Techstar Group is a leading technology company based in Redmond, WA, known for its innovative solutions in network and cybersecurity. As a Software Engineer at Techstar Group, you will engage in the design, development, implementation, testing, and maintenance of complex software applications and solutions. This role requires substantial expertise in network security, cybersecurity operations, and programming languages like C#, KQL, Python with Synapse, among others.

Joining Techstar Group means contributing to cutting-edge projects, working in an agile environment, and using your problem-solving skills to ensure quality and functionality. This guide on Interview Query will walk you through the interview process, commonly asked questions, and tips to help you succeed. 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 Techstar Group as a Security Software Engineer. Whether you were contacted by a Techstar 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 Techstar 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 Techstar Security 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 the Techstar Security Software Engineer role usually is conducted through virtual means, including video conference and screen sharing. Questions in this 1-hour long interview stage may revolve around network security, cyber security operations, and practical applications of Kusto Query Language (KQL), Python, and other relevant technologies.

Depending on the role's requirements, take-home assignments regarding threat detection, data analytics, and software architectural design might be incorporated. Your proficiency in agile frameworks, ETL pipelines, and system design principles may also be tested during this round.

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 Techstar office. Your technical prowess, including programming languages such as C#, experience with SQL, PowerBI, and Tableau, and cyber security skills 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 Security Software Engineer role at Techstar Group.

Quick Tips For Techstar Group Security Software Engineer Interviews

• Showcase Cyber and Network Security Experience: Interviews for this role weigh heavily on practical knowledge in both cyber security operations and network security. Your answers should reflect deep technical proficiency in these areas.

• Proficiency in Relevant Technologies: Brush up on your skills in languages and tools like Kusto Query Language (KQL), Python, AzureDevOps, SQL, and PowerBI. Demonstrating hands-on experience with these technologies can significantly add to your profile.

• Be Proactive and Communicative: Highlight your ability to keep stakeholders informed, foresee and clear potential hurdles, and your customer-obsessed mindset. Communication and proactive problem-solving are highly valued traits for this role.

Typically, interviews at Techstar Group 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 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.

• 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 be balanced, meaning the height difference between the left and right subtree of all the nodes should be at most one.

• 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.

• Develop a function can_shift to determine 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.

• 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.

• 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 find the mouse using the fewest number of scans.

• 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.

• What factors could bias Jetco's study on boarding times? Jetco, a new airline, has the fastest average boarding times according to a study. Identify potential factors that could have biased this result and explain what you would investigate further.

• 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. Design a two-week-long A/B test to evaluate a pricing increase and determine whether it is a good business decision.

• 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.

• 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.

• What is the probability that only one rider 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• What are time series models and why do we need them? Describe what time series models are and explain why they are necessary when we have less complicated regression models.

• How would you justify the complexity of building a neural network model and explain 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 the model and explain its predictions to non-technical stakeholders?

• How would you evaluate and deploy 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 if a decision tree is the correct model, and how would you assess its performance before and after deployment?

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

• How would you explain linear regression to a child, a college student, and a mathematician? Explain the concept of linear regression to three different audiences: a child, a first-year college student, and a seasoned mathematician. Tailor your explanations to each audience's understanding level.

• What are the key differences between classification models and regression models? Describe the main differences between classification models and regression models.

What is the average salary for a Software Engineer at Techstar Group?

Q: What is the primary role of a Security Software Engineer at Techstar Group?
A:** The main function of this position is to design, develop, implement, test, and maintain both business and computer applications software or specialized utility programs. This includes tasks such as gathering and analyzing requirements, creating reports and dashboards, and driving solutions for improvement through data analysis and customer feedback.

Q: What qualifications are required for the Security Software Engineer position in Redmond, WA?
A:** Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in a technical field like computer science, information systems, or related disciplines. Additionally, 8-10 years of experience, particularly in network security, cyber security operations, and proficiency in languages such as C#, KQL, and Python, is necessary.

Q: What kind of experience is Techstar Group looking for in a candidate?
A:** We’re seeking someone with a strong background in both cyber security and network security. Ideal candidates will also be proactive communicators who excel at identifying and solving problems without constant supervision.

Q: What's the work environment like at Techstar Group for a Security Software Engineer?
A:** The role involves working within an agile framework, participating in design discussions, and completing sprints. You will be expected to fine-tune, review, and validate software implementations while preparing detailed specifications and test plans.

Q: How can I best prepare for an interview with Techstar Group for this position?
A:** To effectively prepare, research the company's service offerings, practice your coding and problem-solving skills using Interview Query, and be ready to discuss your previous network and cyber security projects. Showcasing your capability to communicate complex technical information and your customer-focused mindset will also be advantageous.

If you're aspiring to join Techstar Group as a Security Software Engineer, we have you covered! Check out our main Techstar Group Interview Guide, where we've compiled numerous interview questions that you might encounter. We also offer specialized interview guides for other roles, such as software engineer and data analyst, to help you understand the interview process for different positions.

At Interview Query, we empower you to ace your interviews with a comprehensive toolkit that includes in-depth knowledge, confidence-building strategies, and expert guidance tailored to enhance your chances of success in securing your position at Techstar Group.

Explore all our company interview guides to better prepare yourself, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Good luck with your interview!