Natera Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

Natera is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, focusing on oncology, women’s, and organ health. They aim to make personalized genetic testing a standard for earlier, targeted healthcare interventions.

As a Software Engineer at Natera, you’ll join a dynamic team dedicated to developing and maintaining reliable, secure, scalable applications. You’ll engage with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, R&D, software architects, and senior leadership, to optimize systems and workflows. This role involves designing and implementing software solutions using Python, Java, React, and Angular.

This guide will walk you through the interview process, typical Natera software engineer interview questions, and useful tips to help you prepare. Let’s get started!

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

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

Once your CV is shortlisted, a Natera Talent Acquisition Team recruiter will contact you for an initial screening. This call will verify your key details, such as your experience and skill level. Expect behavioral questions and possibly some technical questions to gauge your fit for the role.

The recruiter may also address your queries about the role and the company. Discussions may include surface-level technical and behavioral questions.

This call typically lasts about 30 minutes.

First Round of Interviews

If you pass the initial screening, you will move on to the first round of technical interviews. This round is often conducted via video conferencing tools. Questions may focus on your understanding of job-specific technologies such as Java, Python, Spring, Hibernate, and other key areas mentioned in the job posting.

The first round might also involve general behavioral questions, situational questions, and questions related to your previous work experiences.

Take-Home Assignment

After clearing the first round, you will be given a take-home assignment that is relevant to your job role. This assignment might be on a new topic or a specific technical problem that requires you to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and knowledge in the field. Complete it within the given timeframe and submit it for evaluation.

Technical Final Round

The final technical round typically involves solving some coding problems that might range from easy to medium difficulty, similar to problems found on LeetCode. This round will likely include further discussions about your take-home assignment and may delve deeper into your technical knowledge and problem-solving methods.

Onsite Interview Rounds (if applicable)

For some roles, particularly senior positions or those requiring extensive stakeholder interaction, you may be invited for an on-site interview loop. Multiple interview rounds can be expected during this day at a Natera office, ranging from technical evaluations to discussions focused on cultural fit.

If you were assigned take-home exercises, a presentation round might be incorporated to discuss your approach and solutions in greater detail.

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

1. How would you determine if the click-through rate results from an AB test are statistically significant?

You want to launch a re-design of a landing page to improve the click-through rate using an AB test. How would you infer if the click-through rate results were statistically significant?

2. Create a function calculate_rmse to compute the root mean squared error between predictions and target values.

Write a function calculate_rmse to calculate a regression model’s root mean squared error. The function should take in two lists, one representing the predictions y_pred and another with the target values y_true.

3. Write a query to get the last transaction for each day from a table of bank transactions.

Given a table of bank transactions with columns id, transaction_value, and created_at representing the date and time for each transaction, write a query to get the last transaction for each day. The output should include the transaction ID, the transaction’s datetime, and the transaction amount. Order the transactions by datetime.

4. Write a function to get a sample from a standard normal distribution.

Create a function to generate a sample from a standard normal distribution.

5. Develop a function is_contained to check if a circle is between two concentric circles.

We have two concentric circles a and b, each with a radius r_a and r_b where r_b > r_a. The third circle c has a radius r_c and center point center_c. Write a function is_contained(r_a, r_b, r_c, center_c) which returns True if the circle c occupies the space between circle a and b. Otherwise, return False. Note: a and b center points are (0,0).

6. How would you build a model to predict which merchants DoorDash should acquire in a new market?

As a data scientist at DoorDash, describe the steps you would take to build a predictive model for identifying which merchants the company should target for acquisition when entering a new market.

7. How would you assign point values to letters in Spanish Scrabble if you don’t know Spanish?

If you are tasked with building Scrabble for Spanish users and don’t know Spanish, explain your approach to assigning point values to each letter.

Here are some tips on how you can ace your Natera software engineer interview:

1. Understand the Role Requirements: Natera seeks candidates with specialized skills in bioinformatics, software development, and cloud technologies. Familiarize yourself with the specific tools and technologies listed in the job description.

2. Prepare for Technical and Behavioral Questions: Be ready to discuss your past experiences, particularly those demonstrating your problem-solving skills and ability to work within an agile development environment.

3. Communication is Key: Effective communication skills are highly valued at Natera. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly when discussing technical solutions and during behavioral interview questions.

4. Do Follow-Up: Follow up post-interview if no feedback is provided within the expected timeframe.

What is the average salary for a Software Engineer at Natera?

According to Glassdoor, software engineers at Natera earn between $133K to $193K per year, with an average of $159K per year.

What is the company culture like at Natera?

Natera fosters a collaborative and inclusive workplace where professionals from various backgrounds work together. The culture emphasizes transparency, teamwork, and a commitment to quality work. Employees enjoy significant opportunities for growth and are encouraged to take risks and innovate.

What benefits does Natera offer?

Natera offers competitive benefits, including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, free genetic testing for employees and their families, fertility care benefits, and more. They also provide pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, and generous employee referral programs.

Natera offers a vibrant environment where your technical capabilities will be challenged and expanded. From developing innovative bioinformatics pipelines to creating robust web portals, your work will enhance healthcare experiences and patient outcomes globally.

Good luck with your interview! Learn more about Natera’s pioneering work and explore the full array of opportunities they offer in our Natera main interview guide.