Applied Materials Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

Applied Materials, Inc. is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display worldwide. Their expertise in modifying materials at atomic levels and on an industrial scale enables customers to transform possibilities into reality.

Joining Applied Materials as a Software Engineer offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies. The position involves developing software for the control systems of semiconductor process equipment, tackling challenging software problems, and contributing to innovation in material engineering on an atomic scale.

If you want to be part of this dynamic organization, this guide will help you navigate the interview process. It includes insights, applied materials software engineer interview questions, and expert tips from Interview Query to help you succeed. Let’s get started!

Initial Screening and HR Interview

Once your application passes the initial selection, a recruiter or HR representative will contact you to verify essential details about your experience and skill set. This initial phone screen might include some behavioral questions, and in some instances, the hiring manager may be part of this process to discuss the role and the company further. This phase typically lasts around 30 minutes.

Technical Interviews

Successfully passing the initial screening will lead to one or more technical interviews. These sessions usually revolve around coding problems, system design, and discussions on fundamental programming concepts. Here is a snapshot of potential interview segments:

1. Coding Problems:

   • Solve algorithm-related questions.
   • Tackle data structure problems involving arrays, linked lists, and real-time coding scenarios.

2. Systems Design:

   • Design a distributed system.
   • Propose solutions to manage different traffic loads.
   • Discuss design patterns and architecture.

3. Fundamental Programming Concepts:

   • Object-Oriented Programming (OOPS).
   • Multithreading and concurrency.
   • Memory allocation and pointer concepts in C/C++.
   • Specific questions about languages like Java and .NET/C#.

Here’s the breakdown between the technical rounds:

Written Test

1. Aptitude Round:

   • Includes logical reasoning, quant problems, and technical MCQs.
   • Cover topics like data structures, OS basics, percentages, and blood relations.

2. Programming Round:

   • Involves coding questions, puzzles, and general programming challenges.

Technical Interviews

1. First Technical Interview:

   • Discuss and analyze code from the written test.
   • Questions on previous projects and domain-specific knowledge.

2. Second Technical Interview with the Team:

   • In-depth technical discussions with team members.
   • Focus on real-world scenarios such as designing a photo-sharing system or deploying ML models in distributed environments.

HR and Managerial Rounds

1. HR Interview:

   • Non-technical questions focusing on cultural fit, career goals, and behavioral insights.

2. Final Managerial Round:

   • May cover project management scenarios, leadership qualities, and how you handle workplace conflicts.

Onsite Interview Rounds

If you’re invited to an on-site interview, be prepared for a series of interviews that include multiple technical and behavioral assessments. If you were previously assigned a take-home exercise, a presentation round where you pitch your solution might be part of this segment.

Offer Process

Post interviews, if selected, you will receive a verbal offer followed by an official offer letter, although it might take several weeks, as noted by some candidates.

Typically, interviews at Applied Materials vary by role and team, but commonly software engineer interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

1. What are type I and type II errors in hypothesis testing?

In hypothesis testing, type I errors (false positives) occur when you reject a true null hypothesis. In contrast, type II errors (false negatives) occur when you fail to reject a false null hypothesis. Describe the probability of making each type of error mathematically.

2. How would you select Dashers for Doordash deliveries in NYC and Charlotte?

Doordash is launching delivery services in NYC and Charlotte. How would you decide which Dashers to select for these deliveries? Would the selection criteria be the same for both cities?

3. How would you improve Google Maps and measure success?

As a PM on Google Maps, how would you improve the app? What metrics would you check to see if your feature improvements are successful?

4. Why are job applications decreasing despite stable job postings?

You observe that the number of job postings per day has remained stable, but the number of applicants has decreased. Why might this be happening?

5. How would you analyze the performance of a new LinkedIn feature without A/B testing?

As a data scientist at LinkedIn, you need to analyze a new feature that allows candidates to message hiring managers directly during the interview process. Due to engineering constraints, you can’t A/B test the feature before launching it. How would you analyze its performance?

6. Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department.

Write an SQL query to select the second-highest salary in the engineering department. If more than one person shares the highest salary, the query should select the next highest salary.

7. Create a function get_ngrams to return a dictionary of n-grams and their frequency in a string.

Write a function get_ngrams to take in a word (string) and return a dictionary of n-grams and their frequency in the given string.

8. Write a function to determine if a string is a palindrome.

Given a string, write a function to determine if it is a palindrome. A palindrome reads the same forwards and backward.

9. Write a query to find users currently “Excited” and never “Bored” with a campaign.

Write a query to find all users that are currently “Excited” and have never been “Bored” with a campaign.

10. Create a function moving_window to find the moving window average of a list.

Given a list of numbers nums and an integer window_size, write a function moving_window to find the moving window average.

11. What methods could you use to increase recall in product search results without changing the search algorithm?

As a data scientist at Amazon, you want to improve the search results for product searches but cannot change the underlying logic in the search algorithm. What methods could you use to increase recall?

12. What metrics would you use to track the accuracy and validity of a spam classifier model?

You are tasked with building a spam classifier for emails and have built a V1 of the model. What metrics would you use to track the accuracy and validity of the model?

13. How would you justify the complexity of a neural network model and explain its predictions to non-technical stakeholders?

Your manager asks you to build a model with a neural network to solve a business problem. How would you justify the complexity of building such a model and explain the predictions to non-technical stakeholders?

14. How would you evaluate and validate a decision tree model for predicting loan repayment?

As a data scientist at a bank, you are tasked with building a decision tree model to predict if a borrower will pay back a personal loan. How would you evaluate whether using a decision tree algorithm is the correct model for the problem? How would you evaluate the performance of the model before deployment and after?

15. When would you use a bagging algorithm versus a boosting algorithm?

You are comparing two machine learning algorithms. In which case would you use a bagging algorithm versus a boosting algorithm? Provide an example of the tradeoffs between the two.

16. What’s the probability that the second card is not an Ace?

You have to draw two cards from a shuffled deck, one at a time. Calculate the probability that the second card drawn is not an Ace.

17. How much do you expect to pay for a sports game ticket?

You can buy a scalped ticket for $50 with a 20% chance of not working. If it doesn’t work, you’ll need to buy a box office ticket for $70. Calculate the expected cost and how much money you should set aside for the game.

18. Is the coin fair if it comes up tails 8 times out of 10 flips?

You flip a coin 10 times, and it comes up tails 8 times and heads twice. Based on this outcome, determine if the coin is fair.

19. What is the difference between covariance and correlation?

Explain the difference between covariance and correlation, and provide an example to illustrate the concepts.

Here are some quick tips to ace your software engineer at Applied Materials:

• Emphasize Complex Problem Solving: Be prepared to discuss your approach to solving complex technical problems in past projects. Highlight real-world examples where you successfully implemented solutions.
• Be Proficient in Core Concepts: Review and practice core programming concepts, system design, and data structures. Use interview prep platforms for practice coding questions and mock interviews.
• Stay Composed Under Pressure: Applied Materials interviews may include problem-solving under time constraints. Practice staying calm and methodically approaching the problems presented.

What is the average salary for a Software Engineer at Applied Materials?

What is the company culture like at Applied Materials?

Applied Materials emphasizes a Culture of Inclusion where every employee feels they belong and are empowered to bring their whole self to work. The company values teamwork, innovation, and personal growth, offering a collaborative environment where great things are achieved together.

What kinds of projects might I work on as a Software Engineer at Applied Materials?

Projects typically involve developing software for the control systems of semiconductor process equipment. This includes creating interfaces for sensors, real-time control of devices, designing user interfaces, data collection and analysis, and implementing security measures. You will be involved in the full cycle of software development from design to deployment.

The journey to securing a Software Engineer position at Applied Materials is both challenging and rewarding, and we hope you find this interview guide useful as you navigate their process!

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main Applied Materials Interview Guide, where we have covered other interview questions that could be asked.

Good luck with your interview!