Hugging Face is a leading AI research organization specializing in natural language processing (NLP) technologies. Known for their comprehensive open-source library Transformers, Hugging Face stands at the forefront of cutting-edge AI development and is deeply committed to democratizing machine learning for all.

Stepping into a role as a Software Engineer at Hugging Face is a challenging yet rewarding experience that requires strong skills in programming, machine learning, and hands-on experience with frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow. At Hugging Face, Software Engineers play a critical role in improving and expanding the functionality of NLP tools, making advanced AI research accessible and practical.

So, if you are considering a position at this innovative company, this guide is for you. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the interview process, commonly asked interview questions, and provide invaluable tips. Let’s get started!

Submitting Your Application

The first step is to submit a compelling application that reflects your technical skills and interest in joining Hugging Face as a software engineer. Whether you were contacted by a Hugging Face 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 from the Hugging Face Talent Acquisition Team will make contact and verify key details like your experiences and skill level. Behavioral questions may also be a part of the screening process.

In some cases, the Hugging Face software engineer 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.

Technical Virtual Interview

Successfully navigating the recruiter round will present you with an invitation for the technical screening round. Technical screening for Hugging Face software engineer roles usually is conducted through virtual means, including video conference and screen sharing. Questions in this 1-hour long interview stage may revolve around Hugging Face’s APIs, machine learning models, and software development practices.

In the case of software engineer roles, take-home assignments regarding coding challenges and system design are incorporated. Apart from these, your proficiency in problem-solving, data structures, and algorithms may also be assessed during the round.

Depending on the seniority of the position, case studies and similar real-scenario problems may also be assigned.

Onsite Interview Rounds

Followed by a second recruiter call outlining the next stage, you’ll be invited to attend the onsite interview loop. Multiple interview rounds, varying with the role, will be conducted during your day at the Hugging Face office. Your technical prowess, including programming and software development capabilities, will be evaluated against the finalized candidates throughout these interviews.

If you were assigned take-home exercises, a presentation round may also await you during the onsite interview for the software engineer role at Hugging Face.

Quick Tips For Hugging Face Software Engineer Interviews

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 Hugging Face interview include:

• Understand Hugging Face’s Products: Hugging Face questions may heavily rely on situational scenarios involving their products. Study Hugging Face’s APIs, models, and contributions to the NLP and machine learning community.
• Be Versatile with Languages and Frameworks: Hugging Face values engineers who are proficient in multiple programming languages and frameworks. Brush up on Python, transformer models, and other relevant tools.
• Embody the Culture: Hugging Face is known for its open source and community-oriented culture. Practice responding to behavioral questions with answers that reflect collaboration, innovation, and community involvement.

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

• Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department. Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department. If more than one person shares the highest salary, the query should select the next highest salary.

• Write a function to merge two sorted lists into one sorted list. Given two sorted lists, write a function to merge them into one sorted list. Bonus: What's the time complexity?

• Create 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.

• Develop 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).

• 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)).

• 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?

• How would you set up an A/B test for button color and position changes? 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?

• What would you do if friend requests on Facebook are down 10%? A product manager at Facebook reports a 10% decrease in friend requests. What steps would you take to address this issue?

• 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 been decreasing. What could be causing this trend?

• What are the drawbacks of the given student test score datasets, and how would you reformat them? You have data on student test scores in two different layouts. What are the drawbacks of these formats, and what changes would you make to improve their usefulness for analysis? Additionally, describe common issues in "messy" datasets.

• 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.

• Write a function to calculate sample variance from a list of integers. Create 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] Output: get_variance(test_list) -> 13.89

• Is there anything fishy 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. Evaluate if there is anything suspicious about these results.

• Write a function to return the median value of a list 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] Output: median(li) -> 2

• What are the drawbacks of the given student test score data layouts? You have data on student test scores in two different layouts. Identify the drawbacks of these layouts, suggest formatting changes for better analysis, and describe common problems in "messy" datasets.

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

• How does random forest generate the forest, and why use it over logistic regression? Explain how a random forest generates its forest of decision trees. Additionally, discuss why you might choose random forest over other algorithms like logistic regression.

• 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.

• 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?

• 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 completed a V1 of the model. What metrics would you use to track the accuracy and validity of the model?

What is the average salary for a Software Engineer at Hugging Face?

Q: What is the interview process at Hugging Face like?

The interview process at Hugging Face typically includes a recruiter call, technical interviews, and an onsite interview. The stages are designed to evaluate your coding skills, problem-solving abilities, and fit with the company culture.

Q: What are some common interview questions at Hugging Face?

Common interview questions at Hugging Face include technical questions, coding challenges, and behavioral questions. You should expect to discuss your past projects, coding strategies, and problem-solving techniques.

Q: What skills are required to work at Hugging Face as a Software Engineer?

To work as a Software Engineer at Hugging Face, you should have strong programming skills, familiarity with machine learning frameworks, and a good understanding of software development best practices. Knowledge of deep learning and NLP can be particularly advantageous.

Q: What is the company culture like at Hugging Face?

Hugging Face has a dynamic and inclusive company culture that promotes innovation and collaboration. The company values creativity, diversity, and a strong commitment to open-source contributions.

Q: How can I prepare for an interview at Hugging Face?

To prepare for an interview at Hugging Face, you should research the company, review machine learning concepts, and practice coding challenges on Interview Query. Be ready to discuss your previous work and how it aligns with the role you are applying for.

Interviewing for a Software Engineer position at Hugging Face offers a unique and enriching experience. If you want more insights about the company, check out our main Hugging Face 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 Hugging Face's 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 Hugging Face software engineer 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!