Dataminr, Inc. Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

Dataminr is the world’s leading real-time information discovery platform, delivering the earliest warnings on high-impact events and emerging risks. Recognized as a top AI business, Dataminr aids in faster response, risk mitigation, and crisis management for various organizations. It serves over two-thirds of the Fortune 50 companies and is valued at $4.1 billion.

As a Software Engineer at Dataminr, you’ll join a fast-moving engineering team dedicated to delivering innovative solutions in a highly distributed, data-intensive environment. Your role will involve working on scalable backend systems, contributing to production code from day one, and collaborating with a diverse, talented team. This position offers remote flexibility or the option to work in their New York City office. If you’re passionate about AI and real-time data, Dataminr could be your next career move.

In this guide, we will walk you through the process with insights, common Dataminr, Inc. software engineer questions, and expert tips to help you succeed in your interview.

The interview process usually depends on the role and seniority; however, you can expect the following on a Dataminr software engineer interview:

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

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

Sometimes, the Dataminr hiring manager may also participate 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 entire recruiter call should take about 30 minutes.

Technical Virtual Interview

Successfully navigating the recruiter round will invite you to the technical screening round. Technical screening for the Dataminr Software Engineer role typically involves virtual means, including video conference and screen sharing. Questions in this 1-hour long interview may cover topics such as data structures, algorithms, and coding skills. The technical test may require writing code to solve a specific problem, such as implementing the Fibonacci sequence.

Depending on the seniority of the position, questions related to system design, microservices, and distributed systems may also be incorporated.

Onsite Interview Rounds

Following a second recruiter call outlining the next stage, you’ll be invited to attend the on-site (or virtual-onsite) interview loop. Multiple interview rounds will be conducted, varying with the role, focusing on both technical and behavioral aspects.

You might face interviews with various team members, including those from product management, engineering, and data science teams. Your technical proficiency, coding, and problem-solving abilities will be evaluated thoroughly. You may also have a managerial round to assess your fit within the team and the company’s culture.

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

1. 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.

2. Write a function to merge two sorted lists into one sorted list.

Write a function to merge two sorted lists into one sorted list. Bonus: What’s the time complexity?

3. Write a function missing_number to find the missing number in an array.

You have an array of integers, nums of length n spanning 0 to n with one missing. Write a function missing_number that returns the missing number in the array. Complexity of (O(n)) required.

4. Write a function precision_recall to calculate precision and recall metrics from a 2-D matrix.

Given a 2-D matrix P of predicted values and actual values, write a function precision_recall to calculate precision and recall metrics. Return the ordered pair (precision, recall).

5. Write a function to search for a target value in a rotated sorted array.

Suppose an array sorted in ascending order is rotated at some pivot unknown to you beforehand. You are given a target value to search. If the value is in the array, then return its index; otherwise, return -1. Bonus: Your algorithm’s runtime complexity should be in the order of (O(\log n)).

6. 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 a correct model for this problem? If you proceed with the decision tree, how would you evaluate its performance before and after deployment?

7. How does random forest generate the forest and why use it over logistic regression?

Explain how a random forest generates its forest of trees. Additionally, discuss why you might choose random forest over other algorithms like logistic regression.

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

Compare two machine learning algorithms. In which scenarios would you use a bagging algorithm versus a boosting algorithm? Provide examples of the tradeoffs between the two.

9. How would you justify using a neural network model and explain its 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 this model and explain its predictions to non-technical stakeholders?

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

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

11. Would you suspect anything unusual about the A/B test results with 20 variants?

Your manager ran an A/B test with 20 different variants and found one significant result. Would you consider this result suspicious?

12. How would you set up an A/B test to optimize button color and position for higher click-through rates?

A team wants to A/B test changes in a sign-up funnel, such as changing a button from red to blue and/or moving it from the top to the bottom of the page. How would you design this test?

13. What steps would you take if friend requests on Facebook are down 10%?

A product manager at Facebook reports a 10% decrease in friend requests. What actions would you take to investigate and address this issue?

14. Why might job applications be decreasing while job postings remain constant?

You observe that the number of job postings per day has remained stable, but the number of applicants has decreased. What could be causing this trend?

15. Is this a fair coin based on 10 flips resulting in 8 tails and 2 heads?

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.

16. How would you write a function to calculate the sample variance of a list of integers?

Write a function that outputs the sample variance given a list of integers. Round the result to 2 decimal places. Example input: test_list = [6, 7, 3, 9, 10, 15]. Example output: get_variance(test_list) -> 13.89.

17. How would you find the median of a sorted list where more than 50% of the list is the same integer in O(1) time and space?

Given a list of sorted integers where more than 50% of the list is the same repeating integer, write a function to return the median value in (O(1)) computational time and space. Example input: li = [1,2,2]. Example output: median(li) -> 2.

18. What are the drawbacks of the given student test score data layouts, and how would you reformat them for better analysis?

Assume you have data on student test scores in the layouts shown in Dataset 1 and Dataset 2. Identify the drawbacks of these layouts, suggest formatting changes to make the data more useful for analysis, and describe common problems seen in “messy” datasets.

A few tips for acing your Dataminr interview include:

1. Clear Communication: Given the technical nature of the interviews, clearly articulate your thought process and solutions. Clear communication is key to making a positive impression.

2. Research the Company: Gain a solid understanding of Dataminr’s products and services, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experiences align with the company’s mission and values.

3. Prepare for Rejection: While the interview process may go well, be aware that communication post-interview can be generic. Be prepared for standard rejection letters and consider seeking constructive feedback from the recruiter.

What is the average salary for a Software Engineer at Dataminr, Inc.?

What technical skills are required for a Software Engineer role at Dataminr?

To succeed as a Software Engineer at Dataminr, you should have experience in Java, Scala, Python, or other object-oriented programming languages. You should also be skilled in working with microservices, distributed systems, and real-time streaming data. Strong data structures, algorithms, and API design knowledge are also essential.

Is Dataminr a good place for experienced professionals to work?

While Dataminr offers a collaborative and innovative culture with competitive benefits like comprehensive insurance, PTO, and equity options, reviews suggest that it might be more appealing to interns and those seeking their first job rather than seasoned professionals.

What benefits does Dataminr offer to its employees?

Dataminr provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, generous PTO, flexible sick days, remote work options, paid parental leave, mental health support, and company equity (RSUs). They also offer reimbursements for mental health and wellness apps.

How does Dataminr handle diversity and inclusion?

Dataminr is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion. It actively condemns racism and discrimination and supports a culture of allyship. Dataminr empowers employees through various opportunities, such as employee resource groups (ERGs) and learning and development funds, to ensure everyone can be their best, most authentic selves.

Dataminr offers a supportive work environment filled with opportunities for growth, meaningful projects, and a culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion. Their competitive benefits package is designed to support you both in and out of the workplace, from comprehensive health plans to generous PTO and parental leave.

Seize this opportunity to make a real-world impact by leveraging your skills in a company that values your unique contributions. Check out our main Dataminr, Inc. interview guide for further help as well!

Good luck with your application and the interview process!