstract classes and interfaces through the use of modules like abc.

• Examples of OOP concepts in Python include creating classes and objects, using inheritance t...read more