Blackstone Technology Group is a pioneering technology consulting firm that drives innovation in various sectors, including energy. Trellis Energy, a subsidiary specializing in SaaS solutions for the natural gas value chain, is seeking skilled Senior Java Software Engineers to join their Houston-based team. This hybrid role promises ample growth opportunities, involving full-stack development within a high-performing team. You'll collaborate with stakeholders at all levels, from users to management, and contribute to the design, development, and maintenance of enterprise-level software.

This guide will walk you through the interview process, commonly asked questions, and valuable tips to help you navigate your journey to becoming a Senior Software Engineer at Blackstone Technology Group. Let's get started with Interview Query!

Submitting Your Application

The first step is to submit a compelling application that reflects your technical skills and interest in joining Blackstone Technology Group as a Senior Software Engineer. Whether you were contacted by a Blackstone recruiter or have taken the initiative yourself, carefully review the job description and tailor your CV according to the prerequisites.

Tailoring your CV may include identifying specific keywords that the hiring manager might use to filter resumes and crafting a targeted cover letter. Furthermore, don’t forget to highlight relevant skills and mention your work experiences.

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

If your CV happens to be among the shortlisted few, a recruiter from the Blackstone Talent Acquisition Team will make contact and verify key details like your experiences and skill level. Behavioral questions may also be a part of the screening process.

In some cases, the Blackstone Software Engineer hiring manager stays present during the screening round to answer your queries about the role and the company itself. They may also indulge in surface-level technical and behavioral discussions.

The whole recruiter call should take about 30 minutes.

Technical Virtual Interview

Successfully navigating the recruiter round will present you with an invitation for the technical screening round. Technical screening for the Blackstone Software Engineer role is usually conducted through virtual means, including video conference and screen sharing. Questions in this 1-hour long interview stage may revolve around Java development, full stack development, and specific technologies like Spring, JPA/Hibernate, and relational databases such as Oracle or MySQL.

In the case of software engineering roles, take-home assignments regarding problem-solving, coding standards, and unit testing are incorporated. Apart from these, your proficiency in SDLC processes and methodologies like Agile, as well as continuous integration and deployment systems (CI/CD), may also be assessed during the round.

Depending on the seniority of the position, case studies and similar real-scenario problems may also be assigned.

Onsite Interview Rounds

Followed by a second recruiter call outlining the next stage, you’ll be invited to attend the onsite interview loop. Multiple interview rounds, varying with the role, will be conducted during your day at the Blackstone office. Your technical prowess, including programming and full stack development capabilities, will be evaluated against the finalized candidates throughout these interviews.

If you were assigned take-home exercises, a presentation round may also await you during the onsite interview for the Software Engineer role at Blackstone.

Quick Tips For Blackstone Technology Group Software Engineer Interviews

• Should contain three tips for interviewing for this specific company based on interview experiences.

You should plan to brush up on any technical skills and try as many practice interview questions and mock interviews as possible. A few tips for acing your Blackstone Technology Group interview include:

• Master Java and Related Frameworks: Blackstone places strong emphasis on Java development skills, especially with frameworks like Spring and JPA/Hibernate. Be sure to have a solid understanding and hands-on experience.
• Understand Full Stack Development: Familiarize yourself with both backend and frontend technologies as the role involves extensive full stack development. Discussing your experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in addition to backend technologies will be beneficial.
• Bring Business Acumen: Blackstone values candidates who understand business implications. Get to know Trellis Energy’s SaaS B2B marketplace and be prepared to present innovative ideas for product improvements based on your business understanding.

Typically, interviews at Blackstone Technology Group vary by role and team, but commonly Software Engineer interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

• Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department. Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department. If more than one person shares the highest salary, the query should select the next highest salary.

• Write a function to find the maximum number in a list of integers. Given a list of integers, write a function that returns the maximum number in the list. If the list is empty, return None.

• Create a function convert_to_bst to convert a sorted list into a balanced binary tree. Given a sorted list, create a function convert_to_bst that converts the list into a balanced binary tree. The output binary tree should be balanced, meaning the height difference between the left and right subtree of all the nodes should be at most one.

• Write a function to simulate drawing balls from a jar. Write a function to simulate drawing balls from a jar. The colors of the balls are stored in a list named jar, with corresponding counts of the balls stored in the same index in a list called n_balls.

• Develop a function can_shift to determine if one string can be shifted to become another. Given two strings A and B, write a function can_shift to return whether or not A can be shifted some number of places to get B.

• What are the drawbacks of having student test scores organized in the given layouts? Assume you have data on student test scores in two different layouts. Identify the drawbacks of these layouts and suggest formatting changes to make the data more useful for analysis. Additionally, describe common problems seen in "messy" datasets.

• How would you locate a mouse in a 4x4 grid using the fewest scans? You have a 4x4 grid with a mouse trapped in one of the cells. You can scan subsets of cells to know if the mouse is within that subset. Describe a strategy to find the mouse using the fewest number of scans.

• How would you select Dashers for Doordash deliveries in NYC and Charlotte? Doordash is launching delivery services in New York City and Charlotte. Describe the process for selecting Dashers (delivery drivers) and discuss whether the criteria for selection should be the same for both cities.

• What factors could bias Jetco's study on boarding times? Jetco, a new airline, was found to have the fastest average boarding times in a study. Identify potential factors that could have biased this result and what you would investigate further.

• How would you design an A/B test to evaluate a pricing increase for a B2B SAAS company? A B2B SAAS company wants to test different subscription pricing levels. Design a two-week-long A/B test to evaluate a pricing increase and determine if it is a good business decision.

• How much should we budget for the coupon initiative in total? A ride-sharing app has a probability (p) of dispensing a $5 coupon to a rider. The app services (N) riders. Calculate the total budget needed for the coupon initiative.

• What is the probability of both riders getting the coupon? A driver using the app picks up two passengers. Determine the probability that both riders will receive the coupon.

• What is the probability that only one of them will get the coupon? A driver using the app picks up two passengers. Determine the probability that only one of the riders will receive the coupon.

• What is a confidence interval for a statistic? Explain what a confidence interval is, why it is useful, and how to calculate it.

• What is the probability that item X would be found on Amazon's website? Amazon has a warehouse system where items are located at different distribution centers. Given the probabilities that item X is available at warehouse A (0.6) and warehouse B (0.8), calculate the probability that item X would be found on Amazon's website.

• Is this a fair coin? You flip a coin 10 times, and it comes up tails 8 times and heads twice. Determine if the coin is fair.

• What are time series models and why do we need them? Describe what time series models are and explain why they are necessary when simpler regression models exist.

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

• How would you evaluate the suitability and performance of a decision tree model for predicting loan repayment? You are tasked with building a decision tree model to predict if a borrower will repay a personal loan. How would you evaluate whether a decision tree is the correct model? If you proceed, how would you evaluate its performance before and after deployment?

• How does random forest generate the forest, and why use it over logistic regression? Explain how random forest generates its forest. Additionally, why would you choose random forest over other algorithms like logistic regression?

• How would you explain linear regression to a child, a first-year college student, and a seasoned mathematician? Explain the concept of linear regression to three different audiences: a child, a first-year college student, and a seasoned mathematician. Tailor your explanations to each audience's understanding level.

• What are the key differences between classification models and regression models? Describe the main differences between classification models and regression models.

What is the average salary for a Software Engineer at Blackstone Technology Group?

Q: What is the mission of Blackstone Technology Group? Blackstone Technology Group's mission is to deliver innovative technology solutions that address critical business needs. As a subsidiary, Trellis Energy focuses on transforming commercial operations in the natural gas value chain through their SaaS B2B marketplace.

Q: What responsibilities does the Senior Software Engineer, Java position entail? Responsibilities include full stack development, system architecture learning, coding standards adherence, leading design sessions, creating design specifications, developing and maintaining code and unit tests, collaborating on product enhancements, and mentoring other developers.

Q: What are the required qualifications for the Senior Software Engineer, Java role? Candidates need at least 7 years of experience in full stack and/or Java development, a relevant undergraduate degree, and skills in Java/JEE, Spring, JPA/Hibernate, relational databases, application servers, and IDE tools like Eclipse or IntelliJ. Proficiency in SDLC processes and CICD systems is also essential.

Q: What makes working at Trellis Energy and Blackstone Technology Group appealing? Working with Trellis Energy offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative solutions in the energy market. Employees enjoy a hybrid work model, a chance to make meaningful product improvements, and comprehensive benefits, including full health insurance coverage.

Q: How can I prepare for an interview at Blackstone Technology Group? To prepare, familiarize yourself with the company's mission, practice common interview questions, and review your technical skills on Interview Query. Be ready to discuss your past experiences and how they align with the job requirements.

Considering a role at Blackstone Technology Group, particularly with Trellis Energy, presents a robust opportunity for growth and innovation in the energy sector. As a Senior Software Engineer, you have the chance to make significant contributions to a groundbreaking SaaS B2B marketplace while collaborating with an engaged and talented team. This role offers not only the chance to expand your technical prowess across various platforms and frameworks but also the opportunity to impact the natural gas industry's commercial operations meaningfully.

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main Blackstone Technology Group Interview Guide, where we have covered many interview questions that could be asked. We've also created interview guides for other roles, such as software engineer and data analyst, where you can learn more about Blackstone Technology Group's interview process for different positions.

At Interview Query, we empower you to unlock your interview prowess with a comprehensive toolkit, equipping you with the knowledge, confidence, and strategic guidance to conquer every Blackstone Technology Group interview question and challenge.

You can check out all our company interview guides for better preparation, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Good luck with your interview!