Tata Consultancy Services Data Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions. For over 55 years, TCS has partnered with leading businesses. As a cornerstone of the Tata Group, TCS boasts a workforce of over 615,000 consultants across 55 countries. It offers its clients innovative solutions driven by technology and business insights.

At TCS, the Data Engineer role is crucial for designing, managing, and optimizing data pipelines and infrastructures. Candidates applying for this position should possess strong skills in languages like Python and SQL and tools such as Spark, Azure, and AWS. The position involves multiple interview stages, including technical, managerial, and HR rounds, designed to evaluate problem-solving abilities, technical expertise, and cultural fit.

For aspiring candidates, this Interview Query guide offers detailed insights into the interview process, frequently asked Tata Consultancy Service data engineer interview questions, and preparation tips.

The interview process usually depends on the role and seniority; however, you can expect the following on a Tata Consultancy Services data engineer interview:

Online Aptitude Test

Once your application has been shortlisted, you must take an online aptitude test. This test typically includes sections on problem-solving skills, language skills, and basic to intermediate coding skills in any language, such as Java, C++, or Python. Make sure to prepare adequately for these sections as they form the first hurdle in the selection process.

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

If your aptitude test scores are satisfactory, a recruiter from TCS will make contact and verify key details like your experiences and skill level. Behavioral questions may also be a part of the screening process. Sometimes, the 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 invite you to the technical screening round. Technical screening for the TCS Data Engineer role is usually conducted virtually, including video conference and screen sharing. Questions in this one-hour interview stage may revolve around TCS’s data systems, ETL pipelines, SQL queries, and tools like Spark, PySpark, Databricks, and Azure Data Factory.

Case studies and similar real-scenario problems may also be assigned depending on the position’s seniority. Specific questions you might encounter include:

• How do you handle incremental data?
• Describe the project you are currently working on.
• Basic SQL coding tasks and Python functions.
• Scenario-based questions regarding your previous projects.

Managerial Interview

In this round, the focus shifts to assessing cultural fit and alignment with TCS values. Questions will likely revolve around your capability to work in a team, your leadership skills, and how you handle project challenges. Be prepared to answer questions like:

• Why are you interested in TCS?
• How do you manage team dynamics?
• Explain a situation where you demonstrated leadership.

This round also includes technical discussions, but the emphasis is on how you approach problems and project management tasks rather than coding.

HR Interview

The final stage of the interview process includes an HR round. This is generally more relaxed, but it’s crucial for determining if you fit well within the company’s culture. They will discuss your salary expectations, work location preferences, and other HR-related formalities. Questions may include:

• Are you comfortable with relocation?
• What are your salary expectations?
• How do you handle work-life balance?

Typically, interviews at Tata Consultancy Services vary by role and team, but commonly, Data Engineer interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

1. Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department.

Write an SQL query to select the second-highest salary in the engineering department. If more than one person shares the highest salary, the query should select the next highest salary.

2. Write a function to find the maximum number in a list of integers.

Given a list of integers, write a function that returns the maximum number in the list. If the list is empty, return None.

3. Create a function convert_to_bst to convert a sorted list into a balanced binary tree.

Given a sorted list, create a function convert_to_bst that converts the list into a balanced binary tree. The output binary tree should have a height difference of at most one between the left and right subtrees of all nodes.

4. Write a function to simulate drawing balls from a jar.

Write a function to simulate drawing balls from a jar. The colors of the balls are stored in a list named jar, with corresponding counts of the balls stored in the same index in a list called n_balls.

5. Develop a function can_shift to check if one string can be shifted to become another.

Given two strings A and B, write a function can_shift to return whether or not A can be shifted some number of places to get B.

6. What are the drawbacks of having student test scores organized in the given layouts?

Assume you have data on student test scores in two different layouts. Identify the drawbacks of these layouts and suggest formatting changes to make the data more useful for analysis. Additionally, describe common problems seen in “messy” datasets.

7. How would you locate a mouse in a 4x4 grid using the fewest scans?

You have a 4x4 grid with a mouse trapped in one of the cells. You can scan subsets of cells to know if the mouse is within that subset. Describe a strategy to locate the mouse using the fewest number of scans.

8. How would you select Dashers for Doordash deliveries in NYC and Charlotte?

Doordash is launching delivery services in New York City and Charlotte. Describe the process for selecting Dashers (delivery drivers) and discuss whether the criteria for selection should be the same for both cities.

9. What factors could bias Jetco’s study onboarding times?

Jetco, a new airline, had a study showing it has the fastest average boarding times. Identify potential factors that could have biased this result and what you would investigate further.

10. How would you design an A/B test to evaluate a pricing increase for a B2B SAAS company?

A B2B SAAS company wants to test different subscription pricing levels. Describe how you would design a two-week-long A/B test to evaluate a pricing increase and determine if it is a good business decision.

11. How much should we budget for the coupon initiative in total?

A ride-sharing app has a probability (p) of dispensing a $5 coupon to a rider. The app services (N) riders. Calculate the total budget needed for the coupon initiative.

12. What is the probability of both riders getting the coupon?

A driver using the app picks up two passengers. Determine the probability that both riders will receive the coupon.

13. What is the probability that only one of them will get the coupon?

A driver using the app picks up two passengers. Determine the probability that only one of the riders will receive the coupon.

14. What is a confidence interval for a statistic and why is it useful?

Explain what a confidence interval is, why it is useful to know the confidence interval for a statistic, and how to calculate it.

15. What is the probability that item X would be found on Amazon’s website?

Amazon has a warehouse system where items are located at different distribution centers. In one city, the probability that item X is available at warehouse A is 0.6 and at warehouse B is 0.8. Calculate the probability that item X would be found on Amazon’s website.

16. 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.

17. What are time series models, and why do we need them?

Explain what time series models are and why they are necessary when simpler regression models exist.

18. What are the assumptions of linear regression?

List and explain the key assumptions that must be met for linear regression to produce valid results.

19. How would you evaluate binary classification models using the area under the ROC curve (AUC)?

Given three models providing probabilities for class 1, describe how to build and use the AUC metric to evaluate their performance. After obtaining AUC scores of 0.1, 0.5, and 0.8 for the models, explain your evaluation and select the best model for the classifier.

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 Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) interview include:

1. Know Your Technical Stack: TCS questions can be detailed and specific, especially related to Spark, SQL, and Python technologies. Be thoroughly prepared to answer these questions and understand their real-world applications.

2. Be Clear on Concepts: Understanding the underlying concepts is crucial for data pipelines, ETL processes, and big data technologies. Be ready to explain your thought process and methodologies clearly.

3. Showcase Your Projects: Be prepared to discuss your past projects in depth. Explain the challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and how your project impacted the business.

What is the average salary for a Data Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services?

What technical skills are essential for a Data Engineer role at Tata Consultancy Services?

Candidates should be well-versed in big data technologies such as Spark, Hive, and Databricks and programming languages like Python, SQL, and PySpark. Experience with cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or GCP is also advantageous. Familiarity with ETL processes, data lakes, data warehouses, and data pipeline frameworks is crucial for this role.

What sets Tata Consultancy Services apart as an employer for Data Engineers?

Tata Consultancy Services is known for its inclusive culture, extensive training resources, and a focus on professional growth. They provide numerous opportunities for learning and development, allowing you to work on challenging projects with top-tier clients. The company also emphasizes work-life balance and offers comprehensive benefits packages.

Applying for a Data Engineer position at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) requires meticulous preparation, given the extensive and diverse interview process that includes technical, managerial, and HR rounds.

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main Tata Consultancy Services Interview Guide, where we have covered many interview questions that could be asked. We’ve also created interview guides for other roles, where you can learn more about TCS’s interview process for different positions.

For better preparation, you can also check out all our company interview guides. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Good luck with your interview!