Databricks Data Analyst Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

Databricks is a leading data and AI company revolutionizing data-driven decisions. With a mission to radically simplify the entire data lifecycle—from ingestion to ETL, BI, and ML/AI—Databricks is redefining data intelligence with its Lakehouse platform.

As a data analyst at Databricks, you are responsible for analyzing large datasets to extract insights, creating visualizations and dashboards, and preparing data for analysis. Expect to collaborate with cross-functional teams to support data-driven decision-making, generate reports, and conduct ad-hoc analyses.

In this guide, we will walk you through the interview process, including commonly asked Databricks data analyst interview questions and helpful tips. Let’s get started!

The interview process usually depends on the role and seniority, however, you can expect the following on a Databricks data analyst interview:

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

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

In some cases, the Databricks data analyst 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.

Online Test

Successfully navigating the recruiter call will present you with an invitation for an online test (OT). This round assesses your aptitude and basics of SQL and Python through multiple-choice questions spread across different sections. The time limit for this test is 2 hours.

Questions may include topics like: - Basic questions regarding aptitude. - SQL command functions and Python basics. - Questions related to ACID properties and data cleaning operations.

Technical Virtual Interview

After passing the online test, you will be invited to a technical screening round conducted virtually through video conferencing and screen sharing. Questions in this 1-hour long interview may revolve around Databricks’ data systems, ETL pipelines, and SQL queries.

Expect in-depth questions about your previous projects, and be prepared to answer how you clean datasets, and potentially demonstrate your knowledge with practical examples or mini-assignments regarding product metrics, analytics, and data visualization.

Onsite Interview Rounds

Followed by a second recruiter call outlining the next stage, you’ll be invited to attend the onsite interview loop, which may also be virtual depending on prevailing circumstances. Multiple interview rounds, varying with the role, will be conducted, assessing your technical prowess, including programming and machine learning modeling capabilities.

If you were assigned take-home exercises, a presentation round may also await you during the onsite interview for the data analyst role at Databricks.

Typically, interviews at Databricks vary by role and team, but commonly Data Analyst interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

1. Develop a function str_map to determine if a one-to-one correspondence exists between characters of two strings at the same positions.

Given two strings, string1, and string2, write a function str_map to determine if there exists a one-to-one correspondence (bijection) between the characters of string1 and string2.

2. Design three classes: text_editor, moving_text_editor, and smart_text_editor with specific functionalities.

Design three classes: text_editor, moving_text_editor, and smart_text_editor. Implement methods for writing, deleting, and special operations as defined. Ensure moving_text_editor and smart_text_editor extend text_editor with additional functionalities.

3. Write a function sum_pair_indices to find indices of two integers in an array that add up to a target integer.

Given an array and a target integer, write a function sum_pair_indices that returns the indices of two integers in the array that add up to the target integer. Ensure the solution works in O(n) time.

4. Write a query to show the number of users, transactions, and total order amount per month in 2020.

Write a SQL query to show the number of users, number of transactions placed, and total order amount per month in the year 2020. Use the transactions, products, and users tables.

5. Write a SQL query to compute the cumulative sum of sales for each product, sorted by product_id and date.

Write a SQL query to compute the cumulative sum of sales for each product, sorted by product_id and date. Use the sales table to track every purchase made on the store.

6. 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 based on this outcome.

7. What is the probability that a user has exactly 0 impressions?

You have an audience of size A and a limited amount of impressions B. Each impression goes to one user at random. Calculate the probability that a user receives exactly 0 impressions.

8. How would you determine if a two-sided coin is biased?

You are given a two-sided coin that could be fair or biased. Design a test to figure out if the coin is biased and describe the outcome that would indicate bias.

9. What is the probability that a user views more than 10 ads a day?

Users view 100 posts a day on a social media website, with each post having a 10% chance of being an ad. Calculate the probability that a user views more than 10 ads a day and approximate this value using the standard normal distribution’s cdf.

10. Which Facebook Ads payment option should you choose and why?

You have two options for paying Facebook Ads for your e-commerce product growth: - Pay within 90 days with a 6% fee on the principal. - Pay within 45 days with a 3% fee on the principal. Determine which option to choose and explain your reasoning.

11. 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 model’s accuracy and validity?

12. How would you build a model to bid on a new unseen keyword?

You are working on keyword bidding optimization with a dataset containing keywords and their bid prices. How would you build a model to bid on a new, unseen keyword?

13. How would you build a fraud detection model with a text messaging service for transaction approval?

You work at a bank that wants to detect fraud and implement a text messaging service to allow customers to approve or deny transactions flagged as fraudulent. How would you build this model?

14. Why has the number of job applicants been decreasing despite stable job postings?

You are analyzing a job board where job postings per day have remained constant, but the number of applicants has been decreasing. What could be the reasons for this trend?

15. What considerations should be made when testing hundreds of hypotheses with many t-tests?

You are conducting numerous t-tests to test various hypotheses. What factors should you consider to ensure the validity and reliability of your results?

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 Databricks data analyst interview include:

• Prepare on Multiple Domains: Databricks focuses heavily on theory questions which are more about what you know than practical application. Review concepts like ACID properties, data cleaning methods, and key SQL/Python commands.
• Know Databricks Tools: Familiarize yourself with Databricks’ platform and complimentary technologies. Knowing tools like Tableau, Databricks AI/BI, and supplemented CRM systems will give you an edge.
• Expect Rescheduling: Based on past experiences reported, the hiring process might go through sudden rescheduling. Stay flexible and hopeful because external factors like hiring freezes can influence timing.

What is the average salary for a Data Analyst at Databricks?

According to Glassdoor, Data Analysts at Databricks earn between $121K to $178K per year, with an average of $146K per year.

What skills are required for a Data Analyst at Databricks?

To excel as a Data Analyst at Databricks, you need 5+ years of experience working with B2B sales, marketing, or finance data. Proficiency in SQL, data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Databricks AI/BI), and an understanding of CRM systems like Salesforce are important. Experience with Databricks, CRM Analytics, and Python is an added advantage.

What kind of projects will I work on as a Data Analyst at Databricks?

At Databricks, you’ll be engaged in building analytic tools like dashboards, tables, analyses, and models. These tools will support hundreds of employees, including technical and non-technical sales teams, as well as company leaders globally. You’ll also manage strategic analytic projects and collaborate with stakeholders to provide visibility and insight into business operations.

What benefits does Databricks offer for the Data Analyst role?

Databricks offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, flexible time off, paid parental leave, family planning assistance, fitness reimbursement, annual career development fund, and mental wellness resources, among others.

Preparing for a Data Analyst position at Databricks can seem daunting, given the rigorous interview process and high expectations. However, with the right preparation and mindset, you can navigate through it successfully. To enhance your readiness, consider practicing with Interview Query, which provides in-depth guides on Databricks’ interview process. From understanding SQL and Python basics to grasping complex analytic tools and visualization techniques, these resources are invaluable.

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main Databricks Interview Guide, where we have covered numerous 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 Databricks’ interview process for different positions.

Good luck with your interview!