General Dynamics Mission Systems Overview

At General Dynamics Mission Systems, we rise to the challenge each day to ensure the safety of those that lead, serve, and protect the world we live in. By making the world's most advanced defense platforms even smarter, our engineers redefine what’s possible. We offer our employees a shared sense of purpose and commitment to a diverse and exciting workplace that fosters innovation and inclusivity.

As a Software Engineer at General Dynamics, you’ll be part of a cross-functional team developing and supporting mission-critical applications. We seek professionals with expertise in advanced computing software, hardware, embedded or systems development, and a passion for innovation. Strong technical skills in software languages, hardware interfaces, and Agile methodologies are preferred.

This guide will prepare you for the interview process, covering typical questions and valuable tips to help you succeed in joining one of the leading defense firms. Dive into your preparation with Interview Query and get ready to make an impact.

Submitting Your Application

The first step is to submit a compelling application that reflects your technical skills and interest in joining General Dynamics as a Software Engineer. Whether you were contacted by a GD 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 or hiring manager from General Dynamics will make contact and verify key details like your experiences and skill level. Behavioral questions may also be a part of the screening process.

During this round, the hiring manager might discuss the role and the company itself, while indulging 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 Software Engineer role at General Dynamics usually is conducted through virtual means, including video conference and screen sharing. This stage may involve questions about data structures, algorithms, and your understanding of core computer science concepts. A common question might be to explain what polymorphism is and how it is used.

Onsite or Panel Interview Rounds

This is typically a two-round process. The first round is with the hiring manager and focuses on your technical skills, where basic technical questions about high-level computer science concepts are asked. The second round is with a panel, which might include technical leads and potential coworkers. This is more comprehensive and could cover both technical and behavioral aspects in greater depth.

Quick Tips for General Dynamics Software Engineer Interviews

Here are some tips for acing your interview with General Dynamics:

• Understand Security Requirements: Since many positions require security clearance, familiarize yourself with the clearance levels and the process involved in obtaining them.
• Brush Up on High-Level Concepts: Review core computer science principles such as data structures, algorithms, concurrency, as well as specific topics like polymorphism.
• Demonstrate Team Collaboration: Highlight your experience working in Agile teams and your ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

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

• Identify all duplicate values in a list of integers. Given a list of integers, identify all the duplicate values in the list. Assume that the list can contain both positive and negative numbers, and the order of the list does not matter. A number is considered a duplicate if it appears more than once in the list. Return a list of the duplicate numbers.

• Select the five most expensive projects by budget to employee count ratio. Write a query to account for duplicate rows in the employee_projects table and select the top five most expensive projects by budget to employee count ratio.

• Create a subquery or common table expression to find the top 3 ads and return join results. Create a subquery or common table expression named top_ads containing the top 3 ads by popularity and return the number of rows resulting from different join operations with the ads table.

• Find employees who joined before their manager. Given two tables, employees and managers, find the names of all employees who joined before their manager.

• Write a function to rotate a matrix by 90 degrees clockwise. Given an array filled with random values, write a function rotate_matrix to rotate the array by 90 degrees in the clockwise direction.

• - How do we select the best 10,000 customers for a pre-launch of a new show on Amazon Prime Video? You are working as a data scientist at Amazon Prime Video, and they want to test the launch of a new show on 10,000 customers first. How would you go about selecting the best 10,000 customers for the pre-launch?

• - What would the process look like for pre-launching the TV show on Amazon Prime to measure its performance? Describe the steps and metrics you would use to pre-launch the TV show on Amazon Prime and measure its performance.

• - How would you evaluate the results of an A/B test on an eCommerce checkout page for free shipping? You ran an A/B test on an eCommerce checkout page to see if surfacing free shipping increases conversions. The control group had no specification of free shipping, while the experiment group did. How would you evaluate the results and determine if the test was successful?

• - How would you conduct an experiment to test displaying ETA as a range instead of a direct estimate at Uber? A PM at Uber is considering a new feature to display ETA as a range (e.g., 3-7 minutes) instead of a direct estimate (e.g., 5 minutes). How would you conduct this experiment and determine if the results are significant?

• - How would you decide whether Google should build a game feature for Google Home? You are tasked with pitching a new feature for Google Home. A co-worker suggests building a game feature. How would you go about deciding whether Google should build it?

• - How would you measure the effectiveness of giving extra pay to delivery drivers during peak hours at a food delivery company? You work at a food delivery company and need to measure the effectiveness of giving extra pay to delivery drivers during peak hours to meet consumer demand. How would you measure this?

• What is the difference between Logistic and Linear Regression? When would you use one instead of the other?
  Explain the key differences between Logistic and Linear Regression. Describe scenarios where each method is more appropriate to use in practice.

• How would you explain what a p-value is to someone who is not technical? Explain the concept of a p-value in simple terms to someone without a technical background. Use analogies or everyday examples to make it understandable.

• What is the difference between Logistic and Linear Regression? When would you use one instead of the other in practice? Describe the key differences between Logistic and Linear Regression. Provide examples of scenarios where each method would be appropriately applied in practice.

What is the average salary for a Software Engineer at General Dynamics?

Q: What is the interview process like for a Software Engineer position at General Dynamics?

A: The interview process generally includes two rounds. The first round is with the hiring manager and the second round involves a panel interview. Both rounds typically cover high-level computer science concepts and basic technical questions. Examples include explaining concepts like polymorphism and its applications.

Q: What qualifications are needed for a Software Engineer position at General Dynamics?

A: The position generally requires a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering or a related field such as Science, Engineering, or Mathematics. Relevant experience can also be considered. Additionally, candidates must be able to obtain a Department of Defense security clearance and be U.S. citizens.

Q: What skills and experiences are preferred for the Software Engineer role at General Dynamics?

A: Preferred qualifications include advanced knowledge in computing software and hardware, embedded systems, various programming languages like C/C++, Python, and experience with Linux system services. Agile development experience is also highly valued.

Q: What is the company culture like at General Dynamics?

A: General Dynamics Mission Systems values a diverse and innovative employee experience that drives collaboration and creativity. The company offers a flexible work environment and highly competitive benefits. Employees have opportunities for continuous learning and development, and there is a strong emphasis on teamwork and inclusivity.

Q: How can I prepare for an interview at General Dynamics?

A: To prepare, research the company's mission and values, and practice common interview questions with Interview Query. Brush up on technical skills, particularly in areas mentioned in the job description, such as high-performance computing and embedded systems.

Conclusion

The Software Engineer position at General Dynamics offers an excellent opportunity to be part of a dynamic team developing cutting-edge technologies that support national security and intelligence efforts. With a strong emphasis on both personal and professional growth, the role encourages continuous learning and development in a supportive and collaborative environment.

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main General Dynamics Mission Systems 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 General Dynamics’ 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 General Dynamics 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!