GE Digital Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

GE Digital is a pioneering company focused on transforming the world's energy infrastructure through innovative software solutions.

As a Software Engineer at GE Digital, you will play a critical role in the design, development, and maintenance of advanced software applications that drive energy transition for the planet. Your key responsibilities will include programming components and features in a fast-paced, agile environment, collaborating with product line leaders to translate requirements into actionable user stories, and implementing functionalities in SCADA application software. A successful candidate will bring strong expertise in programming languages like C/C++ and a solid understanding of object-oriented programming (OOP). You will also engage in cross-functional collaboration, ensuring high-quality deliverables while driving process improvements and enhancing team efficiency.

To excel in this position, you'll need to possess strong debugging and troubleshooting skills, along with experience in networking and serial communication. The ideal candidate demonstrates proactive leadership, effective communication, and the ability to mentor team members. Your technical proficiency will be complemented by your business acumen, allowing you to assess the impact of technology choices and explore alternative solutions for complex problems.

This guide aims to equip you with the necessary insights and knowledge to prepare effectively for your interview, ensuring you stand out as a candidate who embodies GE Digital's values and commitment to innovation in software engineering.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at GE Digital is designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the team. It typically consists of several structured rounds that evaluate your programming abilities, problem-solving skills, and experience with relevant technologies.

1. Application and Initial Screening

The process begins with an online application, where candidates submit their resumes and cover letters. Following this, a recruiter conducts an initial screening call, which lasts about 30 minutes. During this call, the recruiter will discuss your background, motivations for applying, and general fit for the company culture. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the role and the team.

2. Technical Assessment

Candidates who pass the initial screening are invited to participate in a technical assessment. This may involve a coding assignment or a take-home project, where you might be asked to create a simple application or solve a programming challenge. The focus is often on data structures and algorithms, as well as your ability to write clean, efficient code. You may also be asked to demonstrate your understanding of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles.

3. Virtual Interview with Managers

The next step typically involves a virtual interview with the hiring managers or team leads. This round is more conversational and may include behavioral questions to assess your past experiences and how they align with the company's values. You might also encounter a few technical questions related to your coding assignment or previous projects, such as debugging a piece of code or discussing your approach to a specific problem.

4. In-Depth Technical Interview

If you progress past the managerial interview, you will likely face a more in-depth technical interview. This round may include multiple interviewers and cover a range of topics, including your familiarity with programming languages (such as C/C++), networking concepts, and specific protocols relevant to the role. Expect to engage in discussions about your previous projects, as well as hands-on coding exercises that test your problem-solving skills in real-time.

5. Final Interview and Offer

The final stage of the interview process usually involves a wrap-up discussion with HR or senior management. This is an opportunity for you to ask any remaining questions about the role, team dynamics, and company culture. If all goes well, you will receive an offer shortly after this interview.

As you prepare for your interviews, consider the types of questions that may arise in each of these stages, particularly those that focus on your technical expertise and past experiences.

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

Understand the Interview Structure

The interview process at GE Digital typically involves multiple rounds, including a virtual interview with managers and possibly a technical assignment. Familiarize yourself with the common structure: expect behavioral questions, discussions about your previous projects, and some technical questions related to programming concepts. Being prepared for a mix of these will help you navigate the interview smoothly.

Brush Up on Data Structures and Algorithms

Given the emphasis on data structures and algorithms in the role, make sure to review key concepts and practice coding problems. Focus on common algorithms, their time complexities, and how to implement them in your preferred programming language. Be ready to discuss your thought process and approach to solving problems, as interviewers may ask you to explain your reasoning.

Showcase Your Technical Skills

You may encounter questions related to Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and specific programming tasks, such as writing functions in C or JavaScript. Be prepared to demonstrate your coding skills live, as well as your ability to debug and troubleshoot code. Familiarize yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, such as SCADA applications and substation protocols, to show your relevant experience and knowledge.

Communicate Effectively

Strong communication skills are crucial for this role. Be clear and concise in your responses, and don’t hesitate to ask clarifying questions if you don’t understand something. When discussing your projects, focus on your contributions, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. This will demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and your capacity to work collaboratively.

Embrace the Company Culture

GE Digital is known for its supportive and friendly interview environment. Approach the interview with a positive attitude and be open to engaging with your interviewers. They appreciate candidates who can communicate well and work effectively in teams. Show enthusiasm for the role and the company’s mission, particularly in driving energy transition and innovation.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect behavioral questions that assess your teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses. Reflect on your past experiences and be ready to share specific examples that highlight your strengths and how they align with the company’s values.

Follow Up with Questions

At the end of the interview, take the opportunity to ask insightful questions about the team, projects, and company culture. This not only shows your interest in the role but also helps you gauge if GE Digital is the right fit for you. Tailor your questions based on your research about the company and the specific team you are interviewing with.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you will position yourself as a strong candidate for the Software Engineer role at GE Digital. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Software Engineer interview at GE Digital. The interview process will likely focus on your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience with software development methodologies. Be prepared to discuss your past projects, demonstrate your coding skills, and answer questions related to algorithms and object-oriented programming.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the principles of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and provide an example?

Understanding OOP is crucial for software development, especially in languages like C++ that GE Digital may utilize.

How to Answer

Discuss the four main principles of OOP: encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction. Provide a specific example from your experience where you applied these principles.

Example

“OOP is based on four main principles: encapsulation, which allows for data hiding; inheritance, which enables code reuse; polymorphism, which allows for method overriding; and abstraction, which simplifies complex systems. For instance, in a project I worked on, I created a base class for a vehicle and derived classes for car and truck, allowing for shared functionality while also implementing specific behaviors for each type.”

2. Describe a time when you had to debug a complex issue in your code. What was your approach?

Debugging is a critical skill for any software engineer, and interviewers want to see your problem-solving process.

How to Answer

Outline the steps you took to identify the issue, the tools you used, and how you resolved it. Emphasize your analytical skills and persistence.

Example

“I encountered a memory leak in a C++ application I was developing. I used tools like Valgrind to identify the source of the leak, which was a missing delete statement in a class destructor. After fixing the issue, I implemented additional tests to ensure that similar problems wouldn’t arise in the future.”

3. What data structures would you use to implement a LRU (Least Recently Used) cache?

This question tests your understanding of data structures and algorithms, which are essential for efficient software development.

How to Answer

Discuss the data structures you would choose and why, focusing on their time and space complexities.

Example

“To implement an LRU cache, I would use a combination of a hash map and a doubly linked list. The hash map allows for O(1) access to cache items, while the doubly linked list maintains the order of usage, allowing for O(1) insertion and deletion of the least recently used item.”

4. Can you write a function to reverse a linked list?

This question assesses your coding skills and understanding of linked lists.

How to Answer

Be prepared to write the function on a whiteboard or in a coding environment, explaining your thought process as you go.

Example

“To reverse a linked list, I would iterate through the list while maintaining three pointers: previous, current, and next. I would update the next pointer of the current node to point to the previous node, effectively reversing the links as I traverse the list.”

Algorithms and Problem Solving

5. How would you approach solving a problem using a divide and conquer strategy?

This question evaluates your understanding of algorithm design techniques.

How to Answer

Explain the divide and conquer approach and provide an example of a problem where you successfully applied this strategy.

Example

“Divide and conquer involves breaking a problem into smaller subproblems, solving each subproblem independently, and combining the results. For instance, I used this approach when implementing the merge sort algorithm, where I divided the array into halves, sorted each half recursively, and then merged the sorted halves back together.”

6. What is the time complexity of binary search, and how does it work?

Understanding time complexity is essential for evaluating algorithm efficiency.

How to Answer

Explain the binary search algorithm and its time complexity, providing context for its use.

Example

“Binary search works by repeatedly dividing a sorted array in half to locate a target value. The time complexity is O(log n) because with each iteration, the search space is halved, making it much more efficient than a linear search, which has a time complexity of O(n).”

7. Can you explain the difference between a stack and a queue?

This question tests your knowledge of fundamental data structures.

How to Answer

Discuss the key differences in terms of their operations and use cases.

Example

“A stack is a Last In First Out (LIFO) data structure, where the last element added is the first to be removed. In contrast, a queue is a First In First Out (FIFO) structure, where the first element added is the first to be removed. Stacks are often used for function call management, while queues are used in scenarios like task scheduling.”

8. Describe a project where you had to implement a complex algorithm. What challenges did you face?

This question allows you to showcase your experience and problem-solving skills in a real-world context.

How to Answer

Detail the project, the algorithm implemented, and the challenges encountered, along with how you overcame them.

Example

“In a project to optimize route planning for delivery trucks, I implemented Dijkstra’s algorithm. The challenge was handling dynamic changes in the road network. I addressed this by incorporating real-time data feeds and adjusting the algorithm to recalculate routes as conditions changed, ensuring efficient delivery times.”