Formation Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Formation is a tech and AI-driven pharmaceutical company focused on revolutionizing drug development to bring new treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.

As a Software Engineer at Formation, you will be responsible for the design, development, and implementation of innovative software solutions that leverage emerging technologies. Your role will involve collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to align product vision and strategy, ensuring that software products are not only reliable and maintainable but also contribute to the overall efficiency of drug development processes. You will use your expertise in modern programming languages, frameworks, and best practices to optimize engineering processes and foster a culture of innovation within your team.

Key responsibilities include mentoring junior engineers, driving the execution of product roadmaps, identifying and mitigating technical risks, and continuously improving software development lifecycle practices. A great fit for this role will have strong communication skills, enabling you to translate complex technical concepts into actionable insights for stakeholders across various disciplines. Additionally, experience with AI technologies, cloud infrastructure, and a passion for developing quality products will greatly enhance your contribution to Formation’s mission.

This guide will help you prepare for your interview by providing insights into the skills and competencies valued by Formation, as well as the types of questions you may encounter. With a deeper understanding of the role and the company’s values, you will be well-equipped to showcase your strengths and fit for the position.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Formation is structured to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the company. It typically consists of several stages, each designed to evaluate different aspects of a candidate's qualifications and alignment with Formation's values.

1. Initial Recruiter Call

The process begins with a brief phone interview with a recruiter. This initial call usually lasts around 30 minutes and serves as an opportunity for the recruiter to gauge your interest in the role, discuss your background, and provide insights into the company culture and expectations. The recruiter will also assess your communication skills and determine if you align with Formation's mission and values.

2. Technical Phone Screen

Following the initial call, candidates typically undergo a technical phone screen with a member of the engineering team. This interview lasts about an hour and focuses on your technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, and familiarity with relevant technologies. Expect questions related to algorithms, coding challenges, and possibly system design, as well as discussions about your previous projects and experiences.

3. Take-Home Assignment

Candidates who perform well in the technical screen are often given a take-home assignment. This task is designed to evaluate your practical skills in a real-world scenario. You will be provided with a dataset or a problem statement to work on, and you will have a set amount of time to complete it. The assignment is an opportunity to showcase your coding abilities, analytical thinking, and familiarity with tools and technologies relevant to the role.

4. Onsite Interviews

Successful candidates are then invited for onsite interviews, which typically consist of multiple rounds. These interviews may include a panel of engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders. Each session will focus on different aspects, such as technical skills, collaboration, and cultural fit. You may be asked to present your take-home assignment, engage in coding exercises, and discuss your approach to problem-solving in a team environment.

5. Final Interview

The final stage often includes a conversation with senior leadership, such as the Chief Scientist or the CEO. This interview is less technical and more focused on assessing your alignment with the company's vision and values. It provides an opportunity for you to ask questions about the company culture, future projects, and your potential role within the team.

As you prepare for your interview, consider the types of questions that may arise in each of these stages, particularly those that relate to your technical skills and experiences.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Company’s Mission and Values

Formation is driven by a mission to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry through technology and AI. Familiarize yourself with their vision for AI in pharma and how their technology platforms aim to accelerate drug development. This understanding will not only help you align your answers with their goals but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the company’s mission.

Prepare for Technical Proficiency

As a Software Engineer, you will need to showcase your technical skills effectively. Brush up on your knowledge of algorithms, as they are crucial for problem-solving in software development. Be prepared to discuss your experience with programming languages, particularly Python, and any relevant frameworks or technologies you have used. Familiarity with cloud infrastructure and modern software deployment processes will also be beneficial, so be ready to discuss your experience in these areas.

Emphasize Collaboration and Communication Skills

Formation values exceptional collaboration and communication skills. Be prepared to share examples of how you have effectively worked with cross-functional teams in the past. Highlight your ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences. This will demonstrate your capability to engage with stakeholders from various disciplines, which is essential for the role.

Showcase Your Leadership Experience

If you have experience leading or mentoring engineering teams, be sure to discuss it. Formation is looking for candidates who can foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning. Share specific examples of how you have helped grow engineers at different levels and contributed to a positive team environment. This will show that you are not only technically proficient but also capable of nurturing talent within the organization.

Be Ready for Behavioral Questions

Expect behavioral questions that assess your ability to thrive in ambiguous and rapidly-changing environments. Prepare to discuss challenges you have faced in previous roles and how you navigated them. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, ensuring you convey your thought process and the impact of your actions.

Prepare for a Take-Home Assignment

Candidates often receive a take-home assignment as part of the interview process. Approach this task with diligence and creativity. Ensure that you understand the requirements clearly and allocate your time effectively. If you have experience with tools like Apache Spark, mention it, as it aligns with the technologies used at Formation. Be prepared to discuss your findings in detail during subsequent interviews.

Stay Engaged and Ask Questions

During your interviews, engage with your interviewers by asking insightful questions about the company culture, team dynamics, and future projects. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if Formation is the right fit for you. Inquire about their approach to innovation and how they support their engineering teams in achieving their goals.

Follow Up Professionally

Given the feedback from previous candidates about communication delays, it’s wise to follow up after your interviews. A polite email thanking your interviewers for their time and reiterating your enthusiasm for the role can help keep you on their radar. This demonstrates professionalism and a proactive attitude, which are qualities valued at Formation.

By following these tips, you will be well-prepared to navigate the interview process at Formation and make a strong impression as a candidate. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a software engineering interview at Formation. The interview process will likely focus on your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and your experience in leading and mentoring teams. Be prepared to discuss your past projects, your approach to software development, and how you can contribute to the company's mission of revolutionizing the pharma industry through technology.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the differences between various machine learning algorithms and when you would use each?

Understanding the nuances of different algorithms is crucial for a software engineer working with AI technologies.

How to Answer

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of algorithms like decision trees, random forests, and neural networks, and provide examples of scenarios where each would be appropriate.

Example

“Decision trees are great for interpretability and handling categorical data, while random forests improve accuracy by reducing overfitting. I would use a neural network for complex problems like image recognition, where the data is vast and unstructured.”

2. How would you handle imbalanced datasets in a machine learning project?

This question assesses your understanding of data preprocessing techniques.

How to Answer

Explain methods such as resampling, using different evaluation metrics, or applying algorithms that are robust to class imbalance.

Example

“I would first analyze the dataset to understand the extent of the imbalance. Then, I might use techniques like SMOTE for oversampling the minority class or adjust the class weights in the loss function to ensure the model pays more attention to the underrepresented class.”

3. Describe your experience with cloud infrastructure and how it impacts software deployment.

This question gauges your familiarity with modern deployment practices.

How to Answer

Discuss your experience with cloud platforms and how they facilitate scalability, reliability, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD).

Example

“I have worked extensively with AWS for deploying applications. Utilizing services like EC2 for compute power and S3 for storage allows for scalable solutions. Implementing CI/CD pipelines with tools like Jenkins has significantly reduced our deployment times and improved code quality.”

4. What strategies do you use to ensure code quality and maintainability in your projects?

This question evaluates your approach to software engineering best practices.

How to Answer

Talk about code reviews, automated testing, and documentation as key components of maintaining high-quality code.

Example

“I prioritize code reviews and pair programming to catch issues early. Additionally, I implement unit tests and integration tests to ensure functionality, and I maintain thorough documentation to help onboard new team members and facilitate future development.”

5. Can you explain the concept of containerization and its benefits?

This question tests your knowledge of modern software development practices.

How to Answer

Discuss how containerization works and its advantages in terms of consistency and scalability.

Example

“Containerization allows developers to package applications with all their dependencies, ensuring they run consistently across different environments. This reduces the ‘it works on my machine’ problem and simplifies scaling applications in cloud environments.”

Leadership and Collaboration

1. Describe a time when you had to mentor a junior engineer. What approach did you take?

This question assesses your leadership and mentoring skills.

How to Answer

Share a specific example that highlights your mentoring style and the impact it had on the junior engineer’s development.

Example

“I mentored a junior engineer by setting up regular one-on-one sessions to discuss their progress and challenges. I encouraged them to take ownership of a small project, providing guidance while allowing them to make decisions, which significantly boosted their confidence and skills.”

2. How do you handle conflicts within your team?

This question evaluates your conflict resolution skills.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to open communication and finding common ground.

Example

“When conflicts arise, I facilitate a meeting where each party can express their concerns. I focus on understanding the root cause and encourage collaboration to find a solution that aligns with our project goals.”

3. What is your experience with cross-functional teams, and how do you ensure effective collaboration?

This question gauges your ability to work with diverse teams.

How to Answer

Explain how you communicate and coordinate with different departments to achieve project objectives.

Example

“I regularly collaborate with product managers and data scientists to align on project goals. I ensure effective communication by setting up regular check-ins and using project management tools to keep everyone updated on progress and changes.”

4. How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple projects?

This question assesses your organizational skills.

How to Answer

Discuss your methods for prioritization, such as using frameworks or tools to manage workload effectively.

Example

“I use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance. This helps me focus on high-impact tasks while delegating or scheduling less critical ones, ensuring that project deadlines are met without compromising quality.”

5. Can you share an example of a successful product launch you led? What were the key factors?

This question evaluates your experience in product management and execution.

How to Answer

Highlight the steps you took to ensure a successful launch, including planning, execution, and post-launch analysis.

Example

“I led the launch of a new feature that improved user engagement. Key factors included thorough market research, cross-team collaboration, and a robust testing phase. Post-launch, we analyzed user feedback and metrics to iterate on the product quickly.”